M1--Can't quite get it!!!!

[Rodd]

I finally got some clear sky time and managed to collect 6 hours of luminance on M1.  After culling the poor subs, I was left with about 4.5 hours. I was elated to find that my luminance stack had the lowest FWHM of all stacks.  I figured it would improve my RGB image.  But in typical fashion, adding luminance to a RGB image is proving Problematic.  I never liked the RGB version because I used deconvolution and no matter how gentle I applied it, it was too much, as is evident in the little white knots visible in the filaments.  They are only visible when zoomed so I could live with it.  But now that I have a decent luminance, I figured it was time to fix it.  Well, easier said than done. Yes, the white knots are gone, but at the expense of sharpness.  Anyway--here are the two versions....I am not satisfied with either.  But I have to choose.  I think the LRGB is a better image due to the lack of deconvolution artifacts.  It is binned 2x2, which makes sense for this data.  But the sharpness of the RGB is compelling.   So, the question:   Should I go with the RGB, LRGB or start from scratch.

C11Edge, .7x reducer, ASI 1600.  RGB subs are 60 sec and 10 sec, Lum subs are 30 sec.  Luminance was a superluminance made form the lum and RGB subs

RGB--5.25 Hours

 

 

LRGB 10 hours 

 

 

 

Edited January 30, 2022 by Rodd
Fixed saturation of LRGB

[Mr Spock]

LRGB seems to have a bit more in the outer regions. It's a lovely image though.

[Rodd]

58 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

LRGB seems to have a bit more in the outer regions. It's a lovely image though.

Thanks--yes, I got a bit more of the edge---too saturated though

Edited January 29, 2022 by Rodd

[Allinthehead]

Lovely image Rodd, looks like the background is quite a bit darker with the luminance. More detail in the nebula with the luminance data. Are you using the luminance data just in the nebula? 

[Rodd]

Yes. My sky really sucks. So my background usually does too.  I usually  combat it by making it too dark.  I think the first one is too bright so perhaps somewhere in the middle.  I add luminance with the lrgb tool.  It didn’t seem to ruin the stars so I did not mask out the nebula.  In the end s super luminance  worked best made with all rgb and Lum subs.  The key difference is I did not use deconvolution.  I tried.  Many times. But the filaments just couldn’t handle it. You can see the white knots in image #1.   The stars are better in #1 though.  Not critical though as #2 is binned in software.  Still bothers me though.  But I can’t do any more today. Everything is starting to look bad

[Rodd]

Heres a reprocess-getting there.  Used deconvolution a tad and its binned.  

 

 

Edited January 29, 2022 by Rodd