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Back in July of last year I captured some Ha and O3 data on these targets. At that time I made several versions and finally printed one, but, was never happy with any of the results (are we ever?).
Since it is Galaxy Season and my setup is only good for nebulae, decided it was time to try some reprocessing. Interesting results. The reprocess certainly has more depth of color and details, but, that doesn't always mean better. Anyway, just something to do till the nebulae come around again.
Thanks for looking.
REPROCESSED
ORIGINAL
Steve
Steve King: Light Pollution (Bortle 5)
Telescope + Mount + Guiding: W.O. Star71-ii + iOptron CEM40 EC + Orion Magnificent Mini AutoGuider
Camera: ASI 1600MM Pro + EFW Filter Wheel + Chroma 3nm Siii, Ha, Oiii + ZWO LRGB Filters
Software: PHD2; APT; PixInsight ***** My AP website: www.steveking.pictures
I like the additional detail and resolution of the darker areas in the reprocessed image, Steve. You have done very well with getting the best of it without going over the edge!
That is a wonderfully rich process Steve. Definitely not over the edge and full of beautiful color and richness. Fine work!
Jim
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), Orion 50mm Guide Scope, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, Orion SSAG, IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
I like the reprocess. The subtle bump in the colors really makes a difference. As for Galaxy season, you could always add a 9.25inch edge to your collection ...
Scopes: Esprit 100, 12.5" Telekit Dob Camera: 294 MC Pro, 224 mc, 2600mm Guiding: ZWO 290 mini on 120mm guide scope Mounts: EQ6R-Pro, EQ Platform. Filters: Optolong L-Pro & L-Enhance, Chroma 36mm LRGB, 5nm HA, 3nm OIII, 3nm SII. Software: SharpCap, SGP, StarTools 1.7, Photoshop, Pixinsight The Death Star Observatory Astro Photos:https://www.astrobin.com/users/starfield/
bobharmony wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 1:30 pm
I like the additional detail and resolution of the darker areas in the reprocessed image, Steve. You have done very well with getting the best of it without going over the edge!
Bob
Thanks Bob. I always try to get additional details, but, sometimes overdo it. Glad I stopped in time.
starfield wrote: ↑Wed May 12, 2021 3:45 am
I like the reprocess. The subtle bump in the colors really makes a difference. As for Galaxy season, you could always add a 9.25inch edge to your collection ...
Glad you like it. As for the 9.25" edge, thanks but no thanks. I don't want to have to mess with collimating mirrors or carry anything that big. Getting lazy in my old age - chuckles
Juno16 wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 1:51 pm
That is a wonderfully rich process Steve. Definitely not over the edge and full of beautiful color and richness. Fine work!
Thanks Jim - I love images with rich colors.
Steve
Steve King: Light Pollution (Bortle 5)
Telescope + Mount + Guiding: W.O. Star71-ii + iOptron CEM40 EC + Orion Magnificent Mini AutoGuider
Camera: ASI 1600MM Pro + EFW Filter Wheel + Chroma 3nm Siii, Ha, Oiii + ZWO LRGB Filters
Software: PHD2; APT; PixInsight ***** My AP website: www.steveking.pictures
Thats a really nice reprocess. i'm assuming this was all in PI so what were the main changes you made in the processing?
Scope: Skywatcher Evostar 80ED (SW 0.85 FR/FF) on a SW NEQ6Pro
Guiding; SW Evoguide 50ED, ASI 120mm mini
Meade 8" LX200 GPS on wedge (Guided with a cheapo 50mm guidescope and a ZWO ASI 120mm mini)
Sharpstar 61EDPH II (with dedicated 0.8 reducer) with wiliam Optics 32mm uniguide
Camera: ASI2600MC pro. QHY 163M with ZWO 7nm NB filters, Canon EOS700D astro mod
Secondary mount: Skywatcher StarAdventurer
Hello Steve. I love the new reprocessed version. More vibrant colors and wispy nebulosity details in the capture. Thanks for sharing your latest work with us Steve, and the very best of regards.
Marshall
Sky-Watcher 90mm f/13.8 Maksutov-Cassegrain on motorized Multimount
Orion Astroview 120ST f/5 Refractor on EQ3 mount
Celestron Comet Catcher 140mm f/3.64 Schmidt-Newtonian on alt-az mount
Celestron Omni XLT150R f/5 Refractor on CG4 mount with dual axis drives.
Orion 180mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain on CG5-GT Goto mount.
Orion XT12i 12" f/4.9 Dobsonian Intelliscope.
Kamakura 7x35 Binoculars and Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars. ZWO ASI 120MC camera.
>)))))*>
Jockinireland wrote: ↑Wed May 12, 2021 11:49 am
Thats a really nice reprocess. i'm assuming this was all in PI so what were the main changes you made in the processing?
Hi David - Yes this was done using PI. I actually did a complete reprocess starting with the Ha and O3 Masters out of WBPP. I extracted the Luminance image from the "final" version. Next I sharpened the Luminance image and then recombined it with the "final" image using the LRGBCombination process (with only the L channel checked). This sharpens the image.
Hope that makes sense. If not let me know.
Steve
Steve King: Light Pollution (Bortle 5)
Telescope + Mount + Guiding: W.O. Star71-ii + iOptron CEM40 EC + Orion Magnificent Mini AutoGuider
Camera: ASI 1600MM Pro + EFW Filter Wheel + Chroma 3nm Siii, Ha, Oiii + ZWO LRGB Filters
Software: PHD2; APT; PixInsight ***** My AP website: www.steveking.pictures
I think both images are fantastic and I would be proud for sure! But I have a less popular opinion...
I actually (slightly) prefer the original... I like the faint wispy detail and I think the re-process made it (just a touch) too bold.
