Cygnus Loop mosaic - rework in APP

[bobharmony]

I recently signed up for a trial of AstroPixelProcessor to see if I could get better results from my mosaic data. My first test was on new data from the North America Nebula which I posted last week. My second attempt was a re-work of Cygnus Loop data I collected last year. Due to uncooperative weather last Summer, I was only able to collect 50 minutes worth of data for each of the 4 panels I shot. At the time I also collected Darks, Flats, and Dark Flats for calibration purposes. Since APP likes using Bias frames for calculating a Bad Pixel Map, I shot 100 of those to add to the mix a couple of weeks ago, not the most timely for data I collected last year, but the best that can be done at this point.

I started out by stacking each of the four panels separately in APP, then loaded them together for the stitching portion. After that was complete, I used the gradient removal tool to clean up the image a bit, then it was off to StarTools for my usual post-processing.

I am pleased with the result as I was able to bring out more filament detail than in earlier results. That may have sucked me in to pushing a bit too hard, which is my usual tendency anyway, but I do get a much better feel for the data that is available. I used both the StarTools Shrink and SuperStructure modules to tone down the stars, but looking directly into the arm of the Milky Way is going to generate a lot of background!

Comments and questions are welcome!

Bob

[messier 111]

fine work on redoo , thx .

[Juno16]

Hey Bob,

Pretty cool stuff!

Does APP handle post processing too? I have heard nothing but good about APP, but personally, I have not tried it.

The colors are really nice, both the stars and nebulae. The background seems bright to me, but you are right, there are probably a few hundred million stars in the background and I know that you like things on the brighter side too.

I ran a quick 2 second automatic background extraction in Pixinsight just to see how the image would react. I can post if you are interested.

Nice work sir and looking forward to your APP learnings!

[Larry 1969]

Great shot! Maybe give APP's star reduction tool a try before loading it into StarTools. It works really well.

Larry

[Johnny Carter]

Wow, there is a lot to see here, glad you were able to do the redo, it’s beautiful.

[bobharmony]

Great shot! Maybe give APP's star reduction tool a try before loading it into StarTools. It works really well.

Larry

Thanks, Larry. I think I used the reduction tool on the North America Nebula, but only at the default value of 10%. At that level it was pretty underwhelming.

Hey Bob,

Pretty cool stuff!

Does APP handle post processing too? I have heard nothing but good about APP, but personally, I have not tried it.

The colors are really nice, both the stars and nebulae. The background seems bright to me, but you are right, there are probably a few hundred million stars in the background and I know that you like things on the brighter side too.

I ran a quick 2 second automatic background extraction in Pixinsight just to see how the image would react. I can post if you are interested.

Nice work sir and looking forward to your APP learnings!

Hi, Jim. APP has some post-processing tools, mostly sliders for setting gamma, colors, saturation, sharpness, and the like. It appears that most of the development has concentrated on what can be done in the linear state, which I like as I am able to take the output straight into StarTools and run a soup-to-nuts process there. And I don't have to fight with the Wipe module, which has always been my biggest challenge with post-processing.

Yes please, I'd love to see what your quick ABE process produced. I am working my way around to PixInsight eventually, and am focused on APP for mosaics mostly for now. It is the best tool I have come across for putting them together so far, and I am enjoying the process very much.

Bob

[Larry 1969]

Thanks, Larry. I think I used the reduction tool on the North America Nebula, but only at the default value of 10%. At that level it was pretty underwhelming.

There are 2 sliders. 1 is star size and the other is star intensity. The default for each is 100%. Try pulling back to 70% or so. Keep experimenting. I'm still playing with it myself. Good luck!

Larry

[Juno16]

Hi Bob,

Sounds like APP is very user friendly. I really like the sliders in PS.

Literally two seconds of automatic background extraction with everything default.

Original:

A quick ABE:

Just kind of neutralized the background pink somewhat.

Normally, I do background extraction very early in linear processing, then color calibration.


I personally like a darker background and would drop it down some, but I know that you like bright images. Just personal preference.

