Sharing data - process my M42

[monoxide]

hi guys,

i find myself doing a lot of head scratching when processing images and my routine seems to be more a 'make it up as you go along' kinda thing so i thought id share my M42 data to see what some of you come up with :)

http://users.on.net/~monox/M42f.jpg (http://users.on.net/%7Emonox/M42f.jpg) - this was my best effort but i failed badly at masking the core and gave up.

the data seems pretty good so i wonder what some of the processing gurus can come up with? :P

anyway heres a calibrated TIFF file for you to have a play with.
its ~100 mins through the Tak (no uhc filter)

http://users.on.net/~monox/M42.rar (http://users.on.net/%7Emonox/M42.rar) (17mb flat/bias calibrated no darks)
http://users.on.net/~monox/core-mask.rar (22mb stack of 10x10s and 10x60s for the core)

[richardo]

Monoxide,
had a look at your Tiff, there's no way to prevent core blow out with this as with your unstretched data, the core/ Trapezium stars are already way over exposed.
No manner of masking or processing will correct this. If it originally 'aint there, it 'aint there!:(

Your processing and colour with what you have is very good actually! :thumbsup:

My suggestion is to go back, take shorter exposures so that the Trapizium stars are well defined in your sub exposures.
Process and composite the new subs, then go into PS and layer the new, shorter exposed composite with your original. Blending it till it looks natural. You'll probably have to have a play with curves, masking and feathering the Trap stars to find a pleasing stretch on the new image till it will match the area about the periphery of the core on the old.

It can be a difficult object to retain the Trap stars as well as show the surrounding nebulosity, including the Running Man Neb.

In the past I've opted for shorter exposures, retaining the Trap stars then doing a series of 'Zone' stretches, starting from selecting, feathering the core and working my way out. But I can be lazy at times.

But the simplest, and most effective way to go, and since you already have a good composite in your original would be to do the shorter exposed composite and layer.

It all takes a bit of messing till things look good.
A good excuse to mess around in PS.

BTW, I'm no Guru here, just what I've picked up.

Hope this helps and have fun;)
Rich

[dugnsuz]

Agree re the core burn out Tj. Needs shorter exps to combine in a Layer mask. Here's a processing walkthrough to try...
http://www.astropix.com/PFA/SAMPLE4A/SAMPLE4A.HTM

Great idea though - it would be very interesting to see how other IISers handle the same data - something for 2009 eh!?
I'll d/load your Tiff for a play around tonight:thumbsup:
Doug

[monoxide]

thanks Rich and Doug,

Rich, i tried using the shorter subs but i just couldnt get the mask to line up quite properly :P

i've just added the shorter subs to the original post.

i thought it would be interesting to see how different the same data would look when a few people have a go at it :)

would be good if the idea takes off, a bit of fun for those cloudy nights ;)

[dugnsuz]

No offence Tj,
But those files totally threw out my DSLR sensibilities!!!
The Histogram was shifted way to the left - I couldn't hope to replicate the jpg you posted...I have failed you monoxide!!!!!
Although when I stretched the image to its max - the background was smooth as!!! That's where cooled CCDs shine!
Hopefully someone else can run with this image.
Sorry:ashamed:
Doug

[monoxide]

lol Doug,
cmon lets see it... :D

you need to stretch the data pretty hard to get the ball rolling :P
i didnt mean 'here beat this' i meant it more in a way of hopefully sharing some data with people just to see what their spin on it is or even just to give a beginner a go at processing data from a cooled ccd :)

to be honest im having a hard time replicating it myself since i had another go at masking the core :rofl:
atleast now i understand how to do all of that with no problems!

and yep thats one thing with the QHY8 bugger all noise, i didnt subtract any darks for this shot either.

[Hagar]

Well TJ finally got time to download and have a quick play. Just levels and curves on both the 60s and 10 sec images and masked the core.

Here is a link to the easiest core masking method I have found.
http://www.astropix.com/HTML/J_DIGIT/COMP2.HTM

Hope this helps

[AlexN]

Dougs process of it looks a lot like one of my earlier attempts (using 40~60sec subs)

The layer masking tutorial that doug showed is the one I used to learn the method also, and is very very easy to follow with great results...

[AlexN]

heres my stab at it.. if you want the full size JPG, let me know and I'll email it to you ~4.7mb

[AlexN]

I might add... it was so nice to get to edit some data that I've not edited before!!! Damn these clouds are driving me bonkers!

[monoxide]

lookin good guys :thumbsup:

i hope it catches on :poke:
as you said Alex, sometimes its a long wait to get something new to have a play with

heres my first real stab at masking:
http://users.on.net/~monox/M42maskedb.jpg

[AlexN]

good going for a first try at masking...

If you're anything like me, you'll keep attacking and attacking the data, time and time again until you are happy with it... It usually takes me 2~3 weeks to process an image to where im 100% happy with it... Unfortunately, I still rush out a 20 minute edit at 5:40AM and post it before having any sleep... I should hold onto my data, and post only when its finished :D

[richardo]

That's it monoxide,
by jove I think you have it.

Looks pretty good for your first masking attempt.

Well done!

'course now you'll fiddle and fiddle till one begins to look like the other.:doh:

The secret is when enoughs enough:shrug:

All the best;)
Rich

[Hagar]

Very Nice Tj. I think youve got it. Well done. That bloody reflection is a nussance. My QHY8 has the same. Last night I shot some 15 minute exposures of Horse head at 1800mm and ended up with a huge reflection right through the middle of the HH so another lot for the recycle bin.

Keep at it looking very good.

[monoxide]

thanks guys, appreciate the input ;)
Rich, i think i've tortured everyone enough with this one for a while :lol:
i just really wanted to work out the masking side of things, sure will be handy with a few other targets though.

i know what you mean too Doug, i dont mind the reflection in this shot but it just plain ruins some others (like all my recent HH attempts)
i'm half tempted to grind down a 2" baader filter to replace the supplied IR filter

[AlexN]

Rob (Astrod00d) posted a thread late last week showing what he's done to remove/lessen the halo.. and posted his latest image of the horsehead which it took me 20 minutes of looking to even find the halo.. :) He seems to have it all figured out!!!

My horse head was destroyed by the halo...