This is not so much a Sidonio of my NGC 300 image but a Davies (ie additional processing steps because you just can't stop tinkering OR you're tryng some new processing techniques) .
I tried Ken Crawford's Multi Strength Decon Layer Blending technique to a L+Ls layer (set as Lum in PS) (see http://www.imagingdeepsky.com/Presentations.html). I also added a sprinkling of shadows/highlights and a pinch of selective sharpening and high pass filtering near the nucleus. You can be the judge whether it's an improvement - see before (below left) and after (right).
That is absolutely superb. I still maintain it's what I'd see in a dream -- only much more vivid now.
Fantastic work!
Regards,
Humayun
Thanks Humayun! Yep, Ken Crawford's technique looks like a nice addition to the toolbox. It's pretty labour intensive but the reward is there if you put in the effort.
Quote:
Originally Posted by h0ughy
wonderful "Davies" rendition there. A "sidonio" is so old hat nowdays.
Thanks David and yes I agree, but I think the phrase "doing a sidonio" will stick. Hmmmmm, maybe it's better not to have my name associated with OCD behaviour anyway
Grasshopper Marcus, your Sidonio technique is coming along nicely
Is it an improvement..?...overall, probably but only subtly. The first has a nice glow about the core though that gives the galaxy a solid feel, the second shows a little more detail in the inner core but looks flatter. The first looks to show some more detail in places half way out the arms
Look out, acting like me can drive you mad ...at least you have a laptop
... Is it an improvement..?...overall, probably but only subtly.
Thanks. A real but subtle improvement is well worth spending hours of processing time on for us OCD types!! Anyway, it was important to avoid the risk of it appearing overcooked so I kept the opacity slider under control in my new layers! I really just wanted the nucleus to pop into focus a bit more and make the faint stars in the arms a bit more crisp.
Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
... The first has a nice glow about the core though that gives the galaxy a solid feel, the second shows a little more detail in the inner core but looks flatter.
You're right but that's what I was after. I thought my first version exaggerated the brightness of nucleus a bit too much. Could be I need to put a little of that glow back though
The repro's a beauty Marcus The colors and details extracted are much better. The image brightness is better balanced too. Nice shot.
Thanks Marc, it's the first time I've used different strength deconvolution layers (blended selectively) - it looks quite powerful if applied carefully.
. 
Hmmmmm, maybe it's better not to have my name associated with OCD behaviour anyway 
Don't knock it too much.
...at least you have a laptop 
Anyway, it was important to avoid the risk of it appearing overcooked so I kept the opacity slider under control in my new layers! I really just wanted the nucleus to pop into focus a bit more and make the faint stars in the arms a bit more crisp. 
