First Processing with PixInsight - NGC2070 Ha

DavidTrap (David) · #1 05-10-2011, 10:18 PM

Finally nailed my backside to a chair for long enough to go through some PixInsight tutorials and videos (having a day off helped) so I can now present my first offering for your appraisal. It's definitely complicated, but seems very powerful.

The image was taken through my Tak at F6. I took 60 & 900 second exposures through a 5nm Ha filter. I calibrated and stacked in Maxim as usual. These were registered and HDR combined in PixInsight. I then applied a histogram transformation and HDRWavelets. (I can see H rolling his eyes at all of this HDR stuff already!) Next was ACDNR and a further histogram stretch, followed by an Unsharp Masking.

The full size image is found here.

It certainly isn't my best data - it was captured in poor seeing with lots of moisture and a bit of wind about. I wasn't 100% happy with guiding or focus either. (More excuses than a tomcat going to the vet!)

Hopefully I'll get a LRGB image up in the near future and then a HaLRGB combo.

Thanks for looking,

DT

Octane (Humayun) · #2 05-10-2011, 10:32 PM

That looks fantastic! Very 3D feel to it!

There's some weird stuff happening in the background. Is that due to heavy use of some kind of minimum filter? Like, splotches, almost?

Also, I've got nothing against HDRWavelets in PixInsight; it's the clown vomit filter applied to terrestrial imaging which makes head explode.

H

RickS (Rick) · #3 05-10-2011, 10:37 PM

David,

Have a look at ATWT for noise reduction (even on linear images) and also for sharpening. The wavelet based tools are amazing.

I'm processing a HaRGB Tarantula right now. Perhaps I should have chosen a less popular target. There can't be many photons left out there

Cheers,
Rick.

DavidTrap (David) · #4 05-10-2011, 11:32 PM

Thanks Gents,

H - I think I may have been a bit heavy handed with the noise reduction...

Rick - there are many things to try in PixInsight, I just need some hints on how to use these things - the lack of manual is a little frustrating!

Anyway, here is a rough and ready LRGB - very ROUGH!!!

DT

RobF (Rob) · #5 05-10-2011, 11:41 PM

Love the Ha David - coming together very nicely.
Heck, you should have seen my first few PI disasters. Your way out in front with those. Certainly a different interface, but some amazing functionality in there.

RickS (Rick) · #6 06-10-2011, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidTrap

Rick - there are many things to try in PixInsight, I just need some hints on how to use these things - the lack of manual is a little frustrating!

David,

Here's some info on using ATWT for noise reduction:
http://pixinsight.com/forum/index.ph...21961#msg21961

Here are some pointers to more info:
http://pixinsight.com/forum/index.ph...22460#msg22460
RobF's list of links is very handy.

There's lots of good stuff on the forum, but it's harder to find than in a manual...

The rough and ready LRGB looks pretty good!

Cheers,
Rick.

Hagar (Doug) · #7 06-10-2011, 09:04 AM

This image looks quite good David. I have a copy of Pixinsight but struggle with it. For me it seems very complex and doesn't seem to give me anything I can't get easier in CCDStack and Photoshop.

DavidTrap (David) · #8 06-10-2011, 11:47 AM

Thanks Rob, Rick & Hagar,

Hagar - I'm sure PS has similar functionality, but I'm getting an impression that Pixinsight has a lot of the tools built in that you need to add/buy plugins for with PS.

DT

Ross G · #9 06-10-2011, 05:45 PM

Hi David,

Your photo looks very good.

I am just learning Photoshop, but I am starting to read some very good things about PixInsight.

If you had the time, it would be good to see a comparison of the same shot done with both processing systems.

Good luck.

Ross.

DavidTrap (David) · #10 06-10-2011, 06:45 PM

Thanks Ross,

I really think it's a case of "more than one way to skin a cat". Outcomes will be similar, but the journey will be different. I'm sure many images will pass through both programs.

DT

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #11 06-10-2011, 07:23 PM

That looks fabulous David.

gregbradley · #12 06-10-2011, 07:55 PM

Well done on taking the plunge and climbing the learning curve. PixInsight has a lot to offer.

Nice image.

Greg.

h0ughy (David) · #13 06-10-2011, 08:30 PM

nice work David. Pixinsight is not photoshop and i think you will soon realise that. it is quite a powerful programme specifically for astro

DavidTrap (David) · #14 07-10-2011, 02:47 PM

Thanks JJJ, Greg & Houghy. It's certainly a learning curve. I agree that it is an astro-specific program which should deal with our data quite well, but I also can see that some of the "artistry" of image processing will be achieved with PS.

DT

dugnsuz (Doug) · #15 10-10-2011, 12:34 AM

The Ha version is beautiful David
Doug

DavidTrap (David) · #16 10-10-2011, 07:18 PM

Ta Doug.
Hope to get around to a reprocess of the RGB soon, and hopefully add some more data this new moon weekend.

DT

alan meehan (Alan) · #17 10-10-2011, 09:01 PM

Good shot David and nicely processed ,keep with Pixinsight its a great
programe.
AL

DavidTrap (David) · #18 10-10-2011, 09:38 PM

Thanks - Allan. Just need to find a few more days off!

DT

CoolhandJo (Paul) · #19 11-10-2011, 11:24 AM

Nice One

hotspur (Chris) · #20 13-10-2011, 09:34 AM

sorry for not looking at this earlier,but have been a bit busy.

Well done David!,it has not taken you long to become one of the best
imagers on these pages! Your colour is the best I have seen-you will be
featured in world wide publications very soon! going by these great examples.

cheers Chris