Camera Control/Image Processing Software

Section		Software / Platform	Notes
I		Selecting the Correct Software	Background Information
II		MS/PC DOS ST-4, ST-4X, ST-5, ST-5C, ST-6, ST-237, ST-7, ST-8, ST-9, ST-10, PixCel 255, PixCel 237	Free Programs and Manuals
III		32-Bit Windows (XP/95/98/...) All cameras and SGS Self-Guiding Spectrograph	Free Program and Manual
IV		64-Bit Windows (XP/Vista) Drivers for USB Based Cameras	Free Drivers
V		Macintosh ST-4, ST-4X, ST-5, ST-5C, ST-6, ST-7, ST-8, ST-9, ST-237, PixCel 255 and PixCel 237 and now USB cameras under OS X	Free Programs
VI		PlanetMaster Software Windows software for SBIG Cameras	Free Program
VII		CCDSharp	Free Program
VIII		Custom Software Developers	Documents & Free Tools
IX		Manuals *  ST-4        CCD        CCDUTIL        CCDBLINK        CCDTRACK *  ST-4X, ST-5 and ST-6 *  ST-5C *  ST-237 / ST-237A *  ST-7E / ST-8E / ST-9E / ST-10E / ST-1001E *  ST-402 *  Operating Manual Research Series Cameras *  STV (including STVREMOTE) *  AO-7 *  AO-8 *  AO-L *  CFW8/A Color Filter Wheel *  CFW10 Color Filter Wheel *  SGS - Self-Guided Spectrograph *  DSS-7 Deep Space Spectrograph *  CCDOPS for DOS, *  CCDOPS for Win 95/98/NT and Mac *  CCDOPS version 5 for Windows *  CCDSharp L-R deconvolution Software *  Ethernet to Parallel Adapter *  Ethernet Parallel Server for Windows *  Relay Adapter Box *  Remote Guide Head	Free Download in PDF format
X.		STV Firmware	Free Download
XI.		Third Party Software	Commercial Links
XII		Linux Software Support	Documents Drivers & Third Party Applications
XIII.		Beta Test Software	Free Download
XIV.		Utility Programs	Free Downloads
XV		Seeing Monitor Software	Free Download

Section I.  SELECTING THE CORRECT SOFTWARE

SBIG has several software packages supporting its various cameras on the PC, Macintosh and Windows platforms.  The software titles are arranged on this page according to operating system.  These packages have image acquisition and image processing functions:

• CCDOPS version 5.xx for Windows supports all of SBIG's serial, parallel and USB based cameras (except ST-4 and STV). It also reads and processes STV images. We strongly recommend you start imaging with CCDOPS before switching to another imaging package.
• Software Bisque's CCDSoft version 5.xx is Windows software for SBIG serial, parallel and USB based cameras (except STV). It integrates with Software Bisque's other software packages like TheSky™ and Orchestrate.
• CCDOPS Lite for Mac OSX supports USB cameras directly and Parallel Port based cameras over Ethernet using SBIG's Ethernet-To-Parallel (E2P) adapter.
• CCDOPS for Mac OS 8/9 supports the serial based ST-4X, ST-5 and ST-6 and parallel port based ST-7, ST-8, ST-9, ST-5C/PixCel 255 and ST-237/PixCel 237 using SBIG's Mac SCSI Adapter.
• STVREMOTE for Windows supports the STV.
• CCD, CCDUTIL, CCDBLINK and CCDTRACK are DOS packages for the ST-4 only.
• CCD for Mac OS 8/9 supports the ST-4 only.
• CCDOPS for DOS supports the ST-4X, ST-5, ST-5C, ST-6 and parallel port based ST-7, ST-8, ST-9, ST-10, PixCel 255 and PixCel 237.
• CCDSharp for Windows is specialized Lucy-Richardson image processing software for all cameras except the ST-4.
• ImCap for Windows supports the ST-4 imaging functions.  ImCap is a freeware package made available with permission of the author.

