Ok so why didn't you tell me the previous version was ghastly?
With some consultation from Jase, I've completely re-worked my M8/M20 image from the ground up - re-combined from the RAWs instead of converting to TIFs first, and no DDP was done in ImagesPlus.
Photoshop alone was used to process the image - and this time I went with a much more subtle frame of mind.. instead of being fascinated with the data from a modded 350D under dark skies and trying to extract every last pixel from the background noise, I've gone with the "less is more" approach.
Comparing the two images now, I can't believe I thought the other one looked good I much prefer this one. I hope you do too?
Taken from SPSP16 with Chris Wakeman's modded 350D.
Ah that is lovely. I think we do get carried away with trying to get every last bit of light out of the data. This is a lovely balance of background stars and nebulae with a natural black background. Beautiful
WOW Mike, the difference is amazing! I love the smooth tonal qualities of this new image.
Very well done!
You say you only used Photoshop for adjustments... but I assume you used some other software for RAW stacking etc. Is this what you used Imagesplus for? Could you elaborate a little please?
As mentioned above. In early days of image processing we're all guilty of over doing it. It's great to receive some helpful hints to get you on the right track and Jase is "the man".
And your right when you look at your own image you think it looks great then when you reprocess it comes as a surprise to you of how much better the second try is. We've been through it ourselves. Processing is a never ending learning experience.
Now you have processed this great image so well we look forward to seeing you reprocess some of you previous images.
Well done Mike. Good to see you back on the straight and narrow.
After a combine function, always stretch the data hard. This allows you to ascertain the quality of the data and where the image will need work. A hard stretch will show noisy areas in which you can come back to address later in the routine. Once you've validated what needs to be done, start the process again, but don't stretch too hard initially. Progressively work the image over with levels, curves, log stretch, digital development or a non-linear tool of your choice. Be careful with automated non-linear stretch functions as they don't always take into consideration midpoints of multiple objects in a frame i.e. where the curve should tapper off. A DDP midpoint for one feature of an object may not stretch the other object hard enough if the dynamic range is vastly different. In these conditions, you can crop each object and DDP them separately to then later recombine them back into the final image. There is no right or wrong. With image processing, you are only limited by your imagination.
Keep up the good work. Look forward to seeing more. I think as you mentioned - "Less is more".
Whoops, must have missed the 1st one – was it that bad really? I just can’t imagine you producing less that really good work.
I love the 1200 pix image – it is a terrific portrait of these two outstanding Messier objects. The blue in the Triffid is every bit as nice as I have ever seen it represented – top job with the reprocess.
Good mentoring Jase - you're a valuable asset to the IIS Forum with the expertise, talent and generous help that you bring.
That is very nice Mike, one I could look at for a long time.
Yes all this processing is a learning curve and getting to know what each of us likes and dislikes. I now shudder when I look back at some of the Jupiter images I use to post on here.
Very nice image Mike. Nice and crisp, lots of extending nebulosity. Nice colour contrast too. I don't remember the other version, but this one's very good
M20 and M8 - reprocessed and reworked
I much prefer this one. I hope you do too?
