Thanks for the comments guys.
I basically follow these steps when I process. (Mind you I'm only learning so feel free to add to this, anyone.)
I first convert to 16 bit under the Image|Mode menu in PhotoShop CS.
It's best to shoot in RAW mode in the first place, but I forget sometimes.
Under Image|Adjustments|Levels... I click on the Black eyedroper and click on somewhere on the image which should be black. This stretches the histogramme. Then I adjust the sliders so the black,grey and white pointers encompasses the histogramme.
I click on Auto Contrast under Image|Adjustments|
If it looks ok I move on.
Curves under the Image|Adjustments|Curves menu is a big step where I adjust the Rubberband line into an "S" curve to bring out some colour detail, very subjective and up to you what you like best.
Moving on to the next major step Image|Adjustments|Colour Balance and here is where you can adjust each colour channel in the High,Medium and low Tone Balance of the histogramme.
I adjust with the "Preserve Luminosity" on.
Usually I boost the blue in the high Tone Balance, cut the green back and depending on the subject either boost or cut back on the red.
I also cut back on the blue in the Low Tone Balance and boost the green as needed.
Then under the Image|Adjustments|Brightness/Contrast I will cut back on the brightness and boost the contrast till I'm happy with it.
The Trap is always a difficult area unless you stack a few different frames taken at different ISO/exposure.
I then move down to Image|Adjustments|Photo Filter and if needed I apply an appropriate filter to bring out some final colour detail. (not always useful).
At this point I move over to the Filter menu and I use two plug ins which I have bought.
The first is RC- GradientXterminator from
http://www.rc-astro.com/
which helps get rid of gradients and some vengetting.
Then I use Neat Image to clean up the noise.
I save it in tiff and then uncheck the 16 bit mode so I can save it in jpg (8 bit mode) for the forum.
I've been experimenting and it's a trial and error process sometimes.
The two books I've been learning from have been invaluable.
The New CCD Astronomy by Ron Wodaski and
The Introduction to Digital Astrophotography by Robert Reeves.
I bought both from Bintel and have been digesting all the info from these great books.