These files (except ImCap) are the latest production release of the SBIG Camera Control and Image Processing Software. They read and display SBIG native image formats. These are full working copies and can be used for evaluation or to upgrade your existing software if you are using a previous version with an SBIG camera.  

Selecting to right software depends upon your computing platform and the camera you wish to support, or images you wish to process. Use the table at the top of this page to determine which software is right for your needs.

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Section II.  MS/PC DOS Users

• ST-4X, ST-5, ST-5C, ST-6, ST-7, ST-8, ST-9, ST-10 and STV* users should download ops397.zip [Released ver 3.97] which has been updated to support the ST-10 and ST-1001E.  You might want to review the other changes made in the Readme File which is also included in the archive.  The latest version of the CCDOPS Manual is also available in PDF format.   Please note that the manual covers all the features of CCDOPS for DOS, Windows 95 and Macintosh.
  * Note: CCDOPS does not control the STV but it will read and process original STV images and it will also save STV image files in TIFF and FITS format.

• ST-4 users should download CCD.ZIP [ver 2.08] and CCDUTIL.ZIP.
  CCD controls the ST-4 camera for image acquisition and CCDUTIL allows you to make TIFF and FITS files from ST-4 images and offers other handy image processing functions not found in the ST-4's CCD software.  Don't forget to get the manuals for both programs:  CCD Manual (PDF format) and CCDUTIL Manual (PDF format).

• ST-4 users interested in using the ST-4 as a blink comparator should download CCDBLINK.ZIP and the manual CCDBLINK.PDF.  For a description of the program see the page CCDBLINK PAGE.  This program allows you to load two ST-4 images and blink them in rapid succession to easily see if any object in the field of view has moved between the frames.
  
  
• ST-4 users who desire to remotely control the tracking functions of the ST-4 should download CCDTRACK.ZIP (updated to version 2.12, June 2001) and the manual CCDTRACK.PDF.  For a description of the program see the CCDTRACK PAGE.  This program transfers all of the autoguide functions of the ST-4 to a remote computer up to 100 feet away from the ST-4 control box.   CCDTRACK also offers a number of features not available with the ST-4 in stand alone mode such as text and graphic displays showing the tracking accuracy in real time during the guiding session and the accumulated error of the guide star image.
     

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Section III.  32-Bit Windows Users (XP/95/98...)

CCDOPS v. 5
For all SBIG cameras with Serial (except ST-4, ST-V), Parallel or USB interface
[ST-4X/5/6, ST-5C/PixCel255, ST-237/A/PixCel237, ST-7E/XE, ST-8E/XE, ST-9E/XE, ST-10E/XE, ST-1001E, ST-2000XM, ST-L] 

• CCDSOPS Version 5 for 32-Bit Windows (XP/95/98...):  In June of 1998 SBIG released CCDOPS for Windows 95 (version 4.x), a full 32 bit program that supports all SBIG and PixCel cameras except the STV and ST-4.  It has since been updated to operate under Windows 98, NT, Me, 2000 and XP.  CCDOPS for Windows includes PlanetMaster, Auto Grab, Color Grab, Dual-CCD View, AO-7 Support, etc.   In addition it includes all of the tri-color merge functions of CCDCOLOR and supports color combining images from all of our cameras except the ST-4.  With the release of CCDSoftV5 our CCDOPS camera control program is now available for free download. 

  Instructions:  Download the installation file into a temporary directory, then click on the file to install the program. Important: You should also update your drivers anytime you update CCDOPS.

  • Click here to download the latest CCDOPS version 5.for Windows 95/98/NT/Me/2000/XP.
  • Click here to preview the Readme file describing the changes made to successive versions of CCDOPS up to and including the latest version 5.

  To make it easier to update the SBIG drivers SBIG has created a new SBIGDriverChecker.exe utility that you can download below.   Download and run the installer (SetupDriverChecker.exe) which will install and run the SBIGDriverChecker.exe program. Finally, click on the Update button.

