Al's repro is quite good. I haven't managed to replicate it yet, but I will be trying.
Thanks Rex,
I wondered what your pic would look like with a further complete LAB mode boost.
This increases the colour without affecting it's brightness.
I then found that the background looked too noisy - full of colour noise
so I used a noise reduction mask - then added noise as well at 2%.
I post the result here: http://www.astrobin.com/full/134855/0/
Do you like that better?
If so you are welcome to post it or the previous one on Astrobin as yours.
It's only in the staging area now.
I think it's the best M31 ever on Ice in Space - ( after a quick Google search.)
You have great data.
...to increase the saturation I normally use curves, PI has a saturation tab on the curves tool that I use. There is a separate saturation tool as well but I like the curves results better. I just had a look at Allens links above and Louie has some great tips there for photoshop which are very useful. Just have to modify slightly to achieve the same result in pixinsight.
Nice one Rex, I like your original just as much as the repro.
Thanks Simon, I do like my original, but what Al has managed to do was what I was trying to achieve with my original processing. Like everyone, I'm always on the lookout for easier or better ways to do things.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amaranthus
Excellent work Rex. That beauty is now below my horizon at 43S (alas!)
Thanks Barry, I can't wait to do the cooling mod on y camera, it really annoys me all the colour noise in the background. Al seems to have eliminated most of it in his second repro, so will be having a look through the utorials posted earlier. It's something I haven't been able to put my finger on how to get rid of it yet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by alpal
Rex,
Thanks Rex,
I wondered what your pic would look like with a further complete LAB mode boost.
This increases the colour without affecting it's brightness.
I then found that the background looked too noisy - full of colour noise
so I used a noise reduction mask - then added noise as well at 2%.
I post the result here: http://www.astrobin.com/full/134855/0/
Do you like that better?
If so you are welcome to post it or the previous one on Astrobin as yours.
It's only in the staging area now.
I think it's the best M31 ever on Ice in Space - ( after a quick Google search.)
You have great data.
cheers
Allan
Al I really like this rendition thank you very much for the compliments, and I may take you up on the offer of posting it, but I would like to try and replicate it first if that's ok. Especially the elimination of the colour noise. I always struggle with that as soon as it starts to get warm up here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Camelopardalis
Thanks Rex, will give it a go
Your welcome Dunk. I'm looking forward to seeing your repro.
Edit: Ok folks, after Al's reprocess and guidance with the tutorials he posted, I had another go at processing this one. I have attached it to this post. Although I do have photoshop, these days I tend to process all my images totally with pixinsight. PI doesn't have rope selection tools or the like because when you use these tools, you are manipulating the data it an unnatural way, meaning doing something to a certain structure rather than to all pixels at a particular brightness etc. (I am not criticizing anyone for using these tools, as to highlight some structures you need them). I still prefer Al's repro because he managed to bring the pinks out in the nebula's by using such tools. However I am trying my hand at staying true to the data bla bla bla, so decided not to use them. The attached reprocess is the closest I can come to Al's with my current knowledge using PI. I am sure that with more practice I will be able to get there, but for now this is it. I may have a go using PS later down the track.
Hi Rex,
you won't be able to get the image like mine unless
you do blurred masks in Photoshop of certain small & large areas.
I know that is not scientifically correct but it does give a more pleasing image.
I started by drawing a mask as a ring around the galaxy.
I could see from other images posted that there you would find all the red nebulas & blue areas.
I then boosted it in LAB mode just for those areas & the colours popped.
Further refinement of the mask using the paint brush at different strengths then highlighted only the areas I wanted.
This mask was then blurred & feathered - & the opacity altered.
I had to do this many times & even mask just many tiny areas in the same way
to get the final result here: http://www.astrobin.com/full/134855/0/
Maybe I actually overcooked it & perhaps the previous version with
a noise reduction mask on the background would be better?
here: http://www.astrobin.com/full/134829/0/
Should I fix that version?
Rex,
Hi Rex,
you won't be able to get the image like mine unless
you do blurred masks in Photoshop of certain small & large areas.
I know that is not scientifically correct but it does give a more pleasing image.
I started by drawing a mask as a ring around the galaxy.
I could see from other images posted that there you would find all the red nebulas & blue areas.
I then boosted it in LAB mode just for those areas & the colours popped.
Further refinement of the mask using the paint brush at different strengths then highlighted only the areas I wanted.
This mask was then blurred & feathered - & the opacity altered.
I had to do this many times & even mask just many tiny areas in the same way
to get the final result here: http://www.astrobin.com/full/134855/0/
Maybe I actually overcooked it & perhaps the previous version with
a noise reduction mask on the background would be better?
here: http://www.astrobin.com/full/134829/0/
Should I fix that version?
cheers
Allan
Hi Al, yeah I do realise that's what I will have to do to achieve similar results as you. I will probably have a go at it with photoshop one of these days. I am pretty happy with the data as you said, so i want to get the most out of it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
Al's on a roll here Rex ...great stuff (both of you)
Mike
Yeah he's done really well, and taught me a thing or two in the process. Thanks for the encouragent Mike.
Hi Al, yeah I do realise that's what I will have to do to achieve similar results as you. I will probably have a go at it with photoshop one of these days.
Nice repro Rex. Don't be tempted with PS. stay true to the data.
Geoff
M31 is my favourite object in the sky and yours is a great looking photo.
I like your original and the repro.
Colour is difficult to get from our latitudes as it is so low.
I have photographed M31 from Coonabarabran and it barely gets to 14 degrees above the horizon so yours is an excellent capture.
Nice repro Rex. Don't be tempted with PS. stay true to the data.
Geoff
Thanks Geoff, I know what you mean, and for the moment I will do exactly that. Going to play some more in PI when I get some time and try some more elaborate range masks to try and improve it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ross G
Hi Rex,
M31 is my favourite object in the sky and yours is a great looking photo.
I like your original and the repro.
Colour is difficult to get from our latitudes as it is so low.
I have photographed M31 from Coonabarabran and it barely gets to 14 degrees above the horizon so yours is an excellent capture.
Great work!
Ross.
Thanks Ross, 14 degrees is very low, you did well to get anything at all. I think I over saturated the repro but it's all a learning curve, and I have some more playing to do with this one before I hang up the mouse.
, probably wrecked it 
...great stuff (both of you) 
