Had a brief window between the Moon and clouds this Friday past.
Here's a couple of versions of the Running Man.
Processed with DeepSkyStacker as usual with flats (and then a bit of PS)
One processed with Bilinear interpolation of the RAWs towards a standard blue outcome,
the other processed using the bayer matrix as is no interpolation and without further aligning of the channels upon completion of the stack.
The second version gave me a range of colors i didn't expect but upon checking other pics on the net found others had had similar results (albeit much nice than my poor efforts)
Anyways,
Please let me know which you prefer, standard blue or "color" version
Thanks
frank
The color image shows more of the dust surrounding the running man, I think the standardish blue image is pretty, but I dare say the colored one is more "accurate"
I think the running man, along with the flame, are two of the most overlooked deep sky targets around.. Obviously due to their close proximity to 2 of the most easily recognized targets out there...
Shame, your images prove theres a wealth of beauty in the running man, and it might be worth a closer look.. Alex.
umm, sorry, I dont understand. The Bayer matrix conversion includes interpolation, so what was the 1st image? (Bayer conversion is required on a DSLR, it makes no sense without). Why would you need "futher" aligning of the channels after that?. The 1st image looks better IMO, the 2nds colour balance looks odd.
Thanks guys,
I like both so I cant decide !
Fred/Adam, it's in the DSS settings. Its all a bit beyond me but in the settings for RAWS Bayer Matrix transformation I have the option to use bilinear interpolation or the Bayer drizzle algorithm with no interpolation or debayerization. The latter produces 3 channels that aren't aligned unlike the first option.
When I have use that option in the past i tend to re-align the channels manually but in this case left them as they were.
Alex,
Thanks I agree, we just don't see this target enough i think, it's a real pretty target and looks like a bit of fun to process to too1
cheers
frank
Great stuff Frank. I prefer the first image myself - purely because I'm starting to prefer more under than over-coloured nebulonic (?? LOL!) images. I agree with Alex too - this is worthy of being a target in its own right. All you ever usually see is it being paired with that monstrosity next door. Thanks for the perspective!
Thanks Clive,
the color version shows some brownish nebulosity which may be more to do with my camera and processing in terms of color. I have seen similar ranges of colors in other posts of this target elsewhere which is what made me think of it in the end.
thanks
for the feedback
frank
DOH, you've got a fifty fifty vote probably fair enough too, both have their good points ie the blue is more traditional and pleasing to the eye, where the more dusty look is probably more accurate?
So, being an expert at combining images ...I recommend you coregister them and do a 50/50 blend of the two in PS = perfect
I actually prefer the color version but maybe toned down slightly...
I think it gives a more natural rendition of the area as it does have a mix of Ha thrown into the reflection neb as well as that brown dusty stuff as well. The blue one is pleasing but only shows one aspect of the running man.
Nice images by the way
umm, sorry, I dont understand. The Bayer matrix conversion includes interpolation, so what was the 1st image? (Bayer conversion is required on a DSLR, it makes no sense without). Why would you need "futher" aligning of the channels after that?. The 1st image looks better IMO, the 2nds colour balance looks odd.
Interpolation here means the mathematical calculation of the surrounding pixels when constructing a colour image given that the camera is a mono chip with a layer of coloured filters in a 4 pixel square of RGGB or similar.
That filter is called the Bayer matrix.
Interpolation then reconstructs an image making it more like it were taken 1x1 binning rather than the 2x2 binning that DSLRs use due to their 4 pixel colour filter layer where each colour point in the image is made up of 4 pixels. Interpolation then makes each pixel count in constructing the image and is an attempt to get more resolution back towards mono 1 pixel = part of the image versus 4 pixels equals one part of the image.
There are different mathematical methods of calculating neighbouring pixel values. Bilinear is one of them. There is a site that compares the results
of different mathematical methods- PHD guiding as I recall.
Interpolation is why a colour cam is not 1/4 the resolution of a mono cam with filters but more like 60% of the resolution of a mono camera. Choosing the method that results in the closest approximation of an image that were taken without a colour filter can make a big difference in resolution.
The main problem with colour cams versus
I think the best colour is between the 2, the first does not show the crimson colours and the second shows them a bit too saturated so in between would be my preference in colour. Nice image either way.
probably fair enough too, both have their good points ie the blue is more traditional and pleasing to the eye, where the more dusty look is probably more accurate?
...I recommend you coregister them and do a 50/50 blend of the two in PS = perfect 
(YET)