  • Click here to download and install SetupDriverChecker.exe which includes the latest camera drivers.
  • 32/64 Bit Driver FAQ

CCDSoftV5
For all SBIG cameras with parallel or USB interface
[ST-5C, ST-237/A, ST-7E/XE, ST-8E/XE, ST-9E/XE, ST-10E/XE, ST-1001E, ST-2000XM, ST-L] 

• CCDSoft Version 5:  SBIG and Software Bisque have jointly written CCDSoft version 5 which now incorporates CCDOPS version 5 for Windows 95/98/NT/XP.  This software is much more than camera control.  A release version is available for download from the Software Bisque web site.  Click here for more information on CCDSoftV5.
  

STVREMOTE
For the STV Only:

• STVREMOTE.  For remote operation, the STV video camera and autoguider has its own remote operating software provided with the camera (STVREMOTE) that runs under Windows 95/98/2000/NT/XP.  STVREMOTE allows you to control all of the functions of the STV from a remote computer, apply flat frame correction to STV image files and also saves STV images as bitmap files.  STVREMOTE only works with an STV camera.  This archive file contains the setup files for a complete installation of STV Remote version 2 which included support for the internal CFW5C color filter wheel.  Download the file STVRemote.zip [Released ver.2] and unzip the archive into a temporary directory.  Once you have extracted all the setup files into a temporary directory run Setup.exe from the temporary directory to install the program.  You will also need STVREMOTE software installed on your computer to update the firmware in the STV [See Section X below].

• CCDOPS for DOS or Windows.  In addition, STV users may wish to download CCDOPS for DOS (see Section II above) or CCDOPS version 5 for Windows.  CCDOPS will not control the STV camera but it will read and save STV image files in several different formats such as TIFF and FITS.  CCDOPS will also perform many more image processing functions than STVERMOTE.     

• Batch Convert STV files to TIFF or FITS.  STV users may also wish to download one of the freeware programs written by Dave Lane at St. Mary's University.  These DOS utilities will batch convert SBIG image files (including STV files) to FITS or TIFF.  For more information click on this link to Dave Lane's home page.
  

ST-4 Only:

• A freeware software program called ImCap was written by an ST-4 user, Howard C. Anderson.  ImCap will control the image capture (but not autoguiding) functions of the ST-4 under Windows 95/98.  Click here for more information and download instructions.

SGS Self-Guiding Spectrograph:

• Spectra software is a free analysis program written in visual basic program for use with the SGS Self-Guiding Spectrograph.  Download the file spectra12.zip [Released ver. 1.2] and unzip the archive into a temporary directory.  Once you have extracted all the setup files into a temporary directory run Setup.exe from the temporary directory to install the program.

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Section IV.  64 Bit Windows Users (XP/Vista)

• Driver Checker for 64-Bit Systems (XP/Vista):  In

  To make it easier to install and update SBIG drivers on 64-bit versions of Windows XP and Windows Vista SBIG has created a new SBIGDriverChecker64.exe utility that you can download below.   First read the Application Note then download and run the installer (SetupDriverChecker64.exe).

  
  
  • Click here to download an Application Note describing how to Install the 64 bit drivers on your system.
  • Click here to download the 64-bit Driver Checker Installer.
  • Click here for 32/64 Bit Driver FAQ.

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Section V.  Macintosh Users

• OS X version 10.4 and later users with either PowerPC or Intel based Macintosh computers that own USB based cameras or Parallel Port based cameras and SBIG's Ethernet-To-Parallel (E2P) adapter can download CCDOps Lite Universal for OS X. You'll also need to download and run the Universal Binary SBIG Driver Installer.

• OS X users with USB based cameras or Parallel Port based cameras and SBIG's Ethernet-To-Parallel (E2P) adapter can download CCDOps Lite for OS X. You'll also need to download and run the SBIG Driver Installer.

