M42 advice

[Burly]

So my latest M42 has currently 8 hrs of Data ,No lps filters and to be fair im quite happy with it given my processing skills ,posted on AstroBin, https://www.astrobin.com/dcsoar/#c428685 a chap has kindly commented about the relish background background and he uses Pi , i dont want to bother with PI ,PI im sure is a fine program and im confident Startools can overcome any misgivings i have made,could you advise Ivo on this and point me in the right direction .
camera nikon D5300 unmodded

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dtx3fumfl60am ... d.fit?dl=0

File loaded [D:\Astronomy Captures\orion fits 70Q-2019\orion 1and2\r_orion_stacked.fit].
Image size is 6016 x 4016
---
Type of Data: Linear and was Bayered, but not whitebalanced
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [(scale/noise reduction 50.00%)/(400.00%)/(+2.00 bits)]
Image size is 3008 x 2008
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [74 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [66 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [2934 pixels (-74)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [1904 pixels (-104)]
Image size is 2860 x 1838
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [Off]
Parameter [Outside RoI Influence] set to [15 %]
Parameter [RoI X1] set to [488 pixels]
Parameter [RoI Y1] set to [211 pixels]
Parameter [RoI X2] set to [1852 pixels (-1008)]
Parameter [RoI Y2] set to [1263 pixels (-575)]
Parameter [Detector Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Shadow Linearity] set to [50 %]
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
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 [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 [2860 pixels (-0)]
Parameter [RoI Y2] set to [1838 pixels (-0)]
Parameter [Detector Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Shadow Linearity] set to [50 %]
--- 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 [2 pixels]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [15 %]
Mask used (BASE64 PNG encoded)


--- Deconvolution
Parameter [Image Type] set to [Deep Space]
Parameter [Radius] set to [1.5 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [6]
Parameter [Regularization] set to [1.00 (optimal noise and detail)]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [4.0 pixels]
Parameter [Enhanced Deringing] set to [Off]
Mask used (BASE64 PNG encoded)


--- Wavelet Sharpen
Parameter [Structure Size] set to [Large]
--- SNR-aware Wavelet Sharpening
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 [4 pixels]
Parameter [Amount] set to [100 %]
Parameter [High SNR Size Bias] set to [85 %]
Parameter [Low SNR Size Bias] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Dark/Light Enhance] set to [50% / 50%]
--- HDR
Parameter [Small Detail Precision] set to [Max]
Parameter [Channels] set to [Brightness Only]
Parameter [Algorithm] set to [Reveal All]
Parameter [Dark/Bright Response] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Detail Size Range] set to [1000 pixels]
Parameter [Strength] set to [1.4]
--- 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 [4 %]
Parameter [Detail Preservation Radius] set to [20.0 pixels]
Parameter [Saturation] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Strength] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Mask used (BASE64 PNG encoded)


Mask used (BASE64 PNG encoded)


--- Color
Parameter [Bias Slider Mode] set to [Sliders Reduce Color Bias]
Parameter [Style] set to [Scientific (Color Constancy)]
Parameter [LRGB Method Emulation] set to [RGB Ratio, CIELab Luminance Retention]
Parameter [Matrix] set to [Identity (OFF)]
Parameter [Dark Saturation] set to [3.00]
Parameter [Bright Saturation] set to [Full]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [192 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.56]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.72]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Highlight Repair] set to [Off]
--- Psycho-Visual Grain Equalization De-Noise
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [3.0 pixels]
--- Psycho-Visual Grain Equalization De-Noise
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [3.0 pixels]
--- Psycho-Visual Grain Equalization De-Noise
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [3.0 pixels]
--- Psycho-Visual Grain Equalization De-Noise
Parameter [Grain Removal] set to [56 %]
Parameter [Wavelet Kernel] set to [2.0 pixels]
Parameter [Grain Limit Detail] set to [3.0 pixels]
Parameter [Wavelet Order] set to [2.20]
Parameter [Grain Limit Color] set to [3.0 pixels]
Parameter [Wavelet Support Area] set to [3 pixels]
Mask used (BASE64 PNG encoded)


--- Shrink
Parameter [Mode] set to [Shrink]
Parameter [Mask Grow] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [1 pixels]
File saved [D:\Astronomy Captures\orion fits 70Q-2019\orion 1and2\r_orion_stacked#2 final8.5hrs.jpg].
Regards Dave

[admin]

So my latest M42 has currently 8 hrs of Data ,No lps filters and to be fair im quite happy with it given my processing skills

So you should be! It's quite nice, clean and deep. There seems to be some slight uneven lighting goin on.

,posted on AstroBin, https://www.astrobin.com/dcsoar/#c428685 a chap has kindly commented about the relish background background and he uses Pi , i dont want to bother with PI ,PI im sure is a fine program and im confident Startools can overcome any misgivings i have made,could you advise Ivo on this and point me in the right direction .

