NGC2239 V2

[daz]

Applied the calibration frames and reprocessed.

Image details in the other thread..

Reprocess:

Multiple layers with gentle levels and curves

Gentle Shadow/highlights

Unsharp mask with layer masking

Pleased with this one

[barkis]

This is Ace Daz. and even moreso when completed.

A surefire candidate for the 2012 Calendar.

Ron.

[Doc]

Stunning.

[brantuk]

Pleased? I'd be beside myself and come over all unecessary lol. Amazing shot

[ollypenrice]

Pretty darrned crisp...

Olly

[Ford Prefect]

Now that is just showing off great image mate

[daz]

Thanks guys

After the poor effort of M101 I am dead chuffed with this!

[saturn5]

Thanks guys

After the poor effort of M101 I am dead chuffed with this!

And rightly so,its a cracker.

[Whippy]

That's a superb improvement over the original which wasn't too shabby in the first place .

Tony..

[RobH]

Nice work Daz. I like the contrast you've managed to get....very 3d.

I think it might be improved slightly by the application of a small amount of selective sharpening....select everything apart from the stars, feather the selection by a couple of pixels, and try a bit of unsharp mask.

A neat way of making the selection is to duplicate your layer, then....

IMAGE/ADJUSTMENTS/THRESHOLD.

This will produce a selection that's pure black and white, no greys.

Adjust the slider until you've got all the stars, then use the magic wand tool to select the black background.

Turn off the visibility of the threshold layer, and highlight the previous layer, then apply your sharpening.

If you want to hide the selection, press CTRL-H

After you've finished with it, delete the threshold layer.

I find this method of selection very accurate and easy to use, much more so than the 'colour range' command.

Cheers

Rob

[dc509]

stunning image...

d

[daz]

Thanks all

Cheers Rob - off to have a go at that

[Boren]

I liiiiiiiiiike it !

Cheers,

Harel

[daz]

Thanks Boren - wish I had your skies in the desert though

[Ant]

A surefire candidate for the 2011 Calendar.

Ron.

It won't be going in my 2011 calendar - it's hanging up already

Nice one Daz, does look better than the V1 version, but having said that I'd have been happy with that one.

Look forward to seeing V3 with Rob's suggestions!

Ant

[daz]

OK, V3 attached, following Rob's suggestion.

Looks to me, but please let me know if you think I've overdone it...

[Ant]

There's only subtle differences between the two isn't there... one thing that I did notice was that the brighter stars looked smaller to me.

Apart from that I think I prefer V2 - but it's a fine call.

Cheers

Ant

[Shibby]

Amazing contrast! You must have rather a lot of signal?

[RobH]

Hi Daz.

I think v2 is better as it looks like you've caught the stars somewhat with the sharpening on v3, which is making them look a little unnatural.

Maybe drop v3 over v2 as another layer and erase the v3 stars. That way you'll get the slightly sharper background but softer stars.....very little in it though, and it's simply down to personal taste at this stage.

Great image anyway...it's quite tricky to get such good contrast on the rosette....at least for me

Cheers

Rob

[daz]

Thanks for the feedback guys - learning lots here

@Shibby - Ta

[Coco]

V3 for me too... love the black nodules too...

[daz]

Thanks Coco!!

[MartinB]

Great work Daz, I love these dusty areas in Rosette and you've pulled them out beautifully. Are you going to do a narrow band, the hubble palate will give the dust a lovely colouration.

Prefer V2 btw!!!

[daz]

Thanks Martin!

Yes, I do plan on doing some nb, as soon as I possible can!

Yes, I too prefer V2 - I rushed V3 and did it on my laptop, not my large desk monitor. V4 will get done soon with more time and care...

[barkis]

It won't be going in my 2011 calendar - it's hanging up already

Nice one Daz, does look better than the V1 version, but having said that I'd have been happy with that one.

Look forward to seeing V3 with Rob's suggestions!

Ant

DOH!!