Left: Maxim CCD Control Box Window (within Maxim DL).
The MaxIm CCD control box is opened from within the MaxIm DL software suite. Once started, Maxim CCD remains operational until the program is shut down, even if it is not visible. Unlike many other software packages, all image processing functions remain active during an exposure.
Using the Expose tab, you can select exposure duration, type, set
a delay time, select the filter wheel position, and enable exposure sequences.
No typing is required just use the mouse!
Status of the CCD camera is displayed for the exposure, including shutter position, setting of the head cooling temperature, time, and sequence information.
Right: Settings Window.
The Settings tab permits you to set the subframe and binning settings
for your CCD camera, as well as enable auto calibration.
The subframe settings can be adjusted by dragging the mouse on the image.
The subframe selection is automatically adjusted when the binning level
is changed.
Various camera control options can also be set using the Options button.
Left: Sequence Window.
The Sequence tab allows you to specify an automatic sequence of exposures.
You can specify a tricolor sequence when using a compatible filter wheel.
A sequence number and color band is automatically appended to the file
names. For example, the first image produced by the settings shown
would be "Image001R.fit".
The Focus tab provides a duplicate set of exposure controls which are
independent of the main "Expose" controls. Some cameras also default to their
"fast" readout mode (slightly lower quality) when this tab is used.
The convenient subframe controls can be set using the mouse or automatically,
giving you the fastest focus update rate.
All of the settings work as for the Expose and Settings tabs, but remain
at their previous settings. Once focused, this is very handy for locating
objects. Simply set a short exposure with a high binning factor. This allows
quick snapshots to help center the object, without having to change your
main exposure settings.
Right: Focus Window.
The Inspect tab provides you with information which is helpful during focusing of the telescope onto the CCD.
The brightest star in the frame is automatically located. Peak brightness
and full-width half maximum (star diameter) is displayed, along with a
convenient 3-D representation of the star image.
For convenience, some of the focus controls and displays are also duplicated
in this tab.
Above Left: Inspect Window.
The Guide tab has many advanced autoguider control capabilities. It can operate either an dual-chip camera - either the ST-7 or ST-8 (patented by SBIG), or secondary autoguider camera. Advanced features include a "Move To Mouse Position" control, and continuous viewing of the guide star window.
For users of the SBIG series ST-7/8 cameras, the guider control will even allow you to take a sequence of tricolor exposures while guiding; this is something which no other software package can do!
Monitor autoguiding operations with a track log, or introduce varying offsets using the new Offset Tracking feature.
Left: Guide Window.
The Setup tab allows you to select a CCD camera, autoguider, and filter wheel. Many different models are supported (see below).
The Restart button is a convenient feature which allows you to restart the CCD camera, autoguider, and filter wheel without having to reset any of the settings.
The temperature controls for the main camera are also located here
Right: Setup Window.
On-line help is a great convenience, especially when you are working
in the field. We include two types of context-sensitive help: "What's This?"
help, where you can ask for information on each control, and regular help
where you can ask for a complete summary of a particular dialog box. There
is also general information that can be accessed through the help menu.
About 70% of the user manual is on-line.
The trend in the software industry is to eliminate the user manual in
favor of on-line help; Cyanogen and Company Seven believe this approach is a mistake. And so while there are on-line help supplements to the traditional instruction manual, on-line help doesn't replace it. This software includes a well written, spiral bound, comprehensive user manual. It includes tutorial information, tips, and explanations of all program functions.
And of course, we will keep real live people at Company Seven and at Cyanogen available to help you should the documentation and on line help features still leave you confounded.
MaxIm CCD Equipment Support
List
| Camera Manufacturer |
Model |
Operating System |
| Apogee Instruments |
AP, KX, SPH, AM, parallel port New! |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT |
| Santa Barbara Instruments Group |
ST-4 |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT |
| Santa Barbara Instruments Group |
ST-5 serial New! |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT |
Santa Barbara Instruments Group |
ST-5C |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT |
| Santa Barbara Instruments Group |
ST-6 |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT |
| Santa Barbara Instruments Group |
ST-7, ST-7E |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT |
| Santa Barbara Instruments Group |
ST-8, ST-8E |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT |
| Santa Barbara Instruments Group |
ST-9E New! |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT |
| Santa Barbara Instruments Group |
ST-237 |
|
| Santa Barbara Instruments Group |
AO-7 New! |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT |
| Celestron |
PixCel 255 |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT |
| Celestron |
PixCel 237 |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT |
| Finger Lakes Instruments |
Contact FLI for information |
Windows 95/98 only |
| HiSIS |
HiSIS-22 |
Windows 95/98 only |
| Starlight Xpress |
MX5 |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT New! |
| Starlight Xpress |
MX5-C (single-shot color) |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT New! |
| Starlight Xpress |
HX516 |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT New! |
| Meade |
Pictor 208XT |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT |
| Meade |
Pictor 216XT |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT |
| Meade |
Pictor 416XT Serial SCSI New! |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT |
| Mead |
Pictor 1616XT Serial SCSI New! |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT |
| Filter Wheel Manufacturer |
Model |
Notes |
| Santa Barbara Instruments Group |
CFW-8 |
Control via SBIG ST-5/6/7/8/9 or parallel port |
| Santa Barbara Instruments Group |
ST-5C/ST-237 Internal Filter Wheel |
Also supports PixCel 255, PixCel 237 |
| Santa Barbara Instruments Group |
CFW-6A |
Control via SBIG ST-6/7/8/9 |
| Homeyer |
MFW Filter wheel |
Control via SBIG ST-5/6/7/8/9 or parallel port |
| Optec |
Filter wheel |
Control via SBIG ST-5/6/7/8/9 or parallel port |
| Meade |
Pictor 616 Filter Wheel |
Control via Pictor 416XT or 1616XT |
| Direct PC Parallel Port Control |
SBIG, Homeyer, Optec models |
Windows 95/98, Windows NT New! |
| Third-Party Plug-In Drivers |
Available From |
Notes |
| Integrated Scientific Imaging Systems
|
from ISI |
Filter wheel and camera support available; contact ISI
to obtain drivers |
| Custom Camera Plug-In Kit |
Company Seven or Cyanogen |
Kit includes sample "DummyCCD" driver, with source code.
Also supports filter wheels and autoguiders. |
| More To Come! |
|
|
This is what some of our users are saying about MaxIm DL/CCD
"...offers complete control of the CCD experience, from image acquisition to final processing, in a single application"
- Sky & Telescope magazine, December 1998
Read the Sky & Telescope Review
"Far and away the best CCD control and image processing program for Windows 95." - Dave Harvey, University of Arizona
"After many years of using many image processing programs, I find that MaxIm DL is the fastest for calibrating and processing my images.
Maxim DL has saved me a lot of time." - Tim Puckett
"It's a wonderful camera control package. For the first time in two years I'm beginning to feel that I am in control of the camera, and not vice versa."
- Larry Denmark
"Maxim DL/CCD has been working wonderfully. I find the program intuitive...
Imaging sessions are now much more productive" - Dan Knauss
C-7 News 
The camera control package you've
been waiting for, MaxIm DL/CD is the perfect tool for amateur and professional astronomers using the Windows 95/98/NT platform. MaxIm DL lets you take control of your CCD imaging!
