StarTools

Here's a new image I have been working on, and would love comments and ideas of how to process it differently. I did not attempt to bring out the Trapezium with this image, and did not take additional frames to attempt this. I used my inexpensive Orion short tube 80 in order to get a wider frame to include Running Man, etc. So far I have not attempted any star work.

16X 260 sec. ISO 1250 Canon 60Da, Taken 1-22-14, Stacked with Dark frames in Nebulosity, Unguided Orion Atlas Mount

I'm including my log:

File loaded [/Users/trobbe/Documents/Neb o fike/M-42 w:Runnung Man stacked 260 sec 1250 ST80.fit].
---
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [(scale/noise reduction 35.38%)/(798.89%)/(+3.00 bits)]
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [Off]
Parameter [Outside ROI Influence] set to [15 %]
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [461 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [38 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [1443 pixels (-403)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [1218 pixels (-19)]
--- 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 [2 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 [3.3 pixels]
Parameter [Outside ROI Influence] set to [76 %]
--- Deconvolution
Parameter [Image Type] set to [Deep Space]
Parameter [Mask Behavior] set to [De-ring Mask Gaps, Hide Result]
Parameter [Radius] set to [2.3 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [9]
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 [180 %]
Parameter [Small Detail Bias] set to [83 %]
--- HDR
Parameter [Small Detail Precision] set to [Max]
Parameter [Channels] set to [Brightness Only]
Parameter [Algorithm] set to [Optimize Soft]
Parameter [Dark/Bright Response] set to [Full]
Parameter [Detail Size Range] set to [64 pixels]
Parameter [Noise Suppression] 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 [200 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.45]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.50]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [2.60]
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 [15 %]
Parameter [Brightness Detail Loss] set to [14 %]
Parameter [Redistribution Kernel] set to [4.5 pixels]
Parameter [Read Noise Compensation] set to [2.62 %]
Parameter [Smoothness] set to [75 %]
File saved [/Users/trobbe/Documents/Neb o fike/M-42 w/Running Man 16X260 1250 ST80.tiff].
File saved [/Users/trobbe/Documents/Neb o fike/M-42 w/Running Man 16X260 1250 ST80.tiff].
File saved [/Users/trobbe/Documents/Neb o fike/M-42 w/Running Man 16X260 1250 ST80.tiff].
File saved [/Users/trobbe/Documents/M-42 w/Running Man 16X260 1250 ST80.tiff].
File saved [/Users/trobbe/Desktop/42.tiff].

Thanks for looking, Tom

Lots of mis-shapen stars as you said, so I'd try out the Repair tool to make them rounder. There is also a tool (Filter) for reducing the chromatic aberration around the blue stars. I solved that problem last year by buying a apochromatic refractor. Expensive solution! I'd also try a different option with the Color tool, like RGB, and see if that helps out the colors as you've lost all the blue surrounding the Running Man. Sometimes, increasing dark saturation helps. Most of M42 looks good with not too much sharpening/deconv. I'd also use HDR -> Tame with dark/light response set to <1 to see if you can tame the core a bit, but you might not be able to do much with a 260s exposure.
Lex

Lex

I'm very grateful for the feedback. When I get a chance, I will go back and try your suggestions.

Thanks, Tom