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Here’s my Startools workflow on recent NGC 3372 Carina Nebula
2hrs integration
Startools V1.5
Deep Sky Stacker Stacked image fits file
NB: “Very Important ” Data must be linear , unstretched and not white balanced from your stacker
Open Startools import your data
Choose Linear data set ( far LHS )
Possible stacking artifacts OK
Note: Use Before and After modes to check your work and zoom in for closer inspection
Select “Bin” use default 50% then keep
Select “Autodev” then keep
Select “Crop” and drag your area to crop out stacking artifacts and other anomalies then keep
Select “Wipe” use default but increase dark anomaly to 8 pixels then keep ( Wipe is dependant on quality of data so you may have to increase or use vignetting mode ?? )
Select “Autodev” again for final stretch , select redo global stretch
Drag mouse over centre of image and form a rectangular area or Region of Interest ROI say use X1 700 pixels and Y1 500 pixels, increase Ignore fine detail between 2.5 to 3.0 pixels
Adjust your ROI to get best results for saturation and contrast
All other settings are default. Then keep
Select “Decon” and generate mask automatically
Increase Radius 1.8 to 2.0 pixels
Then keep , make sure you keep the mask do not clear it
Select “Sharpen” and increase amount 150% to 180% and leave other settings default . Adjust to suit then keep
Now Clear Mask
Select “HDR” use Algorithm Reveal DSO core and increase strength to 1.8.Use Algorithm Reveal All and increase strength to 1.5 then keep
Select “Life” then fill mask
Use Less More at 30% to 40% or Isolate at 30% to 40% to reduce noise and tone down the interstellar background
Select “Colour” and then create a mask with fat stars and then use Grow with 1 click. Invert the mask so stars are excluded
Use Artistic Detail Aware
Saturation 180% to 200 %
Dark Saturation increase to 3.00
Sliders increase colour bias
Red 1.10 to 1.15
Green 1.20 to 1.25
Blue 1.30 to 1.40
Remaining settings default
Then keep
Invert star mask and add colour to Stars if required ( I didn’t)
Then clear mask
Select “Tracking”
Stop tracking do final noise reduction ( use default or select another value to reduce noise clumps )
Select fill mask
Check final image and if happy save as png or jpeg
This is my workflow ( less a few minor tweaks) on my recent Carina based on my data
Hope the above provides some assistance or processing tips in Startools
Cheers
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