Announcing the AstronomyForum.net Astrophotography Processing Challenge number 5!

[DaltonSkyGazer]

It is great seeing all the fine reprocesses on this data! The challenges are great tool to work on processing skills, great job by all!

[ChuckWalters]

Thank you for supplying the file Jeff!! Great picture and great fun!

[DaltonSkyGazer]

Thank you for supplying the file Jeff!! Great picture and great fun!

As you can see Chuck a coma corrector is much needed for my apo, for now crop tool is my workaround. Looking forward to doing some images with the HD ota coming up once skies and schedule cooperate, right now it is mainly my work schedule tying me up for few more weeks. Great Job! Keep hammering away at the challenges, even go back and look at the old ones also, they are very helpful in learning all the aspects of post process work.

[ChuckWalters]

I decided to give it another go....this time I used StarTools. This really is an incredible program. It basically takes the guess work out of the process. I am taking my time learning the program. You can try anything and then just cancel. Playing with software without fear of messing up is (IMHO) the best way to learn software. Here is my result. I still have a very long way to go......but I am having great fun along the journey!

File loaded [C:\Users\admin\Desktop\Astronomy Pics\challenge 2 master photo.tif].
--- UNKNOWN MODULE
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
Parameter [Top End Treatment] set to [Wipe 2.0]
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [No]
Parameter [Output Gradient Only] set to [No]
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 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [10 %]
--- Wavelet De-Noise
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Scale 3] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Scale 4] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Scale 5] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Brightness Mask Power] set to [0.00]
Parameter [Color Detail Loss] set to [33 %]
Parameter [Brightness Detail Loss] set to [33 %]
--- UNKNOWN MODULE
Parameter [UNKNOWN] set to [64]
Parameter [UNKNOWN] set to [4x]
Parameter [UNKNOWN] set to [Warp]
Parameter [UNKNOWN] set to [0 pixels]
--- Wavelet De-Noise
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Scale 3] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Scale 4] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Scale 5] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Brightness Mask Power] set to [0.00]
Parameter [Color Detail Loss] set to [33 %]
Parameter [Brightness Detail Loss] set to [33 %]
File loaded [C:\Users\admin\Desktop\Astronomy Pics\Challenge 5 master.tif].
--- UNKNOWN MODULE
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [0 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [0 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [3416 pixels (-0)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [2277 pixels (-0)]
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [279 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [193 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [3107 pixels (-309)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [2138 pixels (-139)]
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [(scale/noise reduction 35.38%)/(798.89%)/(+3.00 bits)]
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
Parameter [Top End Treatment] set to [Wipe 2.0]
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [No]
Parameter [Output Gradient Only] set to [No]
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 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [10 %]
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [No]
Parameter [Blue Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Green Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Red Gamma] set to [0.90]
Parameter [Saturation] set to [130 %]
Parameter [Blue Ratio] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Green Ratio] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Red Ratio] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [0.83]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Noise Suppression] set to [Off]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [0.01 %]
Parameter [Blue Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Green Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Red Luminance Contrib.] set to [172 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [3 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [16.8 pixels]
--- Magic
Parameter [Mode] set to [Shrink]
Parameter [Mask Grow] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [1 pixels]
File loaded [C:\Users\admin\Desktop\Astronomy Pics\Challenge 5 master.tif].
--- UNKNOWN MODULE
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
Parameter [Top End Treatment] set to [Wipe 2.0]
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [No]
Parameter [Output Gradient Only] set to [No]
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 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [10 %]
--- Optimize
Parameter [Noise Suppression] set to [On]
Parameter [Channels] set to [Luminance]
Parameter [Algorithm] set to [Optimize]
Parameter [Gamma Bounds 2] set to [0.50]
Parameter [Gamma Bounds 1] set to [2.00]
Parameter [Integration Window] set to [25 pixels]
Parameter [Intervals] set to [6]
File loaded [C:\Users\admin\Desktop\Astronomy Pics\Challenge 5 master.tif].
--- UNKNOWN MODULE
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [417 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [341 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [2963 pixels (-453)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [1997 pixels (-280)]
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [(scale/noise reduction 39.28%)/(648.12%)/(+2.70 bits)]
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
Parameter [Top End Treatment] set to [Wipe 2.0]
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [No]
Parameter [Output Gradient Only] set to [No]
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 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [10 %]
File loaded [C:\Users\admin\Desktop\Astronomy Pics\Challenge 5 master.tif].
--- UNKNOWN MODULE
File loaded [C:\Users\admin\Desktop\Astronomy Pics\Challenge 5 master.tif].
--- UNKNOWN MODULE
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [393 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [265 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [3011 pixels (-405)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [2073 pixels (-204)]
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [(scale/noise reduction 38.20%)/(685.29%)/(+2.78 bits)]
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
Parameter [Top End Treatment] set to [Wipe 2.0]
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [No]
Parameter [Output Gradient Only] set to [No]
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 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [10 %]
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Noise Suppression] set to [Off]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [0.10 %]
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 [No]
Parameter [Blue Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Green Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Red Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Saturation] set to [115 %]
Parameter [Blue Ratio] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Green Ratio] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Red Ratio] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]

[ghswen]

Looks pretty darn good Chuck!

Here's something to try. Go back to Ivos' (irwjager) post number 16 and follow his steps. There's a "flow' pattern you can follow to get his results. I've done this with all of the 'Challenge' processes he's attempted and you can get an idea of a 'process flow'. I have taken that and created a check list I use. It will need to be tweeked depending on the image but it helps to have steps. By seeing different process steps for different images you get a feel for what works.

[ChuckWalters]

Thank you Gordon. Great suggestion on the cheat sheet for processing. I will definitely use that........

[Celestron]

Here's mine:

Challenge 5 master(1).tif

1. Two iterations of levels
2. Cropped it
3. Adjusted saturation to 20%
4. Played with curves
5. Created duplicate image, then performed 5 "Tilable blurs"
6. Subtracted that from original image
7. Played with curves some more


Challenge-5-master(1).jpg

[ghswen]

Looks great Celestron!

I went ahead and converted it to a jpeg and added that to your post. (that way others can readily see it.) Hope you don't mind.

[Dragon206]

This is my attempt.
I actually like a sligthly wider field and I find the composition balanced by not placing the nebula in the dead center of the picture, as there is the bright star to the left.

I used PixInsight to process the image.

Here's what I did:
- Crop;
- Dynamic Background Extraction (to remove vignetting and gradients);
- Color Calibration (fix white balance);
- ATrous Wavelet Transform (noise reduction);
- Histogram Transformation (stretch);
- HDR Multiscale Transform (with luminance mask to bring out detail in the nebula);
- Histogram Transformation (stretch with luminance mask);
- Subtractive Chromatic Noise Reduction (slightly reduce the green component in the image);
- Curves Transformation (boost saturation and red component);
- Multiscale Median Transform (sharpen).

Challenge_5_master_F251.jpg

[tedrampart]

I realize this is done now, and I've actually already entered the new one myself.. but I was bored and got the bug to keep processing some new stuff and figured I'd post it anyhow. hope you all don't mind another one, even if it doesn't count

here's the workflow:

PixInsight:
2x dbe
atrous (removed layer 1 noise)
colour calibration (default settings)
Background Neutralization (default settings)
histogram stretch (2 step)
SCNR (0.10 on blue)
curves (red boost, and saturation boost)
hdrmultiscale (5 layers)
histogram
create clone
apply acdnr luminance preview to clone to create mask
hdrmultiscale (4 layers) masked
unsharpen mask (masked)
save

gimp
crop
scale
hue adjust (less blue)
saturation adjustment
save