I do love to fool around with processing though...
Larry
For visual:
10" Skywatcher collapsible goto dob, various EP's and a Celestron StarSense auto align.
For imaging:
Orion 8" astrograph 800mm @ F3.9
Eq6-R Pro controlled by APT via EQmod with an OTA mounted mini PC
Tele Vue Paracorr Type 2 coma corrector
Altair Hypercam 26C
Larry 1969 wrote: ↑Wed May 12, 2021 11:35 pm
I think both images are fantastic and I would be proud for sure! But I have a less popular opinion...
I actually (slightly) prefer the original... I like the faint wispy detail and I think the re-process made it (just a touch) too bold.
I do love to fool around with processing though...
Larry
Thanks for the feedback Larry. I usually have a hard time deciding if I like my original or reprocessed version best. Right after finishing with the reprocessing I usually like the reprocess best. However, after a day or two I oftentimes like the original best. It certainly makes things interesting.
Steve
Steve King: Light Pollution (Bortle 5)
Telescope + Mount + Guiding: W.O. Star71-ii + iOptron CEM40 EC + Orion Magnificent Mini AutoGuider
Camera: ASI 1600MM Pro + EFW Filter Wheel + Chroma 3nm Siii, Ha, Oiii + ZWO LRGB Filters
Software: PHD2; APT; PixInsight ***** My AP website: www.steveking.pictures
STEVE333 wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 12:11 am
However, after a day or two I oftentimes like the original best. It certainly makes things interesting.
Steve
It's hard to describe what I see as the difference between the 2 images... It's almost like your original looks correct with wispy, ionized gas whereas, in the reprocess, That gas appears more like a solid to me... Is that weird???
Larry
For visual:
10" Skywatcher collapsible goto dob, various EP's and a Celestron StarSense auto align.
For imaging:
Orion 8" astrograph 800mm @ F3.9
Eq6-R Pro controlled by APT via EQmod with an OTA mounted mini PC
Tele Vue Paracorr Type 2 coma corrector
Altair Hypercam 26C
STEVE333 wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 12:11 am
However, after a day or two I oftentimes like the original best. It certainly makes things interesting.
Steve
It's hard to describe what I see as the difference between the 2 images... It's almost like your original looks correct with wispy, ionized gas whereas, in the reprocess, That gas appears more like a solid to me... Is that weird???
Larry
Makes perfect sense Larry. When the color saturation is increased the dim gasses become brighter and may "mask" what is behind them. It's always a tradeoff in processing.
Steve
Steve King: Light Pollution (Bortle 5)
Telescope + Mount + Guiding: W.O. Star71-ii + iOptron CEM40 EC + Orion Magnificent Mini AutoGuider
Camera: ASI 1600MM Pro + EFW Filter Wheel + Chroma 3nm Siii, Ha, Oiii + ZWO LRGB Filters
Software: PHD2; APT; PixInsight ***** My AP website: www.steveking.pictures
STEVE333 wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 12:11 am
However, after a day or two I oftentimes like the original best. It certainly makes things interesting.
Steve
It's hard to describe what I see as the difference between the 2 images... It's almost like your original looks correct with wispy, ionized gas whereas, in the reprocess, That gas appears more like a solid to me... Is that weird???
Larry
Makes perfect sense Larry. When the color saturation is increased the dim gasses become brighter and may "mask" what is behind them. It's always a tradeoff in processing.
Steve
I think its fascinating to see how ones perception of an image changes as you move away from it in time. I've lost count of the times I have finished a process - or repro- thinking its is fantastic and excitedly rushing to post it up for others to see. Then when I look at it a couple of days later its like "Yikes! - that really really sucks!" I've got to the point where I will deliberately stop processing an image and leave it for a few hours or even overnight and then go back to it. I find I am much more able to see the flaws when I go back to it.
I've come to the conclusion that when I have been looking at and processing something for hours, my mind starts to see what I'm telling it it should see rather than whats actually there.
Scope: Skywatcher Evostar 80ED (SW 0.85 FR/FF) on a SW NEQ6Pro
Guiding; SW Evoguide 50ED, ASI 120mm mini
Meade 8" LX200 GPS on wedge (Guided with a cheapo 50mm guidescope and a ZWO ASI 120mm mini)
Sharpstar 61EDPH II (with dedicated 0.8 reducer) with wiliam Optics 32mm uniguide
Camera: ASI2600MC pro. QHY 163M with ZWO 7nm NB filters, Canon EOS700D astro mod
Secondary mount: Skywatcher StarAdventurer
Jockinireland wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 9:15 am
I think its fascinating to see how ones perception of an image changes as you move away from it in time. I've lost count of the times I have finished a process - or repro- thinking its is fantastic and excitedly rushing to post it up for others to see. Then when I look at it a couple of days later its like "Yikes! - that really really sucks!" I've got to the point where I will deliberately stop processing an image and leave it for a few hours or even overnight and then go back to it. I find I am much more able to see the flaws when I go back to it.
I've come to the conclusion that when I have been looking at and processing something for hours, my mind starts to see what I'm telling it it should see rather than whats actually there.
I completely agree David. I believe the last step in my reprocessing needs to be:
WAIT TWO DAYS AND LOOK AT THIS AGAIN BEFORE SUBMITTING!!
Steve
Steve King: Light Pollution (Bortle 5)
Telescope + Mount + Guiding: W.O. Star71-ii + iOptron CEM40 EC + Orion Magnificent Mini AutoGuider
Camera: ASI 1600MM Pro + EFW Filter Wheel + Chroma 3nm Siii, Ha, Oiii + ZWO LRGB Filters
Software: PHD2; APT; PixInsight ***** My AP website: www.steveking.pictures