StarTools

I'm working on M31, and I have about a dozen stars where the core is oversaturated creating a dark anomaly. When I use the Wipe module, I can make a mask for them, but when I use the Develop module, they are affecting the results, even if I drag the Dark Anomaly Filter all the way over to 20 pixels. I can't see any way to use my mask during Develop, which is too bad because otherwise Develop seems to be doing a fantastic job.

Is there some other way to fix those blown cores or mask them so they don't affect Develop? Or am I supposed to keep that Develop and take it back to the Wipe module again?

I'm getting better results using a mask that excludes a large part of M31 disk, M110, and also large blobs around the groups of stars with dark anomaly, and forget about gradient wipe, I only used the colour cast wipe.

Then AutoDev with a ROI encompassing M31 core area.

Now I'm not sure where to take it next. There is banding, so is now the best time to deal with that?
There is an overall reddish colour, so is colour module the next step?

I experimented with Manual Develop a little (but didn't keep anything) I notice that, without a ROI function, it tends to pull out a milky "haze" over the entire image, reducing the contrast, but on the other hand, seems to greatly reduce the grainy appearance, almost like it is reducing noise...very smooth appearance. Plus there is the ability to adjust the RBG contribution, which allows me to get rid of that red cast and boost the blue a little.

But, is it possible in other ways to regain the contrast and reduce the "haze" in other modules?

Also, just notice I'm using 1.3.5.281 and thinking upgrading at least to latest release might bring some improvements.

Well, I think I will go ahead with the image I posted above, and just try the Band module, Deconvo (although I get those white sparkles with my version) Contrast, Sharp, Life, Color, Denoise, and see what happens. After that I guess I will update to .289 before I try anything different.

Well, I guess I'm pretty happy with this. Sharp, Color, Life, and Denoise modules probably made the biggest differences. I still need to fix those star cores, and there's probably a lot more that could be done, if only I knew how and had more time, but I can't really complain too much about this end result. I should upload the original .FITS to dropbox in case anyone else wants to have a whack at it.

davidjbillo wrote: I should upload the original .FITS to dropbox in case anyone else wants to have a whack at it.

Please do. I'd have a go.
Che

Ok, here it is:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/j841lzjq2zx5 ... AFcga?dl=0


Che, I followed some of your workflows in general, and had some questions...

I noticed that whenever you use a module, you redo Develop again...is that a new global stretch, or stretch image as is?
And why do you do that?...I think I only did it for a few of the early modules, but not every one...I'll add my workflow at the end.

Also noticed when you used the Color module, you opted for Artistic style, rather than Scientific. Is that just a personal preference, or is there some specific reason(s) that works better? I did try it, but thought it muted the colours a lot, which I suppose I could have compensated for by boosting the Saturation, but I ended up going back to the default Scientific.

Thanks!

