Fancy processing my M78 stack, anyone?
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2019 6:20 pm
Hi,
I have been really struggling to get a good image out of an HDR DSS stack of M78 data i compiled a few weeks ago. All in all, I have over 7 hours of data.
All my images from Startools exhibit an unattractive brown mottle, where there should be smooth dust surrounding this reflection nebula.
A fellow imager, has kindly had a go of processing my stack and has produced an image which was so good, it literally made my jaw drop. His weapon of choice is Pixinsight.
I've been using Startools for a good year now, with some pretty good images under my belt, but this image has defeated me, and I am lost in trying to smooth out the noise.
Here is a sample workflow of my numerous attempts:
StarTools 1.4.340
Sun Jan 20 12:45:56 2019
-----------------------------------------------------------
File loaded [G:\Astronomy\Astrophotography Images\06-01-19 M78 Z61 E-PL5\08-01-19\Lights\M78 (No Drizzle).fts].
---
Type of Data: Linear, was not Bayered, or was Bayered + white balanced
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [2.20]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [24.07 %]
Parameter [Blue Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Green Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Red Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [5 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [Off]
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [4121 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [3121 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [135 pixels (-4505)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [353 pixels (-3119)]
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [(scale/noise reduction 89.20%)/(125.68%)/(+0.33 bits)]
Image Size 3557 x 2470 pixels
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
Parameter [Temporary AutoDev] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Precision] set to [512 x 512 pixels]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [20 pixels]
Parameter [Drop Off Point] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Corner Aggressiveness] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [90 %]
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [92.06 %]
Parameter [Blue Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Green Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Red Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [5 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [Off]
Mask used (BASE64 PNG encoded)
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [To Yellow]
Parameter [Bias Slider Mode] set to [Sliders Reduce Color Bias]
Parameter [Style] set to [Scientific (Color Constancy)]
Parameter [LRGB Method Emulation] set to [Straight CIELab Luminance Retention]
Parameter [Dark Saturation] set to [2.00]
Parameter [Bright Saturation] set to [Full]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [200 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.07]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.75]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
File saved [G:\Astronomy\Astrophotography Images\06-01-19 M78 Z61 E-PL5\08-01-19\Lights\M78 (No Drizzle).tiff].
--- Wavelet De-Noise
Parameter [Filter Type] set to [Gaussian Noise Diffusion]
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [6.5 pixels]
--- Wavelet De-Noise
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 3] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 4] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 5] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Scale Correlation] set to [6]
Parameter [Color Detail Loss] set to [200 %]
Parameter [Brightness Detail Loss] set to [200 %]
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [30.9 pixels]
Parameter [Read Noise Compensation] set to [100.00 %]
Parameter [Smoothness] set to [100 %]
--- Layer
Parameter [Layer Mode] set to [Darken]
Parameter [Cap Mode] set to [Clip]
Parameter [Brightness Mask Mode] set to [Off]
Parameter [Filter Type] set to [Gaussian (Fg)]
Parameter [Blend Amount] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Filter Kernel Radius] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Offset X] set to [0.0 pixels]
Parameter [Offset Y] set to [1.5 pixels]
Parameter [Brightness Mask Power] set to [1.00]
File saved [G:\Astronomy\Astrophotography Images\06-01-19 M78 Z61 E-PL5\08-01-19\Lights\M78 (No Drizzle).tiff].
Then over to GIMP to stretch out detail Startools just doesn't bring out (in my hands).
My earlier efforts went along the lines of: AUTODEV->CROP->BIN->WIPE->DEV->DECON->CONTRAST->HDR->SHARP->COLOUR->TRACKING OFF/DENOISE->LAYER (fix trailed stars)->GIMP
Here is my FITS file.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=16Z9f7 ... wcMuVM_s3a
And one of my noisey efforts:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1b0mxe ... RMXplxoWxr
I would love to know what Startools can muster with more experience hands.
Cheers
I have been really struggling to get a good image out of an HDR DSS stack of M78 data i compiled a few weeks ago. All in all, I have over 7 hours of data.
All my images from Startools exhibit an unattractive brown mottle, where there should be smooth dust surrounding this reflection nebula.
A fellow imager, has kindly had a go of processing my stack and has produced an image which was so good, it literally made my jaw drop. His weapon of choice is Pixinsight.
I've been using Startools for a good year now, with some pretty good images under my belt, but this image has defeated me, and I am lost in trying to smooth out the noise.
Here is a sample workflow of my numerous attempts:
StarTools 1.4.340
Sun Jan 20 12:45:56 2019
-----------------------------------------------------------
File loaded [G:\Astronomy\Astrophotography Images\06-01-19 M78 Z61 E-PL5\08-01-19\Lights\M78 (No Drizzle).fts].
---
Type of Data: Linear, was not Bayered, or was Bayered + white balanced
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [2.20]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [24.07 %]
Parameter [Blue Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Green Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Red Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [5 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [Off]
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [4121 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [3121 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [135 pixels (-4505)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [353 pixels (-3119)]
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [(scale/noise reduction 89.20%)/(125.68%)/(+0.33 bits)]
Image Size 3557 x 2470 pixels
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
Parameter [Temporary AutoDev] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Precision] set to [512 x 512 pixels]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [20 pixels]
Parameter [Drop Off Point] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Corner Aggressiveness] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [90 %]
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [92.06 %]
Parameter [Blue Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Green Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Red Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [5 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [Off]
Mask used (BASE64 PNG encoded)
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [To Yellow]
Parameter [Bias Slider Mode] set to [Sliders Reduce Color Bias]
Parameter [Style] set to [Scientific (Color Constancy)]
Parameter [LRGB Method Emulation] set to [Straight CIELab Luminance Retention]
Parameter [Dark Saturation] set to [2.00]
Parameter [Bright Saturation] set to [Full]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [200 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.07]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.75]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
File saved [G:\Astronomy\Astrophotography Images\06-01-19 M78 Z61 E-PL5\08-01-19\Lights\M78 (No Drizzle).tiff].
--- Wavelet De-Noise
Parameter [Filter Type] set to [Gaussian Noise Diffusion]
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [6.5 pixels]
--- Wavelet De-Noise
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 3] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 4] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 5] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Scale Correlation] set to [6]
Parameter [Color Detail Loss] set to [200 %]
Parameter [Brightness Detail Loss] set to [200 %]
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [30.9 pixels]
Parameter [Read Noise Compensation] set to [100.00 %]
Parameter [Smoothness] set to [100 %]
--- Layer
Parameter [Layer Mode] set to [Darken]
Parameter [Cap Mode] set to [Clip]
Parameter [Brightness Mask Mode] set to [Off]
Parameter [Filter Type] set to [Gaussian (Fg)]
Parameter [Blend Amount] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Filter Kernel Radius] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Offset X] set to [0.0 pixels]
Parameter [Offset Y] set to [1.5 pixels]
Parameter [Brightness Mask Power] set to [1.00]
File saved [G:\Astronomy\Astrophotography Images\06-01-19 M78 Z61 E-PL5\08-01-19\Lights\M78 (No Drizzle).tiff].
Then over to GIMP to stretch out detail Startools just doesn't bring out (in my hands).
My earlier efforts went along the lines of: AUTODEV->CROP->BIN->WIPE->DEV->DECON->CONTRAST->HDR->SHARP->COLOUR->TRACKING OFF/DENOISE->LAYER (fix trailed stars)->GIMP
Here is my FITS file.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=16Z9f7 ... wcMuVM_s3a
And one of my noisey efforts:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1b0mxe ... RMXplxoWxr
I would love to know what Startools can muster with more experience hands.
Cheers