Critiques and suggestions for my latest reflection nebula - Forums

Topic starter

25 days ago

I spent some time collecting and processing the image for Gecko reflection nebula with Ha(https://app.astrobin.com/i/k5yeqo), but there are several problems bothered me during the process:

1. I followed the way of first minus the R from Ha (split Ha), then for RGB image after color calibration, I used the PixelMath that adding Ha back to both R and B with 5:1 ratio. However, that also means whenever I hope to emphasize my Ha data, the background is more blue.
2. Also about the Ha, the red in gecko head is hiding the reflection part. Am I pushing this part too red?
3. I find some other good pictures in this region look more red. Should I adjust in color adjustment to mimic that way?

Any other suggestions for the image is also welcomed and appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Clear Skies,
Yingtian

Respectful Engaging

andrea tasselli

Frequent contributor

25 days ago

Good picture! I like the composition. Things to improve:

1. Ha: too much of it and it is overwhelming the actual dust. It needs to be toned waaaaay down.

2. Star colors and reflection nebula colors; or rather the absence thereof. The LRGB proportion should be unity thus 1:1:1:1. And you need to integrate the RGB into the L too. Get the stars from the RGB image (stretched, obviously) and paste back into the LRGB. Blend the Ha into the R as a separate layer to boost the Ha areas without overwheling everything else so choose the ratio carefully. Try a pure RGB version of the image and see what the colors should really look like and then blend the L boosting saturation.

Helpful

gmadkat

IOTD Staff

24 days ago

The current image is good, this is a beautiful region! Agree with Andrea on the colors, and balancing dust and the star colors…

Some ideas…
Process the nebula starless and blend stars in at the end, correct the star shapes and adjust color before blending.
There are scripts for continuum subtraction that might help.
If you are open to using Photoshop color enhancement as well as using masks to finetune selective areas of the image, eg dust vs the red regions to balance the color. Can also do in Pixinsight using masks there as well.

Hope that helps!

Gowri

Supportive

Brian Diaz

24 days ago

hi

The image is beautiful, and the region is amazing.
The Achilles' heel is the stars. They're very close to the white clipping, so they lose color and details. I would recommend controlling the stretching of the stars and their saturation. The rest of the colors and tones are up to preference

CS
Brian

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