The Giant Space Lamprey

DJScotty (Scott) · #1 08-03-2016, 10:05 PM

I know I know... Starless isn't for everybody.

Fiddled and faddled. Come up with this.

Hope you like it.

Full version here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/802634...posted-public/
BUT DON'T LOOK TOO CLOSELY. A few warts from the star removal are very present...
Thanks for looking. As always c&c welcomed

Ex DJ Scotty

Atmos (Colin) · #2 08-03-2016, 10:27 PM

I personally don't mind the starless versions, reminds me of an oil or airbrush painting... Or a cross between the two

Andy01 (Andy) · #3 08-03-2016, 10:59 PM

I like the dramatic effect but the technique is letting you down. What are you using? Straton is a good star removing option, but there are several others.
Great subject for the look though

DJScotty (Scott) · #4 08-03-2016, 11:23 PM

Thanks Andy. Yes straton is my choice of software. What other options are available?

MortonH · #5 09-03-2016, 08:14 AM

Looks like the Balrog from Lord of the Rings.

multiweb (Marc) · #6 09-03-2016, 08:34 AM

Really great details in that shot Scott. Very sharp. The dark features are very well defined. Well done.

DJScotty (Scott) · #7 09-03-2016, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

Really great details in that shot Scott. Very sharp. The dark features are very well defined. Well done.

Thanks Marc. I must admit I am pretty chuffed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MortonH

Looks like the Balrog from Lord of the Rings.

Thanks for looking. It does have that fiery kind of appearance doesn't it! 😆

Andy01 (Andy) · #8 09-03-2016, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJScotty

Thanks Andy. Yes straton is my choice of software. What other options are available?

Startools has a useful feature that reduces, removes stars, I think Pixinsite does as well. Also for the Photoshop fans, both JP-Metsavainio and Troy's Astro Actions have downloadable star removing actions.

I like Straton as well, but have found it needs a few settings tweaks to get the best out of an image. On the default settings sometimes it overdoes it's job and the results arn't so great. Usually I try a combination of starshrink in Startools, then followed by either Straton or Troys' Actions.

Hope that's useful

DJScotty (Scott) · #9 09-03-2016, 11:44 AM

Thanks Andy. That's very helpful and why I like this forum. People help you.
Thanks

RickS (Rick) · #10 09-03-2016, 12:08 PM

An interesting look, Scotty. I don't mind starless narrowband images.

In PI I remove stars with a star mask and a combination of wavelet layer removal and morphological transformation. It's a bit fiddly but that appears to be the case whatever tool you use.

Cheers,
Rick.

DJScotty (Scott) · #11 09-03-2016, 01:54 PM

Thanks Rick. That pi program sounds more and more compelling the more you tell me about it. I can feel my grip on my wallet slipping! 😆

RickS (Rick) · #12 09-03-2016, 02:20 PM

You can always go for the free trial, Scott, and see if you get hooked. It's a taste that not everybody acquires

strongmanmike (Michael) · #13 09-03-2016, 05:11 PM

Yeah as you say, as long as ya don't look too closely

it looks quite majestic even magnificent

Mike

Slawomir (Suavi) · #14 09-03-2016, 06:00 PM

A pleasant image to look at, but detail is washed out IMO. I am afraid without a quality corrector and precise spacing, it will be quite challenging if not impossible to take a full advantage of your very capable and large CCD, no matter what software you use for data processing.

Hey, but the main point is to have fun with this hobby

Looking forward to seeing your next image Scott

DJScotty (Scott) · #15 09-03-2016, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Yeah as you say, as long as ya don't look too closely

it looks quite majestic even magnificent

Mike

Thanks Mike. That's high praise! 😆

DJScotty (Scott) · #16 09-03-2016, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slawomir

A pleasant image to look at, but detail is washed out IMO. I am afraid without a quality corrector and precise spacing, it will be quite challenging if not impossible to take a full advantage of your very capable and large CCD, no matter what software you use for data processing.

Hey, but the main point is to have fun with this hobby

Looking forward to seeing your next image Scott

Thanks slawomir.
We can only do the best with what we have. And I am certainly having fun!

Atmos (Colin) · #17 09-03-2016, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJScotty

Thanks slawomir.
We can only do the best with what we have. And I am certainly having fun!

That is all that matters, as long as you're enjoying yourself!

DJT (David) · #18 09-03-2016, 08:03 PM

Looking good Scott. Bit of practising with the various star removal processing techniques and you are off and away

What's the scope and CCD combination here?

DJScotty (Scott) · #19 09-03-2016, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJT

Looking good Scott. Bit of practising with the various star removal processing techniques and you are off and away

What's the scope and CCD combination here?

Thanks David. Practice practice practice. .. never ends but all worth it in the end.
The scope is a 10" f4.5 newtonian. 1150mm fl. Imaging with the atik11000. Baader mk3 mpcc to try to flatten the field a bit but can't get it close enough due to the filter wheel. Mounted on the azeq6.