Index: /branches/eam_branches/ipp-pstamp-20260421/ippconfig/gpc1/psphot.config
===================================================================
--- /branches/eam_branches/ipp-pstamp-20260421/ippconfig/gpc1/psphot.config	(revision 43114)
+++ /branches/eam_branches/ipp-pstamp-20260421/ippconfig/gpc1/psphot.config	(revision 43115)
@@ -4,5 +4,10 @@
 BACKGROUND.XSAMPLE                  F32   2.0             # size of background superpixels
 BACKGROUND.YSAMPLE                  F32   2.0             # size of background superpixels
-IMSTATS_NPIX                        S32   640000           # number of pixels to use for sky estimate boxes:
+IMSTATS_NPIX                      S32   10000           # number of pixels to use for sky estimate boxes:
+
+# EAM 2026.09.30 : these would be better, but may give a bias in crowded fields
+# need to explore an asymmetric robust stat.
+# IMSTATS_NPIX                        S32   640000          # number of pixels to use for sky estimate boxes:
+# SKY_STAT                            STR   ROBUST_MEDIAN   # statistic used to measure background
 
 SOFTEN.VARIANCE                     BOOL  FALSE          # XXX drop? soften the errors for bright pixels