1st Light with l-enhance - California Nebula

[Daf1983]

As the title suggests, this was the first time I've had a chance to use my new filter. Found the data much easier to process, and the banding on my 600d seems to have disappeared!(probably due to the cooler weather)

This is 2 hours of 5 minutes subs, with my 600d and evostar 80ed. 

[Daf1983]

Had another go at processing this data, Didn't do anything majorly different, just got a bit more aggressive with the stretching and saturation. I'm still struggling with noise on the left hand side of my images, due to a street lamp which shines from the west.😒 I'm sure it's possible to process this out of the image, but I'm still very much a novice in that regard. Regardless, I think I prefer this version.

[smashing]

Yep the second one is a step up and is really nice, (especially at only 2 hours) well done!! 

[rickwayne]

Agree. I wouldn't go any contrastier than that, I have a fatal weakness myself for toppling into "garish".

You didn't say what you were using for processing but I'll make my by-now-standard pitch for Astro Pixel Processor here. It is AMAZEBALLS at removing gradients and light pollution, and you needn't have a physics PhD to use it.

[Daf1983]

40 minutes ago, rickwayne said:

Agree. I wouldn't go any contrastier than that, I have a fatal weakness myself for toppling into "garish".

You didn't say what you were using for processing but I'll make my by-now-standard pitch for Astro Pixel Processor here. It is AMAZEBALLS at removing gradients and light pollution, and you needn't have a physics PhD to use it.

I currently use photoshop, though I am tempted to move to something more astro specialised once my years subscription comes to an end in few months. Might have a look at astro pixel processor 

[Clarkey]

23 hours ago, Daf1983 said:

Might have a look at astro pixel processor

APP is great for stacking, gradient removal and colour balance. However, I think it still needs to be used in conjunction with something else as it does lack certain features. Currently I stack with APP then use either Startools or Affinity photo or a bit of both.

I am currently trying Pixinsight, but clearly my science and engineering background is not match for its complexity. As has often been said it is a steep learning curve but I was unaware of the need for a rope and belay🤣. 

[rickwayne]

I use Photoshop for all my photography, including terrestrial stuff. So I would miss it if I didn't have it for astro. That said, the pixel editing is the most generic part of astro processing, really any capable photo editor will do. The calibration, stacking, light pollution/gradient removal, color calibration, and stretching are harder to reproduce with generic tools. Both PixInsight and APP offer 30-day trial downloads. APP is a LOT simpler to learn in that time, and although it doesn't have the range of features or quite the power of PI, IMO most folks will get better results sooner. 

 

Daf, what features are in StarTools or Affinity that APP lacks? Not trying to start an argument, I promise! I just want to know what I'm missing.

Edited October 26, 2021 by rickwayne

[Clarkey]

7 hours ago, rickwayne said:

what features are in StarTools or Affinity that APP lacks?

I think the main thing for both is a good denoise algorithm - I use Astroflat pro in Affinity. Also, I find Startools particularly good for galaxy imaging and getting the detail out, in particular the deconvolution module. Affinity is just a different option to PS, but it does give you the option of masking and the benefits that can bring. Now it has some AP specific processes, it can technically do everything from stacking forwards.

Don't get me wrong, despite the annual cost I will not be getting rid of APP, but I will still be finishing images with Affinity. Startools is more of a complete processing system which I find excellent for getting relatively rapid results, but that too has some shortfalls. Bottom line is that to me there is no 'perfect' processing software* and I will always use a combination. However, any one of the above mentioned packages will give good results.

*If I ever get my head round PI I might be able to say otherwise.

[Daf1983]

Thanks for the insight guys! At the minute I will have to stick with ps as my laptop is too old/slow to cope with a lot of the other processing software. I've tried startools, and every process takes forever on my laptop, and pixinsight won't run on my laptop at all! I do have the astro flat pro plugin on photoshop, which I find does work to a point. 

But seeing as there's a month trial for astro poxel, I will definitely try it, and see how it runs on my laptop.

[rickwayne]

12 hours ago, Clarkey said:

I think the main thing for both is a good denoise algorithm - I use Astroflat pro in Affinity. Also, I find Startools particularly good for galaxy imaging and getting the detail out, in particular the deconvolution module.

Ahh, yes, very good point. APP has star reduction/elimination now but I haven't made that work well for me so I just use starnet++ on the command line. And I bought Topaz Denoise for terrestrial  work, that's pretty magic if you use it with a light touch.

I am hoping that Mabula will build this stuff in before I'm too old to haul my CEM70 around. I've thought about volunteering as a developer for him once I retire. The old mythical  man-month thing, adding another programmer doesn't always speed up a project but he could shovel off a lot of the scut work onto me. 🙂

[BobJC]

Hi,

Is your 600D astro modded? Just had mine done (Just the second filter removal) and was considering the L-ENhance clip in filter. Would you recommend?

[Daf1983]

14 hours ago, BobJC said:

Hi,

Is your 600D astro modded? Just had mine done (Just the second filter removal) and was considering the L-ENhance clip in filter. Would you recommend?

Yes, my 600d is also modded. I've only recently purchased the l-enhance, so have only had a chance to use it once(with this target), but from my limited experience, I found processing was much easier after using the filter, the data seemed to be cleaner, and the nebula seemed to 'pop' more. Definitely don't regret buying it. Worth having a look at the 2nd market, as a lot of people seem to 'upgrade' to l-extreme which I believe is not as suited to a dslr. I got mine for nearly 1/2 price

[BobJC]

7 hours ago, Daf1983 said:

Yes, my 600d is also modded. I've only recently purchased the l-enhance, so have only had a chance to use it once(with this target), but from my limited experience, I found processing was much easier after using the filter, the data seemed to be cleaner, and the nebula seemed to 'pop' more. Definitely don't regret buying it. Worth having a look at the 2nd market, as a lot of people seem to 'upgrade' to l-extreme which I believe is not as suited to a dslr. I got mine for nearly 1/2 price

LOL, Still trying to get to 25 posts so I can get access to the classifieds back. Difficult as I don't have a lot to say 😂

[Daf1983]

48 minutes ago, BobJC said:

LOL, Still trying to get to 25 posts so I can get access to the classifieds back. Difficult as I don't have a lot to say 😂

😂Your could try astro buy and sell, that's where I got mine👍

[StarWomble]

What's the view here on the use of the L-enhance  with a dedicated OSC cam? I'm trying to get my head around what it's sweet spot is, i.e is it only useful for say Bortle 5 and worse?  or is it useful on very clear and dark skies?

 

[iantaylor2uk]

In my opinion it should work well in light polluted or very clear skies. In light polluted areas it will act as a light pollution filter, whilst also enhancing the contrast of the specific emission lines it lets through. In dark skies it will simply enhance the contrast of the emission lines it lets through. You would only use the filter on emission nebulae, there is no point using it on galaxies or globular clusters.

Compared to a UV/IR filter, you need to take about 3x as long subs. 

Hope this helps

[StarWomble]

Thanks Ian - that's probably the best, most simple and concise answer I have seen on using the filter with a OSC. Very much appreciated !

 

[PeterCPC]

On 25/10/2021 at 22:43, Daf1983 said:

I currently use photoshop, though I am tempted to move to something more astro specialised once my years subscription comes to an end in few months. Might have a look at astro pixel processor 

APP is great for stacking and some tweeks but you need more. Have at look at Affinity Photo which even does astro stacking now.