DSS and processing advice needed please

[sbj]

Hi all,

Managed to get my first guided shots yesterday since getting to grips with my qhy5 and 9x50 finder guider.

I took 5 x 4 minute exposures of m81/82 and stacked using what I think were the recommended settings DSS.  I think though that the un-stacked images contain more detail than the stacked.  Both of the attached images are un-processed.

What do you think? any advice?  I thought stacked images would be better in terms of detail, or am I nowhere near the length of exposures required?

1:  stacked version

2: single exposure

[Adamar98]

Hi, nice images! Now you've stacked the images you have tease the detail out. If you have photoshop or gimp (gimp is free) have a play around with levels and curves. You'll soon get to grips with it. There will be a lot more detail in there than you think. Good luck.

[Adamar98]

Heres a link to anther section of the forum that will help you out.

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/9392-3-primer-how-to-stretch-the-histogram-using-levels-and-curves-long-download/#entry99132

Hope that helps.

[Tinker1947]

Play with the rgb sliders in DSS on the final image, slide them to the right a bit to get all 3 lined up on the dotted line, play with other sliders, it won't replace photoshop but gets you a image to look at....

[sbj]

Thanks,

I have lined up the colour "peaks" in DSS and played around with curves in Gimp and levels etc in ps elements.  Can't seem however to get any of the spiral detail coming through without losing a lot of image quality.

Also have neatimage to reduce noise.

[sbj]

I may be getting somewhere....

[Langy]

Heres a link to anther section of the forum that will help you out.

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/9392-3-primer-how-to-stretch-the-histogram-using-levels-and-curves-long-download/#entry99132

Hope that helps.

Looked at the link but none of the key images are there anymore, unless it's me!