Noel replied:
Hi Matthew,
Sorry for the confusion. I do have some instructions in the ReadMe.txt file I enclosed with the actions. In case you don't have the original files handy, I've attached a spare copy to this message for your convenience.
I realize the instructions are rather terse. If you read them and still have questions please let me know and I'll try to provide more information for you.
Thanks.
-Noel
Details of how to use Light Pollution Removal:
This action will allow you to remove light pollution and most
gradients, resulting in a flat image with a neutral background.
IMPORTANT: In order to preserve dim DSO (deep sky object) data, you may need to use the Dodge tool set to Shadows to lighten dark areas of the image that contain DSO info BEFORE running this action. Try to be conservative, but know that the action will flatten the image.
1. When the action stops at the Dust and Scratches dialog, move the sliders as follows:
Move the top slider (radius) to the right until the largest stars are blocked out. If you have a big star or DSO in the
image, you may still have a light blob - that's okay. Generally speaking, it's okay to pull the radius slider all
the way to the right, though the action will be better at removing any gradient if you don't go too far. Larger
radius values also take much longer to process.
Move the bottom slider (levels) right (to a non-zero value) ONLY if you'd like background noise smoothed out - this is
usually only good for star cluster shots, and it's generally not good to go too much above 7 levels for any shot. If you
have a clean stacked image, keep the levels slider at 0 - that way it won't remove any faint stars or DSO detail.
Press [Ok].
2. When the action stops at the Curves dialog, you'll see a blurred version of your image. This is a facsimile of the
color balance in the image that will be the result after the action image.
First, click on the little black point (leftmost) eyedropper, then choose an area of your image that's got the brightest
actual light pollution level. You'll see the light pollution darken. If you have a DSO in your image, you will want to
leave a light blob. Remember that this is roughly how bright and what color your DSO will be in your final image, though
it will have more detail.
You can click in different places until it looks as though you've found the one that's gotten all of the LP out, but
left all of the dim DSO luminosity intact.
Press [Ok].
When the action finishes, you should be left with an image with flat background luminance and a neutral background color. If it
doesn't come out the way you like, use the History palette, go back to the step before the last "Paste" command, and try the
action again with different parameters. After a while you'll get a feel for what the action does.
