Helix experiment

[sjastro]

Even though I have been imaging for years, I've had no experience with colour imaging using Ha luminance until recently.

The processing technique of blending Ha/R at around 80%/20% for both luminance and the R-channel seems to sacrifice a bit of detail when compared to the Ha luminance.

Here is an experiment where a 100% Ha luminance has been combined with the RGB image. While it has a characteristic salmon colour in the fainter regions, I believe this can be overcome by increasing the RGB exposures. Otherwise it doesn't have the pure white stars and overall salmon colour appearance that is usually associated with using a straight Ha luminance.

http://users.westconnect.com.au/~sjastro/ngc7293newc.html

It is still a work in progress.

Regards

Steven

[Lester]

Very nice image Steven. Thanks for the view.

[Alchemy]

If it's a work in progress, it will be interesting to see the finished result

[Hagar]

Looks very good to me. Blending in Ha is the hardest thing but you have done a nice job of keeping good colour.
Well done.

[multiweb]

That's a very cool shot Steven. The blend works very well. :thumbsup:

[TrevorW]

Good so far

[Stevec35]

Looks good to me. Using Ha as luminance is a perfectly valid technique that generally works best for nebulae that don't have pure Ha, such as the Helix. Sometimes using Ha as luminance used in conjunction with the blending with red technique works well too. Every image is different.

Cheers

Steve

[sjastro]

Thanks for the comments.

Clear skies to all.

Steven

[Ross G]

A great photo Steven.

Looks so good.

Ross.

[jase]

Making great progress Steven. Keen to see the finished result. Ha is key to bringing out the distinct globs with the Helix.

[sjastro]

Thanks Ross and Jase.

Regards

Steven