NGC2070 Tarantula Nebula ( SHO to Visual Spectrum Synthetic LRGB version )

[Startrek (Martin)]

Further to my recent SHO version of NGC 2070 Tarantula I decided to process a synthetic LRGB version from my recent SHO data set using Startools.

Here the workflow to set up and load the SHO data set into the Compose module to create a synthetic LRGB image if anyone is interested…….,

Startools - SHO data set to Visual Spectrum Synthetic LRGB

Open Compose module. Set Luminance Color to L + Synthetic L from RGB, Mono.
Create a Luminance channel by loading Sii into R , Ha into G and Oiii into B.
Press Keep then Linear then Save into your nominated location and save as a tiff file ( eg: SHO Luminance.tiff )
Close Compose module.
Open Compose module. Set Luminance Color to L + Synthetic L from RGB, Mono.
Create a Red channel ( Sii + Ha ) by loading Sii into R, load Ha into G.
Press Keep then Linear then Save into your nominated location and save as tiff file ( eg: Red Sii +Ha.tiff ) Close Compose module.
Open Compose module.
Set Luminance Color to L, RGB. Load saved SHO Luminance file into Luminance channel. Load saved Red Sii + Ha file into Red channel. Load existing Oiii file into Green channel. Load existing Oiii into Blue channel.
Press Keep then Linear. Open image in AutoDev or Film Dev and process as normal When you hit the Colour module select the following Color luminance style - Style - Artistic Not Detail Aware LRGB Method Emulation - RGB Ratio CieLab Luminance Retention. Adjust saturation and colour bias to taste. Leave Matrix ( presets ) identity Off Save then move onto final modules and Tracking Noise Reduction

Its definitely not a bonafide LRGB image but Startools does a pretty good job to create a synthetic version.

Astrobin link below for full resolution…..,

https://www.astrobin.com/bubel4/

Attached native version and crop version in 200kB IIS

Thanks for Looking
Comments welcome

Martin

[gregbradley]

That is nice and sharp and the bright areas nicely controlled.
Colours are better to my taste than the other version.
Greg

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Cool Martone, I like the close up

Ah sigh, colour palette, which colour palette...so much Warhol fun can be had in this

Mike

[Startrek (Martin)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

That is nice and sharp and the bright areas nicely controlled.
Colours are better to my taste than the other version.
Greg

Thanks Greg,
Much appreciated
I’m guessing by your comment that you’re a traditional Broadband LRGB bloke not Hubble Palette junkie.
Unfortunately under B8 skies and inconsistent clear skies we poor soles rely on our Narrowband filters to open the door for imaging.
I hope to get down to my south coast Obs more often in 2025 as being a grandparent has stopped those 3 and 4 day weekend getaways , like I did a few years ago.
Cheers
Martin

[Startrek (Martin)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Cool Martone, I like the close up

Ah sigh, colour palette, which colour palette...so much Warhol fun can be had in this

Mike

Thanks Mike,
Yep Andy is at it again
Seriously though I’m enjoying creating these alternative or synthetic LRGB palettes from NB data as Startools is so good at it , plus it’s quick.

Clear Skies
Martone

[Startrek (Martin)]

Here’s another version in Synthetic LRGB
This time I tweaked the Green and Blue channels
I think a bit more traditional ??

Cheers
Martin

[Dave882 (David)]

Hi Martin I really like the Astrobin version (i think it's the one with less green, more blue hue). Anyways- irrespective of the pallet, the detail is very nice and as always you've got great control of dynamic range.

But more to the point - how the hell did you find any clear sky in the last month to finish this?!? I've been using my rig for some planetary observing in-between the clouds, and not even had a good chance for short captures let alone dso integration. So bravo mate- well done!!

[Startrek (Martin)]

Originally Posted by Dave882

Hi Martin I really like the Astrobin version (i think it's the one with less green, more blue hue). Anyways- irrespective of the pallet, the detail is very nice and as always you've got great control of dynamic range.