Could you tell me a bit more about what you feel the problem is (or might be according to the gentleman)? I don't really see any issues with the background; the dark brown dust in the molecular complex is well documented.
The color balance is a little off perhaps, as I can see some green stars. Use the MaxRGB mode to see (and squash) green dominance. Color saturation is perhaps a bit high to my personal taste, but that's an easy fix too.
To emulate that "PI look", it is usually enough to choose the Legacy preset which will emulate the typical desaturated highlight look of software that cannot correctly recover color information (such as PI). Many people still think stars should be desaturated, as that is what they've become used to over the years. Even so, I just used Color Constancy below.

r_orion_stacked.jpg (711.66 KiB) Viewed 8042 times

I just realised I didn't use the camera matrix for your D5300, but even so, coloring shouldn't be too far off.
This was processed very much like your workflow (I didn't use Contrast or HDR, but there is obviously nothing wrong with that).

Type of Data: Linear and was Bayered, but not whitebalanced
--- Auto Develop
We can see oversampling, stacking artifacts.
--- Bin
Image size is 3008 x 2008
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [51 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [122 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [2934 pixels (-74)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [1909 pixels (-99)]
Image size is 2883 x 1787
--- Wipe
Using a modified Vignetting preset to help with the uneven lighting.
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [3 pixels]
Parameter [Corner Aggressiveness] set to [95 %]
--- Rotate & Flip
--- Auto Develop
RoI over the complex.
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [2.4 pixels]
Parameter [RoI X1] set to [516 pixels]
Parameter [RoI Y1] set to [500 pixels]
Parameter [RoI X2] set to [2379 pixels (-504)]
Parameter [RoI Y2] set to [1523 pixels (-264)]
--- Deconvolution
Parameter [Radius] set to [2.3 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [11]
Parameter [Regularization] set to [0.90 (noisier, extra detail)]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [4.0 pixels]
Parameter [Enhanced Deringing] set to [50 %]
--- SNR-aware Wavelet Sharpening
Created a star mask to protect stars from bloating.
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [4 pixels]
Parameter [Amount] set to [695 %]
Parameter [High SNR Size Bias] set to [91 %]
--- Color
Used MaxRGB mode to correct green dominance.
Parameter [Matrix] set to [Identity (OFF)] <--- oops, forgot D5300
Parameter [Dark Saturation] set to [3.30]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [200 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.53]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.98]
--- Psycho-Visual Grain Equalization De-Noise
Parameter [Mode] set to [Psychovisual]
Parameter [Grain Removal] set to [60 %]
Parameter [PV Detail Size] set to [2.0 pixels]
Parameter [Grain Limit Detail] set to [9.1 pixels]
Parameter [PV Support Gamma] set to [2.20]
Parameter [Grain Limit Color] set to [9.1 pixels]
Parameter [PV Support Area] set to [3 pixels]

And that's it.

[Burly]

TBH i didnt think there was anything major, the comment was to to with the background affecting the colour im assuming the greenish stars , i do seem to get a small halo around stars the spiked in the stars effect im assuming being caused by the baffling in the refractor ,is there anything i can do during processing to control the halo effect on the brighter stars ,i will have a play over the xmas period ,thanks for taking the time to reply ivo comparing yours to mine i can see more clearly the greenish tint more and now have a better idea of what to aim for .

[Topographic]

No need to take any notice of this I am far from an expert as my efforts on 'Getting rid of streaks' testify; but I tend to use 'develop' after 'wipe' rather that another 'autodev'. I seem to get better results. Worth a try.

[Burly]

Finally Mk 6 processing but im more happy with this version thanks to Ivo for his Help and patience ,green channel looks better though i dont think my laptop screen is the best ,though have bought a HD screen for my lads gaming pc so will be intresting to see how colours look on that once set up.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/82940128@ ... ateposted/

[Rkonrad]

Hi Dave,

Yes nice data and nice image! With my version, I let the chocolatey HA background come through a bit more and also put on a good crop. I can send a brief video if you like the result. https://www.flickr.com/gp/rkonrad/f808V7

Richard

[admin]

Finally Mk 6 processing

That is a rather excellent, textbook rendition IMHO!

The MaxRGB mode was made for people who use less-than-ideal screens (such as the cheaper laptop panels) or those who have trouble seeing color. It's also a great sanity-checker I use it a lot even on my calibrated screens!

[Burly]

Hi Dave,

Yes nice data and nice image! With my version, I let the chocolatey HA background come through a bit more and also put on a good crop. I can send a brief video if you like the result. https://www.flickr.com/gp/rkonrad/f808V7

Richard

Richard thanks that's a fine process and i like it a lot ,nice for someone to take the time to process to give a different perspective .

[Burly]

Finally Mk 6 processing

That is a rather excellent, textbook rendition IMHO!

The MaxRGB mode was made for people who use less-than-ideal screens (such as the cheaper laptop panels) or those who have trouble seeing color. It's also a great sanity-checker I use it a lot even on my calibrated screens!

Thanks ivo finally getting somewhere ,better camera , more subs +calibration files ,patience = better data = all make for Better results ,and makes processing a lot easier .

[Burly]

Redone after seeing richards version astrobin version here https://astrob.in/zmzj1z/0/ i used the composite mode to load channels after reading on another thread they thought they got more detail .