Nice work Bob. Looking forward to more!

[bobharmony]

Thanks for sharing that, Jim. I see the difference, the ABE version feels a little flat for my liking. And yes, it is a matter of taste only.

Inspired by your effort I ran the image through a round of ST SuperStructure Isolate to see what that would do. It calms the background, but to my eye it mutes the color less overall. What do you think?

BTW, I have been hitting all my recent images with Russ Croman's NXT program I love what it does for all my images, old and new.

Bob

[Juno16]

Thanks for sharing that, Jim. I see the difference, the ABE version feels a little flat for my liking. And yes, it is a matter of taste only.

Inspired by your effort I ran the image through a round of ST SuperStructure Isolate to see what that would do. It calms the background, but to my eye it mutes the color less overall. What do you think?

Cygnus_Loop_mosaic_APP-RGB-session_1-lpc-cbg--6degCW-1.0x-LZ3-NS ST SS isolate NXT.jpg

BTW, I have been hitting all my recent images with Russ Croman's NXT program I love what it does for all my images, old and new.

Bob

Oh yes, the ABE image is definitely flat looking. I just wanted to see if it could neutralize the background and it did. Like I was saying, I run background extraction very early in the process. I usually use dynamic background extraction, but in a field such as yours, with almost no clear background, I would try ABE just to see.

Your round of ST really turned out nice. I think that the colors look nice post ST. Again though, I know that you like bold and bright, so you might just have to do some magic in Startools to brighten up the colors to your liking.

All in all, you have produced a really nice image! I'm sure that some tweaking would be fun though. After all, it never ends!

I also am a big time fan of NoiseXterminator (and also StarXterminator). I have started using it in Pixinsight as my only NR tool. I have been running it with light settings in the linear phase and then tweaking it a tad in post. Probably the best add on tool that I have ever "added".

Take care Bob and nice work!

[Makuser]

Hello Bob. A very successful Cygnus Loop mosaic reprocess. You have outstanding nebulosity filament details in this mosaic and no signs of stitching. Thanks for sharing this new presentation with us on here Bob and keep up the great work.

[Larry 1969]

Inspired by your effort I ran the image through a round of ST SuperStructure Isolate to see what that would do. It calms the background, but to my eye it mutes the color less overall. What do you think?

Cygnus_Loop_mosaic_APP-RGB-session_1-lpc-cbg--6degCW-1.0x-LZ3-NS ST SS isolate NXT.jpg

BTW, I have been hitting all my recent images with Russ Croman's NXT program I love what it does for all my images, old and new.

Bob

I've had some success running the SuperStructure module again, selecting "Brighten" after keeping the result from "Isolate".

Larry

[bobharmony]

I've had some success running the SuperStructure module again, selecting "Brighten" after keeping the result from "Isolate".

Larry

I just gave this a try, Larry - I love the output. I'll have to save a version I can fit here and post it up later - after the Stanley Cup game.

Bob

[bobharmony]

OK so I couldn't wait. Thanks to Larry for the tip on Brighten after Isolate.

If I keep doing mosaics I'm going to have to get an Astrobin account to share full resolution images!

Bob

[Larry 1969]

OK so I couldn't wait. Thanks to Larry for the tip on Brighten after Isolate.

Cygnus_Loop_mosaic_APP-RGB-session_1-lpc-cbg--6degCW-1.0x-LZ3-NS ST SS isolate SS brighten NXT.jpg

If I keep doing mosaics I'm going to have to get an Astrobin account to share full resolution images!

Bob

Nice work Bob!
Now you can fool around with the "strength" in SuperStructure" when you select "Isolate". Sometimes I pull it back to 80% or so because it seems like it's clipping. I've also increased it to 140% for increased background smoothening... It's a constant experiment...

Larry

[BABOafrica]

The image in post #14 is definitely best. Nice detail in the filaments, which now appear brighter.

BABO

[STEVE333]

Nice work Bob. There are sooooooo many stars it is a tough one to process.

Steve