M31 (with StarTools 1.6)

[bobharmony]

I went back to this old data from 2016 and ran it through with StarTools 1.6.382. I find the 1.6 alpha versions to have excellent tools, and they are much more stable than you would expect from an Alpha version.

This was the result of 20 2 minute subs, calibrated with darks, flats and bias frames. This is an example of what can be achieved from Bortle 8 skies with no filter and a DSLR.

Bob

[remedyworld]

Nice to see other StarTools users. Good work!

[Juno16]

Super image Bob!

Really nice colors too!

Dang, I didn't realize that you were in Bortle 8!

Fine work sir!

Jim

[Hankmeister3]

Bortle 8 skies! This image is absolutely incredible, striking, and beautiful, Bob.

[Gordon]

Ivo from StarTools made a number of changes in this latest build. It really does do a great job!
Thanks for posting!

[ic_1101]

Very nice processing Bob, great image!

[JohnP_1]

Nice image Bob. The image is more red than I think you would normally desire and many of the stars are blue or filled with halos. This is an image that I would refine in Photoshop (PS). Even starting with the image you have, try turning down the cyan saturation a lot. After that try adjusting your gray point definition manually in PS curves. It looks like the data hasn't been clipped in the black, though the curves are aligned in a way that distorts this image; this is primarily due to it being a HDR target. Try defining the gray point using the dust lanes in the galaxy in lieu of the background sky. This will give a more natural color balance. Tweak the background sky afterwards. (I have a saved PS action where I pin the color curves along the entire range. I can then select the curve in the location that I want to change and adjust it accordingly.) I would suggest setting your white point in PS too. I try to target a maximum RGB of 243, 247 and 253 for the white point based on imaging a star with the same color class as the sun.

[Gordon]

Congratulations Bob, for having your image selected as today's TSS APOD.

app.php/article/12-31-2019-tss-astropho ... of-the-day

[helicon]

Congrats on the award Bob!!!

[MariusD69]

Wonderful! Well done, Bob! Happy New Year!

[JimMinCT]

Congratulations Bob, for having your image selected as today's TSS APOD.

app.php/article/12-31-2019-tss-astropho ... of-the-day

I was waiting for this...

[JimMinCT]

Very nice job, Bob... Can the stars use some work? Sure... But whose couldn't?
Well done and Congrats on the TSSAPOD!
Cheers

[SKEtrip]

Beautiful, Bob. Excellent shot & congratulations.

[Astrovetteman]

Hey Bob what a way to finish the decade....LAST TSSAPOD of the decade!!!
What a GREAT IMAGE!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Tom

[Don Quixote]

Great image Bob. Congratulations!

[bobharmony]

Very nice job, Bob... Can the stars use some work? Sure... But whose couldn't?
Well done and Congrats on the TSSAPOD!
Cheers

Thanks, Jim. Yes, the stars could use some touching up. This was one of the last images from my pre-coma corrector days and it shows

Bob

[bobharmony]

Nice image Bob. The image is more red than I think you would normally desire and many of the stars are blue or filled with halos. This is an image that I would refine in Photoshop (PS). Even starting with the image you have, try turning down the cyan saturation a lot. After that try adjusting your gray point definition manually in PS curves. It looks like the data hasn't been clipped in the black, though the curves are aligned in a way that distorts this image; this is primarily due to it being a HDR target. Try defining the gray point using the dust lanes in the galaxy in lieu of the background sky. This will give a more natural color balance. Tweak the background sky afterwards. (I have a saved PS action where I pin the color curves along the entire range. I can then select the curve in the location that I want to change and adjust it accordingly.) I would suggest setting your white point in PS too. I try to target a maximum RGB of 243, 247 and 253 for the white point based on imaging a star with the same color class as the sun.

Thanks, John. will experiment with this some more - it seems the processing is NEVER finished for an image!

Bob

[JohnP_1]

Congratulations on your TSS Photo of the Day award too!