My first HaRGB attempt - Eta for a change

[DavidTrap]

Just to be an individual (NOT) - here is my first HaRBG attempt.

The exposure details are:
QSI583 at -15 degrees:
Ha:R:G:B - 90:30:30:30 (10min subs for Ha, 3min subs for RBG binned 2x2)

Just fiddled in PS - blended the Ha in as a luminosity layer plus a few other adjustments, sharpening, etc... Bring on the Astro-Imaging Conference!

Higher resolution version available here (http://users.tpg.com.au/dctrap/astrophotos/NGC3372-HaRGB-full.jpg)

Ha high res version here (http://users.tpg.com.au/dctrap/astrophotos/NGC3372Ha600sec.jpg)

Thanks for looking,

DT

[troypiggo]

Good stuff mate!!

[Hagar]

That's a great image David. If this is your first Ha blend then the rest of us better look out. No pink salmon tones and a nice sharp result.

Well done.

[keni]

That looks fantastic David.
Is that the result from the last Ten Chain night you were showing us ???

Cheers,
Ken.

[TrevorW]

Good one David well done

[mill]

A lot better than my first HA blend :)
Keep going with it, it looks very good.

[DavidTrap]

Thanks for the comments Gents,

Ken - this was the Ha image that I showed you at Ten Chain Hill. I added the RGB over the weekend - unfortunately from light polluted skies..

I've now gotten the adapter for my reducer and will put all of this together to get a wider field of view.

When time allows, I'll have a read of some tutorial about processing HaRGB and blending some Ha into the red channel - any suggestions about what to read?

Ta
DT

[hotspur]

This truly is an outstanding piece of work-what I like about this the most,(apart from the excellent colour),is the amazing sharpness and the crisp contrast.The best I have ever seen.

[strongmanmike]

Fine result Dave...for a HaRGB virgin :P

Some minor feedback: The contrast is a little strong in a few places near the keyhole and the sharpening looks a little harsh and patchy but overall it has a high res feel for sure and the colour looks good....hey, "you" may need to give one of the presentations by the time July rolls around :thumbsup:

Mike

[DavidTrap]

Thanks Chris - hope to get out to your place to do some RGB subs in due course.

Mike - I'll take your comments on board when I'm doing the "Sidonio" on this one. Ideally I need to add some shorter subs for the keyhole region. Question - when doing HaRGB of an object with such a range of brightness, do you collect varying length subs for Ha and RGB, or can you get away with just varying length Ha subs?

As for the conference, I don't think "beginner's luck" would fill a presentation.

Ta
DT

[strongmanmike]

It must vary somewhat between camera and scope and filter combos but for what it's worth, with the latest few Eta's I have done over the past 4 years with my FLI ProLines I have found that 10min exposures through Lum and 12nm Ha filters was fine to still allow extraction of very fine details in everything but the inner hourglass around Eta itself, this little tacker requires shorter subs maybe around 30sec to 1 min or so?

As far as the RGB goes I think you would be pretty much in the same boat ie need shorter subs than 10min to see detail inside the Eta hourglass.

Mike

[DavidTrap]

Thanks Mike - I might try that when I re-image this with the focal reducer in due course.

DT

[atalas]

Nice shot David.

[multiweb]

Gorgeous shot. Nice blend. :thumbsup:

[DavidTrap]

Thanks Louie and Marc (are you two the French Connection??).

I tried blending the Ha into the Red Channel following a tutorial from Rob Gendler. It's on my computer at home, so I can't post it now, however I think I prefer the original one posted above - it seems to have more depth.

Will endeavour to post it during the week to ask for your learned opinions.

DT

[DavidTrap]

As promised, here is an attempt at HaRRGB blend - image 1.

Image 2 is original HaRGB blend attempt, Image 3 is a reprocessed HaRGB. I attempted to get a bit more vibrant reds, but maintain some of the depth around the keyhole that I feel is lacking in the HaRRGB.

Open to comments please.

DT

[RobF]

Stunning debut David for HaRGB and you've already found the 2 Genler techniques I would have referred you to. Very nicely pulled off. :thumbsup:

[Mighty_oz]

Fantastic Eta ! You have certainly set a high standard for the rest of us :)

[atalas]

Haha! Viva la France ! actually I'm of Greek heritage,Australian born mate,but still I love a French accent !

I think you've done a good job on blends especially since It's your first go David and you can also blend your Ha into Luminance...use the opacity to taste to create a super luminance.

Experiment with these and don't forget that every image is different so,what might work well in one image might not in another.

Again,well done:thumbsup:

[DavidTrap]

Thanks again for the positive comments Gents. At the moment I've been trying so many techniques that it's difficult to replicate an effect that worked previously. Need to start writing notes or look at "logs" in PS.

DT

[strongmanmike]

Dave, hard to tell from these tiny files but I like the middle one the best, the detail around the keyhole is excellent and looks quite natural.

Nice Ha blending there too :thumbsup:

Mike

[DavidTrap]

Thanks Mike - the middle one is the original one I posted. My favourite too.

Problem is I just can't replicate that effect when I try to reprocess it!

DT

[pmrid]

Hi David,
It's amazing how great Ha is in pulling out fine detail. Just spectacular.
I am wondering about the slight violet haze around stars - is it CA or a touch too much on the sharpening pedal? Great composition too, by the way!!

Peter

[RobF]

I keep pages of notes in Excel David, for different techniques and applications. You can usually remember something is possible, but trying to remember every little intracacy is too much for my little mind a lot of the time :lol:
If you jot something down everytime you read about a worthwhile technique its amazing how they grow over time, and helps you look back at how your processing changes as you learn. My 2c anyway.

[Leonardo70]

Dream object for me ... really good first attempt..

Ciao,
Leo