Processing NB help NGC6888

[tooth_dr]

I am having a bit of a mental block here with my NGC6888 image.  I have removed the stars and made what I think is the 'colour layer' from the Oiii and Ha, but am struggling to work out what way to go about adding the detail and stars etc.   I cant use the Ha layer on it's own as a luminance layer as I will lose the outer shell, so what way do I go about blending the Oiii to the Ha.   And the stars?  Leave in and process around or remove and add back in later?  I appreciate this is quite an open question, but would be very grateful some pointers 

 

TIA

Adam.

 

Ha:

 

Oiii:

 

Colour:

 

Final???

 

[vlaiv]

The way you did it would be the way I'd do it.

Only thing I would additionally do would be to not stretch the stars so much. That removes their outer halo / glow and keeps them smaller.

[Xiga]

On 10/10/2020 at 00:15, tooth_dr said:

I am having a bit of a mental block here with my NGC6888 image.  I have removed the stars and made what I think is the 'colour layer' from the Oiii and Ha, but am struggling to work out what way to go about adding the detail and stars etc.   I cant use the Ha layer on it's own as a luminance layer as I will lose the outer shell, so what way do I go about blending the Oiii to the Ha.   And the stars?  Leave in and process around or remove and add back in later?  I appreciate this is quite an open question, but would be very grateful some pointers 

 

TIA

Adam.

 

Ha:

 

Oiii:

 

Colour:

 

Final???

 

Here's what i would do Adam:

1. Get the stretch of the Ha and Oiii as close as possible. From the versions above it seems like they are probably close enough. 

2. Add the Oiii on top of the Ha in PS in blend mode Lighten. This will add some details to the inner shell as well as the all-important outer-shell. 

3. Use a layer mask to only apply this to just the crescent and outer-shell. Flatten and save this as your Lum. 

Now combine it with your Colour just as before. If the all-white stars bother you, you could always create an interim HOO (or Synthesized Gree) image using the Ha and Oiii images with their stars intact. This will get you some star colour. Then you can apply it over your combined Lum+Colour image in Blend Mode Color using a star mask, so only the star colours are affected. 

I did the above on your jpeg, plus i applied a couple of passes of star reduction from Images Plus (but not on the crescent itself). Only spent 20 mins and it's a bit of a bodge job, but hopefully you find it useful.

[HunterHarling]

I think that's a great image! I agree with Vlad though about stretching, you could try some star reduction also. If you reduce the stars, the nebulosity might become more visible. You could always add exposure too

[Xiga]

Also, instead of using Bend Mode Lighten with the Oiii, another method worth trying would be to use Screen but only apply a very small amount, say something in the region of around 15%. Basically, the minimum amount that lets through the added details not present in the Ha. Then use the usual layer mask to only apply it to the nebula.

[Laurin Dave]

Great image Adam...  when I did this I did what Ciaran has suggested with masks for the Oiii Bubble on the Crescent and also the Soap Bubble which you have at the bottom.. 

Dave