M45 - Redcat capture

[mightymonoped]

I went back to the original unprocessed FITS and did the following:-

Crop

Gradient adjustment (using GraXpert)

In PI

• SpectroPhotometric Colour Calibration
• BlurX
• Stretch with BB scripts
• Star Removal
• Against 'Starless' - Multiscale Median Transform noise reduction against 8 layers

In PS CC

• Selective NR using NoiseX against the outer frame.
• Stretch of starless image to bring out fainter nebulosity
• Local contrast adjustment
• Make stars smaller against Star layer image
• Boost saturation of stars through Match Colour in Star layer image
• Merge stars to starless using screen
• Flatten image and export.

 

Here is the finished article in two versions. One without star reduction, the other with. I haven't messed around with this one any near as much as I did with the other posting and I feel happier about it but at this stage I'm snow blind and needs objective input from others as to whether it's any different and/or better (and which version for that matter)?

 

Tony

 

Without Star Reduction

 

With star reduction:-

 

 

[Scooot]

The without for me, but both lovely images.