[RCC] Leo Triplet in HaLRGB Requests for constructive critique · James Markgraf · ... · 4 · 430 · 1

I'm just getting started with mono imaging and the processing that goes into it and would appreciate feedback.

Process:

• Stack and align with WBPP
• Graxpert
• StarXTerminator to remove the stars
• Clone stamp to clean up the one dust mote that no amount of flats seems to remove (I've gotta pull my camera to clean the sensor window)
• Pixel math to bring the stars back in
• Channel combination to create the RGB image
• Background normalization
• Color calibration
• BlurXTerminator
• StarXTerminator on Ha and RGB
• SetiAstro's Continuum Subtraction script for Ha
• SetiAstro's Star Stretch script on the stars only image
• SetiAstro's Statistical Stretch script on the starless images
• Curves transformation on RGB
• Curves transformation on Ha
• Curves transformation on Lum
• LRGB combination to add L to RGB
• Combine H-Alpha script to bring the Ha in to RGB
• Some more curves to address the background a little bit
• HLP's Stars Back script to bring the stars back in
• NoiseXTerminator to clean up
• SetiAstro's signature add script (forget the name off the top of my head)
• GIMP to shrink the image down a little from its original size (96 MP after drizzle integration!)

This workflow is based on a SetiAstro YouTube video that I found works well for me. I know I could use SPCC instead of Color Calibration but I had some funky issues with getting the astrometric solution on my image, so I skipped that for now. I also know I'm using a lot of scripts instead of using the processes behind them, but, aside from Continuum Subtraction, I could replace most scripts with the underlying processes if the scripts went away.

Things that can improve your image:

1. replace LRGB combination with Imageblend script - this way u will have more control on luminance/color blend
2. SPCC, if you have issues applying it i always apply SPCC pre strech and it always seem to work
3. learn GHS to stretch ur images - it will give you more control on what u want to display in terms of signal. Displaying hamburger galaxy’s tail is a bit challenging but to me it was only achievable using GHS
4. HDRMT post stretch (on lum image) can show lots of detail on galaxies- make sure u have lum mask option on and play with layers to your taste

Rabeea Alkuwari:
Things that can improve your image:

1. replace LRGB combination with Imageblend script - this way u will have more control on luminance/color blend
2. SPCC, if you have issues applying it i always apply SPCC pre strech and it always seem to work
3. learn GHS to stretch ur images - it will give you more control on what u want to display in terms of signal. Displaying hamburger galaxy’s tail is a bit challenging but to me it was only achievable using GHS
4. HDRMT post stretch (on lum image) can show lots of detail on galaxies- make sure u have lum mask option on and play with layers to your taste

I'll have to check out the ImageBlend script. I never even thought to look to see if there was one available. I skipped SPCC at the time of this image because I had some issues with plate solving the image. I think that perhaps there was an issue with my GAIA catalog because I reloaded a fresh copy and my solving is working again, so I'll definitely give SPCC another shot. I've been playing around with GHS a bit but still not quite there in terms of comfort level (I seem to have a heavy hand sometimes). I have not played around with HDRMT so I'll definitely give that a go.

I am going to re-stack my images since I have more lights to add. I'll incorporate your suggestions into the process and see how it goes. Thanks for the input.