suntoiraf: Convert Sun rasters into IRAF images

Package: proto

Usage

suntoiraf input

Parameters

names: List of raster files to be converted. The output image names will be the same as the individual input file names with a ".imh" appended (assuming that you are using the Old Image Format). Rasterfiles with an extension of `.ras', will have the extension omitted. The images will appear in the same directory as the raster files, typically the Unix login directory when the task is used within an imtool R_DISPOSE string.

apply_lut = yes: Apply the lookup table translation to each pixel? If apply_lut = no, the pixel values will be taken directly from the raster file. If apply_lut = yes, an NTSC weighted translation from the rasterfile's color lookup table will be applied to each pixel to convert to grayscale.

delete = no: Delete the rasterfile after making the image? This is useful for making automated (Unix or IRAF) scripts for producing photographic or other hardcopy.

verbose = yes: Print informative information while the transformation is occurring?

listonly = no: List the rasterfile header information instead?

yflip = yes: Flip the output image top to bottom? Rasterfiles are stored in reverse vertical order from IRAF images.

Description

Suntoiraf will convert Sun raster files into IRAF images. This is useful, for example, to make solitaire photographic prints or other hardcopy from an imtool window (see IMTOOL HINTS, below).

For general use, suntoiraf will convert non-run-length-encoded Sun rasterfiles into IRAF images. The output image will have the same name as the input rasterfile, but with a `.imh' (or other IRAF image extension) appended. If the rasterfile has an extension of `.ras', this extension will be omitted from the image name.

If apply_lut = no, the (typically 8 bit) pixel values will be copied directly to the output with no interpretation. If apply_lut = yes, the NTSC equalization weighting will be applied to the RGB lookup table to convert the color rasterfile to a grayscale image. The weights are 0.299, 0.587, and 0.114 for the red, green, and blue LUT entries, respectively.

Various options are available to tailor the operation of the task to your (or your script's) precise liking. If delete = yes, the input raster file will be removed from the disk after the image conversion. This is useful in script applications. If verbose = yes, a running commentary will be presented, otherwise the operation of the task is silent except for error messages. If listonly = yes, the task will report information about each input rasterfile, rather than converting it. If yflip = yes, the storage order of the lines of the output image will be inverted from the input rasterfile. Since the display convention is inverted for rasterfiles relative to IRAF images, this will result in an upright output image. On the other hand, if yflip = no, the storage order will be preserved at the expense of the output orientation appearing inverted.

Imtool hints

One possible first step in making a hardcopy is to create the raster files from the imtool window. The recommended way to do this is to select "Imcopy" from the imtool frame menu. If the menu is popped up by positioning the cursor on the right hand side of the window frame (and away from the edge of the screen), the menu won't overlay the window, possibly contaminating the hardcopy. The resulting raster file will save not only the pixels from the imtool buffer but also the lookup table information.

Another way to generate an imtool screendump is to use the <F7> function key, but this requires care because of the possibility of catching cursor fallout in the solitaire. If you do use the <F7> function key, position the cursor to minimize its visual impact. The cursor will appear in the hardcopy (solitaire) unless it happens to blink out at the moment that the hardcopy is made.

A possibly confusing choice is the "Save" option in the imtool setup menu. This is inappropriate because no lookup table information is preserved.

Only the portion of the frame buffer that is displayed in the window will be snapped - what you see is what you get.

If you have to adjust the contrast and brightness of the image very much by using the right mouse button, you may want to redisplay the image using a different Z1 and Z2. This will preserve the grayscale resolution in cases in which the "effective" Z1 and Z2 are much different than the "actual" Z1 and Z2.

In the setup menu try:

Show colorbar:      No
Background color:   black

The choice of the background color may have an effect on any graphics in the frame.

If you use the imttodmd shell script available at NOAO/Tucson, the pixel files for the images will be created in the IRAF directory `tmp$', which is typically the UNIX directory `/tmp/'. If you have trouble with this directory filling up, the pixel files may be placed into another directory by setting the UNIX environment variable `tmp' to the desired pathname:

% setenv tmp '/scr1/v13/pixels/'

*before* starting up IMTOOL (IN THE PARENT SHELL OF THE IMTOOL). Note that if this is set when IRAF is entered, all IRAF temporary files will end up in this directory.

Examples

These are rather specific to NOAO/Tucson, but may suggest ways that the task may be useful to you.

To configure imtool for one button solitaire operation:

The Unix shell script, "/ursa/iraf/extern/nlocal/lib/imttodmd" (on Ursa and its kin) can be used to make imtool solitaire prints. The script may move to /usr/local/bin in the future and would thus be available like any other unix command. Imttodmd is meant to be called directly by the imtool. For example, place these lines in your `.login' file:

setenv R_RASTERFILE 'snap.%d'
setenv R_DISPOSE '/ursa/iraf/extern/nlocal/lib/imttodmd %s'

More recent versions of imtool also allow setting these strings from the setup panel.

The parent shell of the imtool must have these variables defined in its environment prior to starting imtool. If you aren't sure what this means, the simplest thing to do is to edit these lines into your .login, log off of the workstation completely, and log back into Unix, Sunview, and IRAF.

Pressing <F7> will send snaps directly to the solitaire queue, leaving no intermediate files. Only the windowed portion of the frame buffer will be snapped. The necessary files will twinkle in and out of existence in the current working directory of the imtool, typically your Unix login directory. Your windows will be frozen until the solitaire is safely on its way, at which time the screen will beep. This should take on the order of half a minute for a 512 square imtool on a lightly loaded system. If faster response is needed, the script may be run in the background:

setenv R_DISPOSE    '/ursa/iraf/extern/nlocal/lib/imttodmd %s &'

Care should be taken in this case to avoid having too many (too many is typically more than one) background job running at once.

To make one-button snap files and solitaires:

The imttodmd script has various options for leaving the intermediate files around. To leave the snap images in your directory and also make solitaires (i.e., if you are highly suspicious by nature) set the variable:

setenv R_DISPOSE    '/ursa/iraf/extern/nlocal/lib/imttodmd -image %s'

To only make the images, with no solitaire output:

setenv R_DISPOSE    '/ursa/iraf/extern/nlocal/lib/imttodmd -nocrt %s'

This will allow you to run a single CRTPICT job after collecting all the snap files.

To make solitaires from an imtool window, the old way:

Enter this from the UNIX shell, before starting suntools:

% setenv R_RASTERFILE "frame.%d"

Start suntools, login to iraf and load the noao, tv and local packages. Display an image and press the <F7> function key to create a raster file named "frame.N", where N is an index number generated by imtool. This raster file will be appear in your UNIX login directory.

Dump the raster files to the solitaire queue:

lo> suntoiraf frame.*
lo> crtpict frame.*.i.imh ztrans=min_max z1=5 z2=260
    (The z1 & z2 values were empirically determined.)

*** Don't forget to clean up! ***

lo> imdelete frame.*.i.imh
lo> delete frame.*

The solitaires should be ready the next day in the basket by the main computer lab.