Cocoon Nebula NB

I'm starting to look at it.

Juan Conejero via Rob Morse suggestion:

·       OIII = Blue Channel
·       Ha*0.2+OIII*0.8 = Green Channel
·       SII*0.8+Ha*0.2 = Red Channel

(Juan Conejero calls this a more ‘natural’ representation; note healso says that if saturation is not an issue, then instead consider SII +
0.8*Ha for Red, 0.2*Ha + OIII for Green and pure OIII for Blue).  Note I have seen others who use different
mixes, such as mixing 50/50 SII and Ha to create the Red Channel, 85/15 OIII
and Ha for Green, and 100% OIII for Blue. 

also have seen on PI forum..I need to find the post to remember who authored it..it was in response to someone named Brad:

Forum poster's text:
"... but you can just use PixelMath to do the percentage blends to get a better/proper Hubble mapping that isn't so heavily
green weighted. I think its the following":

R/K: 0.4*Ha + 0.6*SII
G: 0.4*OIII + 0.3*Ha + 0.3*SII
B: 1.0*OIII

"This is another I saved off from this site a while ago, for a natural color blend":

R/K: 0.76*Ha + 0.24*SII
G: 1.0*OIII
B: 0.85*OIII + 0.15*Ha

jeff

Yes, I use PI. Thanks for the tips! I am going to try that ColorMask script.

I feel like Cocoon is just not a good narrowband target, it's more of an LRGB. You got all that broadband dust and reflection.

I agree with Jarrett. I could not get good colors with Cocoon either (Astrodon 5nm filters). OSC images looked much better. You could use NB images to produce L frames so that you can reduce the stars in the background. Although, you may still want to use non-NB frames if you want to bring out the dust lanes.

There are plenty of easy (bright) and good-looking NB targets. How about Veil Nebs, Heart & Soul, Elephant's Trunk? They are rich in colors (the three main NBs).
I am shooting a bit more obscure and difficult (faint) large planetaries these days with NB.

Seiji