With SLDriver, you do not need to install any drivers. Just launch the software, connect your camera, choose it from the list and enjoy!

Special note for interline CCD: SLDriver will automatically switch to progressive mode if it can. To do so, the exposure must be longer than the download time of the field.

Terry Plat explains : "Progressive mode is achieved by exposing both sets of lines (odd and even) simultaneously but then removing a 'download cycle' period of exposure time from the second field to be read out. For example, we start an exposure by clearing the CCD so that both odd and even fields are empty. We now wait until a time period has elapsed, equal to the download time for one field."

To know more about "progressive" mode and others modes please take a look at your technical documentation.

Click here to see SLDriver at work on M31 and here for M45.

SLDriver is made as a universal control software. It can already support most of the USB starlight cameras. There is already support for the new SXVH9 and software will be available shortly for the other SXVs. Of course, I am not able to test all the cameras so please let me know if it works OK (or not) with your CCD.

If your camera is not in the list shown above, please contact me. I will be pleased to add it and make it work if possible (Please note: I will only support Starlight Xpress Usb cameras).

Messier 33 is a beautiful galaxy, isn't it? Here we can see a single five minute exposure made with my MX7c. The color is not extracted yet so we can see the effect of the CYMG filters.

If we use a 'single shot color' camera we can easily extract the color of our picture. We just need to click on 'color extraction'.

There are 2 basic options. The first is 'high pass' to compensate the blur effect on the luminance channel. The second produces an automatic balance. It's very useful with most color cameras.

By clicking on the 'more...' button you have access to the offset calibration. Please see the technical documentation from the Starlight company for more information.

At the moment, the color extraction will only work for CMYG (like the MX7c or the MX5c) matrix. Support for the Bayer matrix will come later.

You can set the delay you require and the number of exposures that you want to make.

You can activate the "auto save file" mode in order to save files directly to disc after the exposures.

The "Take picture" launch is fully multi-threading. For example, you can adjust one picture while SLDriver is exposing the next one.

You can load images in FITS format (one shot LRGB files are supported too) and display LRGB files in real time.

You can save images in FITS format (one shot LRGB files are supported too) or for LRGB images you can choose to save each matrix in a different file. Moreover, you can export your image as a standard TIFF file.

SLDriver uses a high performance display kernel (SLXKernel), so you can adjust Min, Max and contrast in real time on 40 or 64 bits LRGB images.

When you are working on deep sky imagery you can also use the very useful "auto contrast" option.

SLDriver is not and will not be software for processing images, so it offers only the basic filters. The first one available is the "Remove background" option. This option will remove the grey backgroung from the selected image.

New in version 1.2:

Easy to use focus window...

Color adjustment...

And now, have fun and send me some news and pictures!!!