"Optimizing My PixInsight Workflow for Deep-Sky Imaging: Insights Needed!"

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Fabien ROSIER avatar
Hello everyone,I would like to ask for your help in refining my deep-sky processing methods.
I have been processing my images with PixInsight for about two and a half years, and since then, I have tried to improve my workflow with each processed image. However, I am convinced that I can still significantly enhance it.
To allow you to give me improvement points, I am sharing below a typical workflow performed on Sh2-235, taken with an SW 150/750, a ZWO 2600MC, and an L-Extrem filter with 17 hours and 30 minutes of acquisition.
 Workflow:• Stacked Image: 

  • DynamicCrop: To remove stacking artifacts
  • ImageSolver
  • SpectrophotometricFluxCalibration (for MGC)
  • MultiscaleGradientCorrection (but I often also use ADBE or GraXpert)
  • SpectrophotometricColorCalibration

• Calibrated Image:

  • Extraction of the Luminance

• Luminance Image:

  • RGB -> BlurXterminator: A bit of Sharpen Stars, no Sharpen Nonstellar.
  • Lum -> BlurXterminator: A bit of Sharpen Stars, 0.8 Sharpen Nonstellar.
  • StarnetV2: To create a Star_Mask (stretched with StarStretch from SetiAstro, boosted with HistogramTransformation, and a bit of convolution).
  • RGB -> Apply StarMask: Because I noticed that when you run NoiseXterminator on a linear RGB image, it generates chromatic aberrations on the brightest stars.
  • RGB -> NoiseXterminator: Denoise 0.85
  • Lum -> NoiseXterminator: Denoise 0.75

• Preview before/after BlurXterminator and NoiseXterminator on RGB and Luminance:


  • RGB -> MaskedStretch
  • RGB -> NoiseXterminator: Denoise 0.6

• Preview of the RGB Stretched and Denoised Image:

  • RGB -> StarnetV2
  • RGB -> BlemishBlaster from SetiAstro: To remove artifacts left by Starnet
  • RGB -> DBXtract
  • Ha -> RangeSelection: Creation of the Ha Mask.
  • Oiii -> RangeSelection: Creation of the Oiii Mask.

• Ha and Oiii Masks:

  • Apply the Oiii mask on RGB Starless
  • RGB Starless -> CurvesTransformation: To boost the blue.
  • Apply the Ha mask on RGB Starless
  • RGB Starless -> CurvesTransformation: To boost the red.
  • Ha -> NBColourMapper: Creation of a yellow layer from Ha.
  • ImageBlend: Mix of RGB and Ha yellow layer via screen
  • RGB -> PixelMath: Reintegrating the stars
  • RGB -> SCNR

• RGB Image after the Curves:

  • Lum -> HistogramTransformation: First light stretch and blackpoint adjustment.
  • Lum -> GeneralizedHyperblicStretch: Final boosted stretch.
  • Lum -> NoiseXterminator: Denoise 0.40

• Preview of the Luminance Image Stretched and Denoised:

  • Lum -> StarNetV2
  • Lum Starless -> RangeSelection: Creation of the object mask.

• Preview of the Object Mask:

  • Lum -> Script CreateHDRImage: Creation of an HDR image with the object mask applied.
  • Lum -> MultiScaleMedianTransform: Boost layers 1, 2, and 3 by 0.01; 0.1 & 0.035 with the object mask applied.
  • Lum -> LocalHistogramEqualization: Kernel Radius: 70; Contrast limit: 2.0; Amount: 0.140 with the object mask applied.
  • Lum -> DarkStructureEnhance: Amount 0.3

• Preview of the Luminance Image before and after detail enhancement processes:

  • Lum -> PixelMath: Reintegrating the stars

• Luminance Image:

  • RGB -> LRGBCombination: Integration of the luminance layer into the RGB image.
  • RGB -> CurvesTransformation: Application of an "S-Curve."
  • RGB -> Run the StarReduction script: Lightness Method; Soft mode; 2 iterations.

• Final Image (Full version available in my gallery):



 I greatly appreciate the attention you will give to this post and hope you will be able to provide me with advice to improve my workflow.Thank you in advance, and I wish you all Clear Skies!!!

Fabien ROSIER
Helpful Engaging
Emmanuel Valin avatar
Hi Fabien,

Here is one very useful link: https://astro-photographie.fr/traitement_pixinsight.html

CS!

Emmanuel
Fabien ROSIER avatar
Hi Emmanuel,

Thank you for your attention and your answer! 🙏. 

I've seen that tutorials last week Ans tried to apply the OSC Nb filter to Hoo workflow and liked this simple workflow. 

But I like to work on the details on a separate luminance cganel and recombine it later with a RGB chanel. 

But I liked his tips with the Forax palett. 

Once again, thank you for your answer 🙏. 

CS! 

Fabien
Respectful Supportive
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