Hi again Eric,
I agree, the brighter objects are great to test new gear and see what's what in a relatively short time.
I always seem to go for M42.... well, it seems to be in the right area of sky when I buy something new...
I like the lovely detail you've picked up along the Keyhole wall... !!
Just a thought, have you ever thought (or heard) of doing a G2V calibration...ie do short images on a G2V solar analogue star (Alpha Centaurus is one),,, the same spectrum as our own Sun and weight your RGB's so that the star turns out white. This same weight can then be applied to all your images. It all changes when using different scopes so it has to be done again.
Chuck Shaw, Al Kelly, Ed Grafton and Richard Berry did much work in this area to produce "true" colour images.... I say "true" with my tongue in my cheek, but it can get you consistency with every image... plus using extinction factors multiplied to your rgb weight......... but of course artistic license comes into play with what we do, and depending on how much fritzing around you want to do but it's an interesting concept all the same... here's a link if you'd like a read..
http://www.ghg.net/akelly/artdraf7.htm
I know they did it with individual filters, but you could also apply the same reasoning in PS or similar software with the 300D images, just use the channel mixer a bit.
Also Steve Canistra has great tutorials on lots of stuff. He's a great imager and much can be gleaned from his tutorials. Here's his link if your interested...
http://www.starrywonders.com/
Glad you had clear skies last night, certainly made the most of it!!!
My area clouded over after a while and I ended up with only 12- 3min subs with a NE asteroid very slowly chugging across my M104 image.... it took an email to the experienced asteroid trackers from the CADG group to find its designation for me... as I am so unprepared when it comes to these little beggers!
It's amazing how many of these little wanders there are..... and so close to us.
This one I though I'd better get it checked out..... but very bright at 13 mag and super slow. Very close to us as well at only .988AU.
All fun though and keeps us from our beds...
All the best for now

Rich