• OS X users can also check out Microprojects' Equinox software which works directly with USB based cameras and also works with Parallel Port based cameras in conjunction with our E2P adapter.

• ST-4 users running OS 7/8/9 can download ccd.hqx [ver 1.50].
  

• ST-4 OS 7/8/9 Beta Testers can download ccd1r6.hqx [ver 1.6 Beta]. This is a fat-binary version which is now native on the Power PC Macs. New features include Balloon Help, Apple Guide Help and support for the Port Juggler.
  

• OS 7/8/9 based ST-4X, ST-5, ST-6, ST-7, ST-8, PixCel 255 and PixCel 237 users can download the Released version ops395.hqx [ver 3.95].  This has been updated for the Appearance Manager, fixed all known bugs in 3.52 and 3.71 and added a few features. In 3.82 we fixed a bug with Printing on some systems and a bug with the Color Table Command on some systems.  In 3.90 we added support for the ST-9E and in 3.95 we added support for the ST-237A.

[Note:  At this time we do not have Macintosh support for the AO-7]

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Section VI.  PlanetMaster Software

Windows software for outstanding planetary images:

• PlanetMaster:  This special feature now incorporated in CCDOps is designed to enhance the planetary imaging capabilities of SBIG cameras.  Due to their fast download times and relatively small pixels, these cameras are ideally suited for taking high resolution images of the planets.   PlanetMaster software automates the process of capturing the "best sharp" or "best peak" image from a sequence of automatically captured images and will also automatically scan a directory of previously saved images to assign a Figure of Merit for sharpness to each image in the directory.  CCDOps with PlanetMaster is available for free download.

• Click here to find out more about PlanetMaster software.

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Section VII.  CCDSharp Users - Upgrades free for all users.

• CCDSharp users should download InstSharp.exe [ver 1.14].  
  
  Instructions: Run this installer to install CCDSharp on your computer.
  

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Section VIII. Custom Software Developers

• Developers Web Page
  This link redirectes you to SBIG's Software and Hardware Developers Web Page where you will find links to all the Developer related Application Notes and Development Tools.

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Section IX.  Manuals

   The following manuals in PDF format are now available for free download.  You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the files.  If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, a free version is available from the Adobe web site.

• ST-4 CCD
• ST-4 CCDUTIL
• ST-4 CCBLINK
• ST-4 CCDTRACK
• ST-4X, ST-5 and ST-6
• ST-5C
• ST-237
• ST-237A (Addendum)
• ST-7E, ST-8E, ST-9E / ST-10E / ST-1001E
• ST-7XE, ST-8XE, ST-9XE / ST-10XE / ST-10XME and ST-2000XM
• ST-4000XCM Supplement
• ST-402
• Research Series:  STL-1001E / STL-1301E / STL-4020M / STL-6303E / STL-11000M
• STV (Including STVREMOTE)
• AO-7 - Adaptive Optics
• AO-8 - Adaptive Optics
• AO-L Adaptive Optics
• CFW8/A Color Filter Wheel
• CFW9 Color Filter Wheel
• CFW10 Color Filter Wheel
• SGS - Self-Guided Spectrograph
• DSS-7 Deep Space Spectrograph
• CCDOPS for DOS
• CCDOPS version 4 for Windows 95/98/NT and Macintosh
• CCDOPS version 5 for Windows
• CCDSharp
• Ethernet to Parallel Adapter
• Ethernet Parallel Server for Windows
• Relay Adapter Box
• Remote Guide Head

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Section X.  STV Firmware

The firmware in the STV may be upgraded by the user over the camera's serial interface.   The instructions for installing updated firmware are in the STV manual.   Version 1.06 (September, 2002) is the second revised firmware to be released for the STV.   To install version 1.06 firmware in your STV download the file STV1R06H.BIN from our ftp site and then follow the directions at the end of Chapter 6 of the STV manual for programming the STV using STVREMOTE software.

Click here to download STV1R06H.zip.

