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First CCD image critique


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Hi all, iv'e uploaded a stack of my first ccd image, it's of course the pelican Nebula taken in Luminance only, without any light pollution filter.

It has been calibrated with darks and bias but no flats because i hadn't sorted out my light box when it was taken.

a simple stretch and some noise reduction with Carbonies actions are the only processing done.

My point is that I think its a good image, however i need some critique from people who have more experience than i and who might offer me some encouragement or otherwise...i really don't mind either.

9 x 900 sec subs with just 7 darks, captured with Max dl and processed with Images plus 6.0 and Photoshop cs4

Many thanks for any input

Ray

Pelican nebula.tif

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Looks like a good start to the world of CCD imaging!

If I were to add any processing steps to it I would look at reducing the size of the stars over the whole image a little, just to take the eye away from them and let the viewer concentrate on the nebula a little more, and perhaps a little sharpen to some of the nice areas of contrast and detail in the nebula. But overall a great 1st image!

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Thanks for the replies folks, i have been using a DSLR for several years this is really my first step into Mono ccd with a QSI583...i agree with the point about the stars...i have reduced them a little but if you go too far it causes damage overall.

i put the star size down to the Lum filter...i have just obtained a 5nm Astrodon ha and I'll give that a wiz in due course.

Ray

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I didn't shoot any L for this target the second time I did it. The problem with L in the Milky Way is that it swells the stars. I like using RGB plus Ha with the Ha added mainly to red in Blend Mode Lighten with just a whiff as luminance. L comes into its own on reflection nebulae and galaxies in my view.

Olly

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Cheers Olly..John, the lrgb filters were the only ones I had available at the time, I am really looking forward to the N/ Band aspect...if this awful cloud moves over.

The image appears to lack contrast in my view.

I guess my next question is what to do with it.

Should I call it done or would it benefit from additional data of some form or another?

Ray

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I had a play and felt you could pull still more out of it, particularly in the brighter regions, without getting into the noise. It really is a cracking data set and well processed to the point where you chose to stop. Noel's Enhance Local Contrast is a superb tool. Selective sharpening of the bright bits where needed (but never the stars) is useful in my view.

Olly

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I think this is a great start. Smaller stars are always nice but there is a lot of processing to do to achieve this. For now, I'd concentrate on increasing the contrast a little as this will really lift the image. You are going to love that Ha filter :grin:

Well done!

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