Recent images I’ve put up have had a certain amount of criticism (and fair enough too), which left me somewhat wondering. The source of my problem I decided (and hoped) was the monitor of the laptop I was using. Going to another IIS members residence and doing a quck side by side test confirmed my suspicions.
So a purchase was required, I went out with my wife in search of a NEW MONITOR , and bless her heart the budget for this was increased, to allow me to get a 24 inch 1920 x 1200 pixel one with an 8000.1 contrast ratio for my images.
This one came with a program called Natural Color Pro which allows you to set the calibration of the monitor ……. (yes I know the pro’s are cringing)…. Having done this I compared a few images with those I had printed at a reasonably reputable printing place, and was happy with the result. Which leaves me to consider how many monitors are not calibrated in any way out there? Im not saying mine is perfect (for photoshop users try going to SETTINGS/ CONTROL PANEL / ADOBE GAMMA in your computer for a simple test and compare to your prints). I could probably do this to the laptop now that I have a vague idea what I am doing, …. Note other laptops I looked at had a similar problem, I don’t know if they are set up this way for power conservation perhaps?
Now that I have done the introduction, on to the image, M16 as well known as they come. The one that’s bright red with green haloed stars is the OLD version it did look good on the old laptop though. The other one is the reprocessed on the new monitor version. I hope it looks the same to you as to me. I am pretty sure the colors will be right , just the brightness whether to you its too light or dark..... i did peek at jases repro for an IIS member and compare.... after i finished.
I tried to keep some star colors (thanks for those who sent advice) I will need to work on this further but a degree of success was made, my central focus in the image was the two ‘Towers " and trying to keep the luminous edges clearly visible, and not introduce too much noise, the crop is a pixel for pixel conversion 1280 x 1024 and further processed to add more contrast and correct the histogram black points for those who like to asses it that way, the blue was raised to increase the blue in the stars, and protocol seems to demand the background sky has a slight blue tinge to it.
For those who need to know what was used
12inch newtonian
qhy8 camera
6 min exposures (probably 2hrs worth) …. Backed up the FITS to disk somewhere?
G11 mount
Well well that certainly made a big difference Clive. Colour and background look great.
As you have commented, many of us need to check our monitors with a print of an image from a reputable photographic printer then compare and calibrate accordingly. Good advice
The latest version looks terrific on my screen, although the previous one also looked very good, until you now compare the two. I particularly like the wide field, the colour in the stars, the subtle tones and the overall impact of this latest version – top stuff! Oh, and I also seem hung up on nice, round, natural looking stars which this latest version displays very nicely.
Cheers
Dennis
PS - Re Clive’s comment about Jase's reprocess, this is the link to Jase’s reprocess of my somewhat dull M16. In the post, Jase provides a nice description of the process he used to turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse.
I don't know how you guys do this stuff, but the end results are very impressive. Interesting about the monitor... I've always been surprised at the amount of difference between models.
And what's with the budget being increased? Have you mentioned that new scope you wanted?
Nice image, colour is definitely "better" in the latest version.
But...
The stars seem to have been clipped a bit, resulting in either pale orange or pale blue stars. Maybe there's a little too much blue.
Here's my rendition of the same object, you can see the stars seem different.
Cheers
Stuart
I do see what you mean Stuart, regarding Clives stars..although they don't detract from the image as a whole. I think Clives colour balance is more accurate than that displayed in the image you have posted as a comparison though.
Clive, if you can just bolster the star brightness a tad it would make what is already a fantastic image even better IMO!
i live 64ks from Melbourne CBD, the west shows sky glow to 45 deg on the horizon, to the east its pretty good, not quite outback , but no filters are required to combat light pollution (apart from my neighbours floodlights) .
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I particularly like the wide field, the colour in the stars
thanks dennis ( i will comment more on this at end of post)
plus jase does do a remarkable job with his processing ..... check out the link dennis provided
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And what's with the budget being increased? Have you mentioned that new scope you wanted?
SSSHHHHHH....... One step at a time weve just had one win , better not push it for a little while
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Well, the first one (the one on the left) looks pretty well spot on to me mate, in fact it looks very familiar!
Cheques in the mail mike. That puts you in the professional section for the Malins now...... hehehe
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But...
The stars seem to have been clipped a bit, resulting in either pale orange or pale blue stars. Maybe there's a little too much blue.
well thats one for and one against so far... more to say later.
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I do see what you mean Stuart, regarding Clives stars
Make that 2:1
Ok the colored stars, this was deliberate. i got a very early version and saturated it stretched it saturated it etc, used the color range tool and selected enough stars so as to copy into the almost finished image, and blended on a percentage. Without doing something like this all i get is stars that are white (particularly the blue ones ) with a tiny colored ring around the extremity. this is the first ive done this way.... perhaps a slightly lower percentage rate for the blend...... i will wait to see what the general concensus is..... i will hunt the hard drive for the version without the colors to the stars added.... give me an hour or 2 as pizza has just arrived
To all thanks for looking, i would be interested in others opinions on the star colors.
Good one Clive.
I think the stars on the new one (left) are good, as is the whole image.
It does have a 3D feel about it.
Well done, both the image and with the financial advisor.
Very nice Clive, good depth and detail in the image
as always thanks ric
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Here's my rendition of the same object, you can see the stars seem different.
Cheers
Stuart
i had a good look at your stars and you have rendered them extremely well. mine just went white so i used different tactics, which perhaps need refining a little
Now the reply for the colored stars part 2
i appreciate the honest replys with regards to this, and im not concerned in a negative way by any of them. i did a quick calculation on the crop i provided.... if this was printed at that resolution it would be a 30 inch by 20 inch print, so you are getting more up close, than you would say, at a photo competition. i have submitted for your consideration
1. an earlier version of the crop... without the color added to the stars
2. a full frame of the image.... note this is an incomplete image in comparison to the first crop as i tinkered with that one further to present it BUT i have added the star colors, and i dont think that at this size ( equivalent to a 12 inch by 8 inch print) its so noticable... or is it?
Clipping is the losing of data as it is cut off, note at the black end we are all aware via the histogram, we are usually clipping at the white end too as soon as the values hit 255 ( for 8 bit , 65000 odd for 16 bit etc) you have actually lost all data for that section of the object.... perhaps restoring some of that data is not such a bad idea, maybee this is the right way and the usual needs improving? (unless you have some very good processing skill and can prevent it from clipping). there are better ways of doing this no doubt, and with a better result if done well, .......
Image processing is like herding cats..... so many things happening at once to keep ones eye on.
Last edited by Alchemy; 30-08-2008 at 08:40 PM.
Reason: clipping hypothesis, plus acknowledgement of stuarts image.
it did look good on the old laptop though
. The other one is the reprocessed on the new monitor version. I hope it looks the same to you as to me. I am pretty sure the colors will be right , just the brightness whether to you its too light or dark..... i did peek at jases repro for an IIS member and compare.... after i finished.
Have you mentioned that new scope you wanted? 
) .
weve just had one win , better not push it for a little while
...... hehehe 