The changes in this release are detailed in a PDF App Note. 

Click here to read the Application Note for version 1.06 firmware.

[If you have problems with version 1.06 and want to re-install version 1.04 click here]

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Section XI.  Third Party Software

Click here to go to our "Other Sites" page for a list of links to commercial software and other vendors that support SBIG cameras. 

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Section XII.  Linux Software Support

This section contains links to SBIG and several third party Linux developers' sites.   Please note that SBIG does not offer technical support for Linux software.   Please contact the authors for technical questions:

• Developers Web Page
  This link redirectes you to SBIG's Software and Hardware Developers Web Page where you will find links to all the Developer related Application Notes and Development Tools (including Linux Drivers).

• CCDOpsLite for Linux
  This link downloads a zipped tar archive containing a Qt 3.3 project that allows to to acquire images from our Parallel and USB based cameras. It displays the images and allows saving them in SBIG and FITS formats. In addition you can open images saved in SBIG Format. We offer this as a starting point for the adventurous.

• John Kielkopf's XmCCD
  This link redirects to to John Kielkopf's XmCCD Web Page where you will find an Application that supports Parallel and USB based cameras under Linux.

• Justin Pryzby's ST7Ctl
  This link redirectes you to Justin Pryzby's ST7Ctl Web Page where you will find an Application for acquiring images from SBIG cameras supported under Linux.

• Prior to his passing, Steve Ashe developed Linux Support for some SBIG cameras, the CFW-8 and AO-7 under license from SBIG.  Steve passed away and his site is no longer available but the following software was developed using his library:
  http://www.astro.louisville.edu/moore/software/xmccd
  http://www.astro.louisville.edu/moore/software/sbig

• NightView 0.2.1 by Filip Hroch
  The NightView is a software package to control SBIG's CCD cameras under Linux. This software allows full control of a camera and a filter wheel. It can be used for either interactive or a batch processing. It fully replaces the commercial SBIG utilities.
  Project URL: http://freshmeat.net/projects/nightview
  Homepage: http://freshmeat.net/redir/nightview/19912/url_homepage
  Tar/GZ: http://freshmeat.net/redir/nightview/19912/url_tgz
  RPM package: http://freshmeat.net/redir/nightview/19912/url_rpm
  Debian package: http://freshmeat.net/redir/nightview/19912/url_deb

• STV Software
  "...designed only to emulate the hardware panel keys. I have not included code to download images in this version."

  Shashikiran Ganesh
  Physical Research Laboratory        |
  Astronomy and Astrophysics Division
  Ahmedabad 380 009, India
  shashi@prl.res.in
  http://www.prl.res.in/~shashi
  http://www.iap.fr/users/shashi

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Section XIII.  Beta Test Software

Click on this link or go to http://www.sbig.com/beta to get beta versions of our software.  Please read any notes before testing the software and kindly report bugs to Matt's attention at sbig@sbig.com

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Section XIV.  Utility Programs

This section contains links to SBIG Utility Programs that will improve your imaging experience:

• ESrvWin - Ethernet Server for Windows
  This link downloads a ZIP file containing SBIG's ESrvWin.exe Windows Application that allows you to serve your Parallel or USB based camera from a Windows based PC in your observatory to a remote computer on a LAN. After downloading the ZIP file unzip its contents to the C:\Program Files\SBIG\ESrvWin directory and follow the directions in the included PDF file.

• FITSConverter - Bulk SBIG-to-FITS Converter
  This link downloads an installer for SBIG's FITSConverter.exe Windows Application that allows you to bulk copy a group of SBIG format images to FITS format. These FITS images are created in compliance with the SBIG FITS Standard Extension.

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Section XV.  Seeing Monitor Software

Follow this link to download Ron Wodaski's Utility Software for the SBIG Seeing Monitor. 

ftp://ftp.sbig.com/pub/seeing_monitor_sql.exe
 

Revised: February 19, 2008 15 PM.
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