But more to the point - how the hell did you find any clear sky in the last month to finish this?!? I've been using my rig for some planetary observing in-between the clouds, and not even had a good chance for short captures let alone dso integration. So bravo mate- well done!!

Thanks Dave
I took a chance with 2 min subs through those 3nm filters ( like welding glass lens ) It really worked incredibly well for only a handful of hours. No moon around of course gave me excellent signal through the Oiii as well
How did I do it , luck and perseverance I suppose. I use Remote Desktop so I was watching TV whilst monitoring the capture all night. Gets tiring after the first hour or so but pushed on through PHD2 dinging audibly away off and on.
21st Nov captured Ha
22nd Nov captured Sii then Oiii
23rd Nov at Dusk just calibration frames
Started each night around 9.20pm when my FOV was clear of my roof gutter line and finished around 12.20am when the front council tree blocked out everything. Wrestled with cloud mainly on the first night . Second night just some patchy cloud for half an hour off and on
Threw away quite a few subs too

One of my most challenging but rewarding projects for a while due to restricted line of sight and window of opportunity , cloud and the unknown using shortish narrowband subs.

Thanks again
Martin

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Now that's perseverance, it's like an adventure, something only old school astrophotographers would understand ...although, you were sitting on the couch during capture....so only half old school

Mike

[CaptainCook (Gary)]

"Luxury!"

I had to get up an hour before I went to bed....etc

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by CaptainCook

"Luxury!"

I had to get up an hour before I went to bed....etc

..and you try and tell the young astrophotographers of today that....they won't believe ya!..no, no....

[AlexN]

Originally Posted by CaptainCook

"Luxury!"

I had to get up an hour before I went to bed....etc

You had a bed? LUXURY!!!

When I started, I had a swept section of the floor I could have slept on, if I'd been able to go to bed an hour after I woke up!

Martin - Lovely image mate!
I always truly enjoy reading your posts about how you arrive at your chosen colour palletes and visual presentation of data!

Its always so unique, but also somehow always so successful!

Well done mate.

[Bodon (Steve)]

Martin, very nice photo mate! Great info on the process. Well done.

[Startrek (Martin)]

Originally Posted by AlexN

You had a bed? LUXURY!!!

When I started, I had a swept section of the floor I could have slept on, if I'd been able to go to bed an hour after I woke up!

Martin - Lovely image mate!
I always truly enjoy reading your posts about how you arrive at your chosen colour palletes and visual presentation of data!

Its always so unique, but also somehow always so successful!

Well done mate.

Thanks Alex,
I’ve always presented my images with a rundown on conditions, equipment, capture details and technical data etc…
All images have a process or story behind them.

As far as post processing is concerned, it’s Startools that’s so unique, not me , it’s not traditional processing like Pi and many others. Every pixel is actively tracked and optimised for SNR through the workflow process. Colour and Noise reduction is performed at the very end. Advanced physics based algorithms control the functions of each module which provides a baseline platform whilst maximising SNR which takes all the user guesswork away and then allows optimisation to be applied at will.
There’s only about 10 or 12 modules but they are extremely powerful and most images can be processed with only 6 or 8 modules.
Your data set is loaded via the Compose module in which selection can be made on what type of composite you wish to process and also acts as a channel extraction tool.
During processing the luminance and chrominance is handled simultaneously ( only the luminance is used to view your image) until you hit the colour module. The Colour Module has a huge selection of options in the main window but also has a matrix with dozens of presets which can be adjusted to suit taste etc…

https://www.startools.org/modules/composite

https://www.startools.org/modules/color

Cheers
Martin

[Startrek (Martin)]

Originally Posted by Bodon

Martin, very nice photo mate! Great info on the process. Well done.

Thanks Steve ,
Haven’t imaged anything since late November, the weather on the east coast of NSW has been ordinary to say the least.

Cheers
Martin

[Bodon (Steve)]

Mate I know where you are coming from. Have not had a decent night here at Nowra for over a month. Days are fine though. Next new moon looks promising though.