Blending RGB OSC with L-Enhance data - ZWO 294MC Pro - Forums

Topic starter

Sep 6, 2023

Hey Everyone!

After trying to find a forum topic to answer my question, I was not able to properly get the answer I am looking for.

First of all, I image with a refractor telescope using a 294MC Pro. I usually only use no filters at all in Bortle5 or a l-Enhance when there is a moon glow.
I do all of my pre-processing and processing in PixInsight using WBPP and all of the other scripts and tools. I usually end with a touch in Photoshop.

My question is:

What is the proper/most efective way to combine my RGB data to get the star colors with my l-Enhance data to improve nebulosity and contrasts?

I usually put everything in WBPP as multiple nights with all the respective calibration frames and I process all the data at once.

- Should I stack separately? If so, How could I use Pixel Math to align my RGB stard on my luminance data?
- Should I continue doing it that way?

Thanks a lot and clear skies!!!
Maxime

Respectful

andrea tasselli

Frequent contributor

Sep 6, 2023

Maxime Picard:
- Should I stack separately? If so, How could I use Pixel Math to align my RGB stard on my luminance data?
- Should I continue doing it that way?

Yes, you should. Keep the unfiltered shots on one side and the l-enhance shots on another and stack them separately. Then register the l-enhance master light with the unfiltered master light. Now you need to remove the stars from both master lights and copy the RGB stars onto the starless master l-enhance with something like (using (PixelMath):~((~l-enhance_starless_image)*(~RGB_stars))Before doing this, however, use LinearFit to equalize the background between the two images (with stars and all). Note that this must be done in the linear stage for maximum effectiveness.

This assumes, however, that the un-filtered image contains no useful data apart from the stars. If it is not the case then other strategies may apply.

Helpful Insightful

Maxime Picard

Topic starter

Sep 6, 2023

andrea tasselli:
Maxime Picard:
- Should I stack separately? If so, How could I use Pixel Math to align my RGB stard on my luminance data?
- Should I continue doing it that way?

Yes, you should. Keep the unfiltered shots on one side and the l-enhance shots on another and stack them separately. Then register the l-enhance master light with the unfiltered master light. Now you need to remove the stars from both master lights and copy the RGB stars onto the starless master l-enhance with something like (using (PixelMath):~((~l-enhance_starless_image)*(~RGB_stars))Before doing this, however, use LinearFit to equalize the background between the two images (with stars and all). Note that this must be done in the linear stage for maximum effectiveness.

This assumes, however, that the un-filtered image contains no useful data apart from the stars. If it is not the case then other strategies may apply.

That makes perfect sense, thanks a lot!!

Chiradeep Chhaya

Sep 7, 2023

You might want to look at Bill Blanshan’s RGBStarsToNB script in order to transfer RGB stars - from a color calibrated and stretched RGB image - onto a well processed, starless NB image.

I use a 2600MC myself and image using a UV/IR and L-eXtreme filter and use his script quite regularly.

Clear skies!

Well Written Concise

Maxime Picard

Topic starter

Sep 7, 2023

Chiradeep Chhaya:
You might want to look at Bill Blanshan’s RGBStarsToNB script in order to transfer RGB stars - from a color calibrated and stretched RGB image - onto a well processed, starless NB image.

I use a 2600MC myself and image using a UV/IR and L-eXtreme filter and use his script quite regularly.

Clear skies!

I'll look into it. Thanks!!!!