Helix Nebula from Astrofest 09

[batema]

Hi,

I really do need to start my marking but am really enjoying the processing from Astrofest.

Taken through W/O Flt 110 with Canon 400d unmod ISO 800 with 12 x 15 min lights, 12 x 15 min darks with flats and bias frames. Guided with PHD,stacked in DSS and photoshop.

I have tried hard to reduce the background noise in this shot but unltimately have ended my quest and am happy with the result. Always up for advice though.

Mark :)

[Ric]

That's a great image Mark.

I'd be really happy with that.

Top stuff

[jjjnettie]

Looks good Mark.
Maybe a little too smooth from the noise reduction.

[batema]

Iagree JJJ. When it was in photoshop I thought it looked great but when I converted it I think the background looks awefull. I think I will go back to the drawing board with this one. Thanks to both you and ric for the positive comments.

Mark

[jjjnettie]

:lol: When in doubt, repro.
Ummm, maybe resize the image before saving for the internet.

[batema]

Hi JJJ,

when I converted frim Tif format to Jpeg it went from something like 6.6Mb straight to 188? kb which I thought was a bit strange and when posted it came up huge which showed all the yukky stuff in the black section. You are right Repro.

[[1ponders]]

6.6 meg Tiff :eyepop:. Should be at least somewhere around 35 or 36 meg. My unprocessed tiffs straight from Images Plus are 48 meg. Are you sure you haven't saved it as an 8 bit tiff rather than a 16 bit tiff? What did you convert it with Mark? PS? What was the compression setting for the jpeg?

[batema]

Hi Paul,

As a stacked tif image with no processing it was 58mb but after my effort of processing I managed to save it as a tif of 6.67mb. Is this possible? I did try a number of Noel Carboni processes after I had finished my processing to get it to the point of trying to get rid of some deep space noise etc. I do not think I had any compression as I saved as normal. Maybe I did but just don't know.Will have another crack at this soon. I just spoke to Adam about maybe getting so Baramba on Saturday night but have not planned the discussion with other parties involved........... Sorry converted with IRFANVIEW

Mark

[[1ponders]]

Ok Irfanview will probably have quite a high compression set as default. When you save as > jpeg do you have the "Show Options Dialog" checkbox checked?

Any reason you don't convert from 16 bit to 8bit and save as jpeg using PS?

[batema]

The simplest answer to this Paul is I don't know how to do it in PS but will have a look and have a go. More things to learn which is a good thing. How is the Vixen going????

[AlexN]

That is weird... My processed Tiff's are usually 150mb although I save all the layers etc, and process in 16bit, only converting to 8bit to save a JPG.

[[1ponders]]

When you've finished processing your Tiff in PS and you've saved it with a new name go Image>mode>8bit then File>Save As (not save for web and devices) and select jpeg. Another dialog box will then open up asking for the compression amount. Keep it at 12 if you are going to print out otherwise 8-10 is heaps. To upload to here then go File>Save for Web and Devices. This will open up a new page. At the tab at the top select "2 Up" this will allow you to compare the image for upload to the original.

On the right hand side:
Make sure JPEG is selected up the top and there is a tick in optimized.
At the bottom right adjust your Image Size so that the largest dimension fits your screen (usually around 900 for width or 600 - 700 for high). Only adjust one dimension, not both. Click apply.

Now under the optimized image (right hand image) will be the file size. Now adjust the quality at the top until it gets under 200kb. If it looks too rough compared to the original, drop the dimension and increase the quality.

After a while it becomes second nature.

Haven't had the vixen out yet unfortunately. I was hoping tonight but the clouds are being a pain of course.

[batema]

Thanks Paul. Will try after I finish marking. Have made the decision that the next time I will process or get the scope out is in 7days.

Mark

[Octane]

Mark,

I think when you tried softening the noise, you also obliterated the nebula, too.

There are many ways of performing selections. Once you get adept with Photoshop, all the other methods become clearer. This is one of the simplest. Draw a circle around the nebula, press Ctrl+Shift+I to invert the selection; right-click and select Feather and enter a value of say, about 10-20. Then, apply your noise reduction. Once done, press Ctrl+D to deselect.

Regards,
Humayun

[batema]

Thanks Humayun. I have wrecked this but will try again soon.

Mark