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Originally Posted by Buldric  So basically, all I need to do is (insert random giberish that is incomprehencable), then (ditto), and then (mhmm) and I'll have a better picture! Man, thats great!
Allright, I'll admit it, I have no clue what your talking about... This pic is a stack of 30, 30 second exposures. I stick em in astro stack for a stacking technique, then randomly fiddle with the histogram (recently learned word) untill it turns out a relatively decent look for my "curves adjustment". So yea....
Clear Skies,
Buldric |
Hi Buldric,
Ok Ill try to explain it. LOL,
You can take your stack of 30 second subs since it does not wash out the core in your camera, and take exposures that are longer in duration that will show more detail in the dust lanes.
So for example lets say you take 30-30 second subs of this object and then you take multiple longer exposures of 1 minute, Now you have two stacks one at 30 seconds and one stack of 60 seconds, using layering you can do a histostretch and a curves adjustment of each stack independently of each other, to tease out as much detail as possible in each stack.
So you use the first shorter stack of 30 seconds as the first layer, then you can selectively remove the washed out core of the longer subs while still retaining the detail in the dust lanes and merge the first layer with the new longer subs with the core removed.
The result will be an image that shows the core quite well, but also the fainter dust lanes that the longer stack captures.
There are other ways to do this, you can mix up your stack with short and long exposures and use processing techniques to prevent washing out the core but still retain the outer detail of the galaxy.
Of course this is only a very simplified explanation, it's the learning of the post processing techniques that have to be mastered with the right software application.
It's way to lengthy of an explanation to post on this forum, and there are many other ways to accomplish the result that you want besides the methods I described. you will also find many different approaches on Image processing, and not all astro imagers will agree on what is best.
I suggest that you Google Layering techniques in Photo Shop, or start studying the different ways astrophotographers are using to image objects and tips on how to get the best image possible.
You have struck upon the obvious chord that astrophotography is not only a science but it's also an art form, that requires good computer skills and the mastering of several Image processing tools which by the way can be quite daunting without hands on help or a mentor.
Dennis
