StarTools

My first processing of M33 was not that good, very purple ish... I thought it was mainly because of my uncalibrated monitor, but I'm still having issues after reprocessing it.

Here's my latest result, which is much better than the original but still not where I'd like it to be.
I tried to use the MaxRGB technique but the best I can get is this.

Is this simply that I do not have enough data and that my data is very noisy (taken with a Canon 60D not cooled, lowest temperature was like 24C at night :/)?

And while I'm at it, I'm using Daylight whitebalance and full resolution, but having just watched this youtube video from Ivo, should I lower my resolution/change my whitebalance settings?

Here's the link to my .fts file if anyone wants to have a try at it.


Workflow:
File loaded [D:\M33Autosave.fts].
---
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [(scale/noise reduction 50.00%)/(400.00%)/(+2.00 bits)]
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [Off]
Parameter [Outside ROI Influence] set to [15 %]
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [10 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [10 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [2591 pixels (-10)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [1722 pixels (-10)]
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
Parameter [UNKNOWN] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Precision] set to [256 x 256 pixels]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Drop Off Point] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Corner Aggressiveness] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [75 %]
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [Off]
Parameter [Outside ROI Influence] set to [11 %]
--- Deconvolution
Parameter [Image Type] set to [Deep Space]
Parameter [Mask Behavior] set to [De-ring Mask Gaps, Hide Result]
Parameter [Radius] set to [1.3 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [6]
Parameter [Regularization] set to [1.00 (optimal noise and detail)]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [8.0 pixels]
--- Wavelet Sharpen
Parameter [Intelligent Enhance] set to [Yes]
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 [8.0 pixels]
Parameter [Amount] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Small Detail Bias] set to [70 %]
--- HDR
Parameter [Small Detail Precision] set to [Max]
Parameter [Channels] set to [Brightness Only]
Parameter [Algorithm] set to [Tame Highlights]
Parameter [Dark/Bright Response] set to [Full]
Parameter [Detail Size Range] set to [344 pixels]
Parameter [Noise Suppression] set to [Off]
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [No]
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 [3.00]
Parameter [Bright Saturation] set to [Full]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [242 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.15]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.03]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.50]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- Band
Parameter [Algorithm] set to [Algorithm 1]
Parameter [Orientation] set to [Horizontal]
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [No]
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 [2.10]
Parameter [Bright Saturation] set to [Full]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [200 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.93]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.49]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [2.20]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- Wavelet De-Noise
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [90 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [90 %]
Parameter [Scale 3] set to [90 %]
Parameter [Scale 4] set to [90 %]
Parameter [Scale 5] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Scale Correlation] set to [3]
Parameter [Color Detail Loss] set to [12 %]
Parameter [Brightness Detail Loss] set to [12 %]
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [7.8 pixels]
Parameter [Read Noise Compensation] set to [Off]
Parameter [Smoothness] set to [81 %]
File saved [D:\M33Autosave.tiff].

Attached is my quick try at your data and my workflow settings.

I bumped up the grain size during denoise as the image was quite noisy. Seemed to help. I also see some horizontal banding. i would follow Ivo's suggestions regarding whitebalance etc, found on this site. More frames is always helpful. As are flats as there seemed to be vignetting also. All in all I think it came out OK. Also, as I understand it, the MAX RGB is used to quickly see the balance between the colors. For example, if there is a lot of green showing on an object that shouldnt have it, you know you can reduce the green component.

Che StarTools 1.4.297
Tue Sep 08 19:11:24 2015
-----------------------------------------------------------
File loaded [C:\Users\Che\Desktop\M33_Autosave.fts].
---
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [10 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [10 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [5192 pixels (-10)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [3455 pixels (-10)]
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [(scale/noise reduction 35.38%)/(798.89%)/(+3.00 bits)]
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
Parameter [UNKNOWN] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Precision] set to [256 x 256 pixels]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Drop Off Point] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Corner Aggressiveness] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [75 %]
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [81.79 %]
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]
--- HDR
Parameter [Small Detail Precision] set to [Max]
Parameter [Channels] set to [Brightness Only]
Parameter [Algorithm] set to [Reveal DSO Core]
Parameter [Dark/Bright Response] set to [Full]
Parameter [Detail Size Range] set to [64 pixels]
Parameter [Noise Suppression] set to [Off]
--- Contrast
Parameter [Expose Dark Areas] set to [No]
Parameter [Compensate Gamma] set to [No]
Parameter [Precision] set to [256 x 256 pixels]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [55 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [15 %]
--- Wavelet Sharpen
Parameter [Intelligent Enhance] set to [Yes]
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 [8.0 pixels]
Parameter [Amount] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Small Detail Bias] set to [75 %]
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [79.35 %]
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]
--- 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 [224 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.96]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.28]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.85]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- Wavelet De-Noise
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [90 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [90 %]
Parameter [Scale 3] set to [90 %]
Parameter [Scale 4] set to [90 %]
Parameter [Scale 5] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Scale Correlation] set to [3]
Parameter [Color Detail Loss] set to [12 %]
Parameter [Brightness Detail Loss] set to [12 %]
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [10.2 pixels]
Parameter [Read Noise Compensation] set to [Off]
Parameter [Smoothness] set to [75 %]
File saved [C:\Users\Che\Desktop\M33.jpg].

I took my saved image from above, applied the Band filter(as you did) and tweeked the color a little(increase saturation and slightly increased the red and here is my(I think)improved image Che

Wow, you got a much better result than I did!

During Wipe did you set a mask? It also seems the galaxy in your image is much more smooth than in mine.

Nope, no masks were used. The smoothness resulted from increasing the grain size in the denoise parameters. I also like using the HDR reveal DSO core function on most galaxies, and adjust the strength by setting the detail size range. I also do not use the Autodev function(except in temp autodev in wipe, and when first looking at an image to see what might be there) I personally prefer the control of the dev function so as to not over stretch. YMMV
Che

This is just an interesting comparison, and as the only thing that was the same is the length of our exposures, its not an apples to apples comparison. Different scopes, different cameras etc. You stacked 18 480second exposures. I stacked 50 480 second exposures(almost triple the integration time), bias, flats but no dark frames as I don't seem to need them. Wonder how much difference I would see if I stacked 18 of my subs instead of the 50?? Might be an interesting thing to try sometime. Che

Beautiful!

My plan is to take more subs this Saturday actually, and stack about 50 like you did, I've taken my darks last month and the temperature is going to be about the same this saturday so I should have time for a good 5h of exposure if everything goes well, I'll restack and post the results, hopefully better ones

Thanks alot for the help!

COOL, that will be nice to see the difference more subs will make.
Che

Unfortunately this week end's weather was terrible, and I won't be able to do anything for another month (vacation time!), but I did try to reprocess it using some of the advice you gave me, and it turned out really much better!

Today's process.

Thank you!