Reprocessed NGC 5128

[LewisM]

Took all the 5128 data, and played in DSS until I got the BEST stack possible, with the least image artifacts and best detail. Put it into PS 5.1 and followed Bert's (Avandonk) upscale techniques - you may not agree with the theory, but I am a convert!

I believe it is a GOOD improvement over my previous 5128, that showed contrast hard edge rings to the bright central portion, which I could NOT correct without blurring or other destructive/manipulative techniques. The combination of exact DSS settings and the Upscale technique seemed to work for me. Still SOME noise, but that can only smooth with more exposure (or larger aperture - scratches chin looking at VC200L...) :P

Critique VERY welcome. No point telling me it's good if it has serious issues!

Link to LARGER version (reduced by 0.25 from the upscale):
http://www.astrobin.com/full/37110/?mod=none

JPEG average quality, with plate solve data:
http://www.astrobin.com/37110/

[LewisM]

And a slightly more edited / processed variant:

http://www.astrobin.com/full/37113/?mod=none

[multiweb]

That's a beauty. Great field. :thumbsup: The only comment would be lack of blues in color balance but that's pretty much it.

[LewisM]

I may have gone too harsh on the green removal, removing also some blue in the lower range. Will try a rebalance later, in the dark (had the sun in my eyes this morning)

[rmuhlack]

Revisiting the colour balance was going to be my suggestion also. Not a lot of star colour there - could try bumping up the saturation?

NGC5128 is going to be my next target with the new VC200L. Your camera is clearly superior to my humble modded 400D, but my skies (i'm guessing) are much darker than yours, so will be interesting to do a comparison.

[LewisM]

I will take a photo of my light pollution tonight for you. It certainly is no Griffith! :)

[rmuhlack]

cheers :cheers:

[LewisM]

Better balance? Getting tired of looking at it - can send anyone who wants it the ex-DSS 16 bit tiff to play with.

http://www.astrobin.com/37119/

Click the image for full res.

[ving]

looks pretty nifty lewis :D

[rmuhlack]

Hey Lewis - i'd be interested in playing with that tif file. Can you upload it somewhere? if you can save and upload it as a linear stacked image (ie select "embed adjustments in the saved image but do not apply them) that would be best, otherwise DSS is applying a histogram stretch and colour adjustment to the saved image. :cheers:

[LewisM]

Open for ANYONE to play with the raw, unprocessed .png (since Astrobin won't allow tiff, and FITS is pretty large :) )

Straight out of DSS, no corrections or enhancements, saved in 16bit tiff with embedded adjustments, converted to an interlaced .png.

http://www.astrobin.com/full/37133/?mod=none

Have a contest, and we'll pick a winner ;)

[WingnutR32]

Quick attempt (whilst waiting for a server to finish building at work)

[rmuhlack]

I have cropped the image as there were some dust bunnies at the bottom of the original full frame that were revealed in the initial histogram stretch. Some difficult gradients in there too.

Anyway, here is my quick go with PI

[multiweb]

Spot on. :thumbsup:

[LewisM]

Not too dissimilar from my initial stretch and clean up either:

http://www.astrobin.com/full/37135/?mod=none

Good job Richard. I like it. Just needs sharpening (High Pass).

[WingnutR32]

Wow, nice work Richard. Mine was a very basic Photoshop (and very poor at that).. PI = PixInsight?

[rmuhlack]

Yep - pixinsight

[gavcol]

Well done Richard :thumbsup:

Good image Lewis :thumbsup:

Regards

Gav