LMC Mosaic with StarTools

[avandonk]

Gradients are a real pain when making mosaics from a light polluted site.

By reprocessing the final stack separate R, G, and B fits of some data from mid December 2012 with StarTools the previous obvious gradients are now gone. I just used auto stretch, contrast and noise reduction in ST. The step that eliminates the gradient is the contrast module.

The join between the two panels is now undetectable. The dim or faint detail is also far better. It could be almost as good as a dark site. The image is the final evidence.

Here is a large image of a two panel mosaic at the sensor native pixel size. 10MB


http://d1355990.i49.quadrahosting.co..._05/LMCmos.jpg



Bert

[avandonk]

Here are two images that show the gradient elimination better.

Large ST image 8MB

http://d1355990.i49.quadrahosting.co..._05/OC_ST_.jpg

Large image using my 'old' method 8MB

http://d1355990.i49.quadrahosting.co...05/OC_OLD_.jpg


Below are small images of old and StarTools.


Bert

[bratislav (Bratislav)]

You have just sold me onto StarTools, Bert! Ordering my own copy today.

[pluto (Hugh)]

Very nice!
I too love Startools

[LightningNZ (Cam)]

I'd never heard of Startools till you started showing off your work with it Bert, but it looks brilliant. I'll be ordering a copy soon.

Cheers,
Cam

[leon]

Wow, Bert that is nearly like magic, nice program, and lovely image as well.

Leon

[Ross G]

Great photo Bert.

So wide.

Ross.