M42 LRGB Second attempt

[DavidNg]

Hi everyone,

After disastrous first M42 NB processing attempt several months back, I just could not get the color right. I have now tried in LRGB instead.

About 3 hours worth of data was collected on the nights of 26 and 27 January, 2014 right in the middle of Sydney heatwave. Temperature changes during night makes focusing somewhat off.

Processed in PI and PS. I might as well try to merge Ha and LRGB later.

Thanks for looking
David

Link to Astrobin hi res image: http://www.astrobin.com/76857/0/

[strongmanmike]

Very nice result David :thumbsup:... only thing I might comment on is the area immediately around the bright core is looking a bit monochrome and dark, if you could get some colour back into there and brighten a tad, it might improve the overall look but given your less than ideal conditions it's a fine result :thumbsup:

Mike

[DavidNg]

Thank you Mike, you might as well help me how to add color in the monochrome area. I have tried with selective color and others in PS without success. The HDR process in PI has caused the fading color of that area in the first place.

Regards
David

[Rod771]

Nice image David :thumbsup:

Do you mean HDR wavelets or the HDR Composition tool?

I'm in the middle of processing M42 with PI and found that lowering the binarizing threshold in the HRD comp tool helped me produce a nice smooth transition through the core to outer parts. My core also has come up a bit mono in colour but adjusting the curves slightly (in PI not PS) brought some colour back - I used a range selection mask to just work on the core.

I am using OSC camera though - may have a different effect on results as well.

[strongmanmike]

What does the unblended colour look like?

[DavidNg]

Thank you Rod and Michael,

I've been using HDRWavelet only, it seems wavelet alone cann't eliminate the bright M42 core completely in my system. I will need to learn how to use HDR Composition, do you have any suggestion for exposure, number of subs, processing ?

Regards
David

[nebulosity.]

A really nice result there David :thumbsup:



Have you thought of blending in your NB data?

A few months ago I had a play with processing your NB version in normal colour, see this thread. (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=115843) It worked out alright, just needed some RGB stars.

If you wanted to have a play with it I could upload the full size somewhere.

Cheers
Jo

[cometcatcher]

When all else fails you could lasso it, feather it and play with the saturation and colour sliders?

[Rod771]

HDR wavelet tool is very good and I always use it, but as you say, It wont rescue the core of M42, especially when exposed for 10 mins each sub. In fact, I think the HDR wavelets have done a very good job on your 10 min exposures.

The core needs shorter exposures, I imaged M42 back in November using my C11 with .7x reducer, so F7 ratio, close to your F7.5. For this image (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=1034407&postcount=9) I shot 5 min exposures for the field and 2 minute exposures for the core. The data Im working on the moment is shot at F2 using the hyperstar lens, so I have 3 sec subs for the core then 30, 60, 90 sec subs for the rest of the dynamic range.

For number of shorter subs, I always try to shoot the same amount as the larger subs.

Here's Harry's tutorial on using the HDR comp tool - click here (http://harrysastroshed.com/HDR%20comp.html). Harry's a life saver! :P I don't know what I would do without him and others on the Pixinsight forum.

[DavidNg]

Thank you kindly for your advice, I will definitely give M42 another go with HDR comp too.



Thanks, definitely another option. Cheers



Thanks Jo, I am trying to blend RGB and NB with PI. Will post here when done.

Cheers