-----------------------------------------------------------
StarTools 1.3.5.281
Thu Dec 03 16:37:56 2015
-----------------------------------------------------------
File loaded [I:\Astrophotography\20151011 M31\Autosave.fts].
---
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [5191 pixels (-1)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [3444 pixels (-1)]
File loaded [I:\Astrophotography\20151011 M31\Autosave_mask_neb+stars.tiff].
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color Only]
Parameter [UNKNOWN] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Precision] set to [256 x 256 pixels]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [5 pixels]
Parameter [Drop Off Point] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Corner Aggressiveness] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [80 %]
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [3.0 pixels]
Parameter [Outside ROI Influence] set to [15 %]
File saved [I:\Astrophotography\20151011 M31\M31_WipeColour80_DevelopROI.tiff].
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [3.0 pixels]
Parameter [Outside ROI Influence] set to [15 %]
--- Deconvolution
Parameter [Image Type] set to [Deep Space]
Parameter [Mask Behavior] set to [De-ring Mask Gaps, Hide Result]
Parameter [Radius] set to [3.0 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [6]
Parameter [Regularization] set to [1.00 (optimal noise and detail)]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [8.0 pixels]
--- 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 [70 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [15 %]
--- 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 [2.00]
Parameter [Bright Saturation] set to [Full]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [200 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.15]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.45]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
File saved [I:\Astrophotography\20151011 M31\M31_Decon_Contrast_Color.tiff].
--- 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 [600 %]
Parameter [Small Detail Bias] set to [75 %]
File saved [I:\Astrophotography\20151011 M31\M31_Decon_Contrast_Color_Sharp.tiff].
--- Life
Parameter [Detail Preservation] set to [Linear Brightness Mask]
Parameter [Compositing Algorithm] set to [Multiply, Gamma Correct]
Parameter [Inherit Brightness, Color] set to [Off]
Parameter [Output Glow Only] set to [No]
Parameter [Airy Disk Sampling] set to [128 x 128 pixels]
Parameter [Airy Disk Radius] set to [8 pixels]
Parameter [Glow Threshold] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Detail Preservation Radius] set to [20.0 pixels]
Parameter [Saturation] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Strength] set to [45 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [30.0 pixels]
File saved [I:\Astrophotography\20151011 M31\M31_Decon_Contrast_Color_Sharp_Life.tiff].
--- 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 [Redistribution Kernel] set to [4.5 pixels]
Parameter [Read Noise Compensation] set to [20.00 %]
Parameter [Smoothness] set to [75 %]
File saved [I:\Astrophotography\20151011 M31\M31_Denoise.tiff].
File saved [I:\Astrophotography\20151011 M31\M31_Denoise.jpg].

David

I have had a little play with your data, which I think looks very nice, but not sure if it's much different to what you have already achieved?

Cheman will be along soon, I expect and his results are often awesome.

Hi david
I re-develop to see if I can improve the stretch after applying a module. Dont know if its really needed but its just a habit I have gotten into. Yes its a new global stretch. As for the color. I start off with scientific, and if I dont like the results I get, then I will switch to artistic. I dont know why, but sometimes I think the Scientific doesnt work well with some of my data, sometimes it works well I struggle with color more than anything, and as far as I'm concerned, its just getting a pretty picture that I like so I'm not too concerned with "accuracy" of color. I just downloaded your data and will try to play with it tomorrow.
Che

Had a quick try before heading off to bed. Might try it again tomorrow. Too purple methinks
StarTools 1.4.297
Fri Dec 04 23:39:17 2015
-----------------------------------------------------------
File loaded [C:\Users\Che\Desktop\Autosave.fts].
---
--- 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 [100 %]
Parameter [Corner Aggressiveness] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [75 %]
Undo.
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [2 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [2 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [1834 pixels (-2)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [1216 pixels (-2)]
--- 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 [100 %]
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 [86.41 %]
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]
--- 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 [51 %]
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 %]
--- HDR
Parameter [Small Detail Precision] set to [Max]
Parameter [Channels] set to [Brightness & Color]
Parameter [Algorithm] set to [Reveal DSO Core]
Parameter [Dark/Bright Response] set to [Full]
Parameter [Detail Size Range] set to [425 pixels]
Parameter [Noise Suppression] set to [Off]
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [To Yellow]
Parameter [Bias Slider Mode] set to [Sliders Increase Color Bias]
Parameter [Style] set to [Artistic, Detail Aware]
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 [416 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Increase] set to [1.76]
Parameter [Green Bias Increase] set to [1.33]
Parameter [Red Bias Increase] set to [1.14]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [87.77 %]
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]
--- 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 [5.0 pixels]
Parameter [Read Noise Compensation] set to [Off]
Parameter [Smoothness] set to [75 %]
File saved [C:\Users\Che\Desktop\davidm31.jpg].
--- Magic
Parameter [Mode] set to [Shrink]
Parameter [Mask Grow] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [2 pixels]
File saved [C:\Users\Che\Desktop\davidm31.jpg].

adjusted the color a bit. More to my liking