I have finally worked out how to register and stack images with PixInsight.
PI must do some clever things when integrating stacks by taking the light pollution and gradient variation into account when scaling subs. This is all I can think of for the vast improvement in the dark detail especially the dust. PI also effectively rejects real noise (hot pixels, satellites, aircraft and cosmic rays) without rejecting faint signal.
I also used PI for stretching after minimising light pollution and gradients with the DBE module.
Both of these images are from 30x4 min subs for each of RGB. I used ImagesPlus to correct for darks and flats.
I then used StarTools, EasyHDR and Photoshop for some minor tweaks.
NGC2070 large image 16MB
http://d1355990.i49.quadrahosting.co...C2070_PI_L.jpg
Lagoon Trifid 16MB
http://d1355990.i49.quadrahosting.co...TRIF_PI_XL.jpg
I am sure these results are not final or definitive. I am still groping in the dark and will most probably continue to do so.
We can never attain perfection but sometimes we can get closer to it by dogged determination and hard work.
Bert
