The way to IC1805

[gaetano]

Hello StarTools guys,
please apologise but I need some help in understanding how to proceed with this image

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/we7q49ib4t82 ... zUX0a?dl=0

This is a stack of 40 frames, each 2 min, shot by a Nikon D750 unmodified, coupled with a TS65q Apo. There is not much signal, I understand.
I am definitely new to StarTools and to astronomical images processing so I hope there somebody so kind to show me what can be achieved.
I followed several helpful tutorials but I am really not so confident of the result.

Thank you for your time
Gaetano

[almcl]

Thanks for sharing the data, it's always nice to have a go at something different.

I think the Heart nebula is quite a challenge for an unmodified DSLR as a lot of the light is down in the IR part of the spectrum.

You also seem to have some light pollution (sodium street lamps?) and the vignetting and dust bunnies that are visible suggest that your flats (if you are taking them) are perhaps not working as well as they might.

Having said that, here's what I got from your data. By no means an expert, and others here (and yourself as well) can probably do a lot better, but see what you think?

IC1805.jpg (253.14 KiB) Viewed 5524 times

[gaetano]

Oh my! This is simply wonderful!

I know about vignetting, I usually crop the edges as the FOV is very wide in such optical configuration.
About pollution, yes, there was some, definitely and about flat fields, I didn't take them, I admit.
May I ask you how you did this? It would be useful for me to learn how to better use StarTools.

Thank you so much for investing some of your time for me
Gaetano

[almcl]

Here's the log file extract. There's probably more that could be done with HDR, contrast, decon, sharpen &c but for a quick go this is what I used. The 1st mask used was just to keep the dust bunnies from influencing wipe but there may be a third one I didn't get. The 2nd is a reset to full mask.


-----------------------------------------------------------
StarTools 1.4.352
Sat Aug 10 10:57:14 2019
-----------------------------------------------------------
File loaded [E:\Astronomy\someone elses files\IC1805.fts].
Image size is 6032 x 4032
---
Type of Data: Linear, was not Bayered, or was Bayered + white balanced
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [Off]
Parameter [Outside RoI Influence] set to [15 %]
Parameter [RoI X1] set to [0 pixels]
Parameter [RoI Y1] set to [0 pixels]
Parameter [RoI X2] set to [6032 pixels (-0)]
Parameter [RoI Y2] set to [4032 pixels (-0)]
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [180 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [175 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [5746 pixels (-286)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [3891 pixels (-141)]
Image size is 5566 x 3716
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [(scale/noise reduction 35.38%)/(798.89%)/(+3.00 bits)]
Image size is 1969 x 1314
Mask used (BASE64 PNG encoded)

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

--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
Parameter [Temporary AutoDev] 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 [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 [94.17 %]
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 [9.3 pixels]
Mask used (BASE64 PNG encoded)

iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAB7EAAAUiAQAAAABDoz+hAAAFn0lEQVR4AezPQQEAMAgAoUVfc+3g96ABb5K+d4p3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i3eLd4t3i/fRsj8HJAAAMBAC+7dejPF4YoEbnbsVdyvuVtytuFtxt+Juxd2KuxV3K+5W3K24W3G34m7F3Yq7FXcr7lbcrbhbcbfibsXdirsVdyvuVtytuFtxt+Juxd2KuxV3K+5W3K24W3G34m7F3Yq7FXcr7lbcrbhbcbfibsXdirsVdyvuVtytuFtxt+Juxd2KuxV3K+5W3K24W3G34m7F3Yq7FXcr7lbcrbhbcbfibsXdirsVdyvuVtytuFtxt+Juxd2KuxV3K+5W3K24W3G34m7F3Yq7FXcr7lbcrbhbcbfibsXdirsVdyvuVtytuFtxt+Juxd2KuxV3K+5W3K24W3G34m7F3Yq7FXcr7lbcrbhbcbfibsXdirsVdyvuVtytuFtxt+Juxd2KuxV3K+5W3E8d+3MgBAAAwEDI33ocuy+DvL29vb29vb29vb29vVO8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xbvFu8W7xPjf05EAAAAAAQ5G89yGWQt7e3t7f3kPeL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL94v3i/eL98v+XftzQAMAAIAgrLrRDXIYBY6d2yq3VW6r3Fa5rXJb5bbKbZXbKrdVbqvcVrmtclvltsptldsqt1Vuq9xWua1yW+W2ym2V2yq3VW6r3Fa5rXJb5bbKbZXbKrdVbqvcVrmtclvltsptldsqt1Vuq9xWua1yW+W2ym2V2yq3VW6r3Fa5rXJb5bbKbZXbKrdVbqvcVrmtclvltsptldsqt1Vuq9xWua1yW+W2ym2V2yq3VW6r3Fa5rXJb5bbKbZXbKrdVbqvcVrmtclvltsptldsqt1Vuq9xWua1yW+W2ym2V2yq3VW6r3Fa5rXJb5bbKbZXbKrdVbqvcVrmtclvltsptldsqt1Vuq9xWua1yW+W2ym2V2yq3VW6r3Fa5rXJb5bbKbbUDHauYKV1wYaQAAAAASUVORK5CYII=

--- 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 [64 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 [82 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [40.0 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 [75 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [15 %]
--- 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 [4 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 [70 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- 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 [1.10]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.26]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [1.10]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [Off]
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 [Filter Type] set to [Distance Weighted Outlier Rejection]
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [4.5 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 [6]
Parameter [Color Detail Loss] set to [12 %]
Parameter [Brightness Detail Loss] set to [12 %]
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [4.5 pixels]
Parameter [Read Noise Compensation] set to [Off]
Parameter [Smoothness] set to [75 %]
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [(scale/noise reduction 50.00%)/(400.00%)/(+2.00 bits)]
Image size is 984 x 657
File saved [E:\Astronomy\someone elses files\IC1805.jpg].

[gaetano]

Thank you so much!!
I will try it for sure very soon, it is a very useful example for me, and I'll post the result

[gaetano]

This is the result I was able to obtain by following most of your suggestions, it looks much better that my first attempts.
One question: I see two Life calls interlaced with a Contrast, why this choice?

Thank you!

[almcl]

Well done!

The first Life->Isolate (using the maximum Airy Disk and Mask Fuzz) suppresses the background. The second, just before the colour module, tames the stars.

You might find Richard Konrad's videos useful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPoJ-lM ... e=youtu.be
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNidlGR ... e=youtu.be

He goes into quite a bit of detail on what each module is doing.