M33 in L(Ha+R)GB - processing in GIMP (for the Real Intelligence Challenge)

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Piotr K. avatar
Hi guys, here is my tutorial showing the workflow for processing M33 data, shot with ASI294MM Pro camera in L, R, G, B and Ha, without any tools using A.I. It's for the Real Intelligence Challenge, announced some time ago by Mark from Deep Sky Detail YT channel

Here's the tutorial:
https://youtu.be/GiZK3wueGng



And here's Mark's annoucement of the contest:
Airwaves Refresh Your Mind

Let me know what you think about the workflow - I'm always interested in learning something new
SolarVortex3562 avatar
Piotr K.:
Hi guys, here is my tutorial showing the workflow for processing M33 data, shot with ASI294MM Pro camera in L, R, G, B and Ha, without any tools using A.I. It's for the Real Intelligence Challenge, announced some time ago by Mark from Deep Sky Detail YT channel

Here's the tutorial:
https://youtu.be/GiZK3wueGng



And here's Mark's annoucement of the contest:
Airwaves Refresh Your Mind

Let me know what you think about the workflow - I'm always interested in learning something new

I really like the image! When I saw this post I wanted to try the challenge myself with no ai tools in pixinsight and here was the result I got:
M33 HALRGB
M33 LRGB:
M 33 HA ONLY:


I made these images using pixel math, brightness masks, Dynamic background extraction, and curve transformations. The HA was colored red with masks and added into there with masks and pixel math. You can see the noise in there because I did not know how much ai is used in pixeinsight's denoiser. I also did no deconvolution on the image because I do not know the ai limits on that. I feel like I could have gotten better star color but without starxterminator I felt kinda lost.
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Oscar avatar
man, this is a workout

just with PI, and no AI at all


looks odd, idk, lol, but I think I can say I have real intelligence (?) haha

I'm wayyyyy better when I have AI help; just with Starnet, I'm sure I would've done a lot better.

the image in the OP's post looks really good for no AI
Piotr K. avatar
Oscar:
I'm wayyyyy better when I have AI help

How would your workflow look like with A.I. tools?

I was wondering about this myself - I only use A.I. tools for denoising (GraXpert) and star removal (Starnet). So for the galaxy it doesn't matter if I use A.I. or not - processing would be more or less the same.

BTW - here's the link to my version in full-res:

https://www.astrobin.com/pgn3xc/

(image in this thread was only a thumbnail-title slide of the video ).
Oscar avatar
Piotr K.:
Oscar:
I'm wayyyyy better when I have AI help

How would your workflow look like with A.I. tools?

I was wondering about this myself - I only use A.I. tools for denoising (GraXpert) and star removal (Starnet). So for the galaxy it doesn't matter if I use A.I. or not - processing would be more or less the same.

BTW - here's the link to my version in full-res:

https://www.astrobin.com/pgn3xc/

(image in this thread was only a thumbnail-title slide of the video ).

To clarify, it's not only the AI tools themselves that help, but also the processing opportunities those tools open up for me (like processing stars separately and with a different method of stretching)

So, one simplified example workflow of mine, using AI, is: 
  1. GradientCorrection
  2. BXT (AI)
  3. SPCC
  4. SN (AI)


Starless:
  1. HT
  2. Chrominance
  3. BG darkening
  4. NXT (AI)


Stars:
  1. HT
  2. Arcsihn
  3. minimum
  4. Curve magic


That's just bare bones version of one of my workflows
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