I recently downloaded the Foraxx Palette script for Pixinsight to see if it would be a tool that I could use to improve my color representation of narrow band images. When I first used it on the Lion nebula SH2-132 I was impressed with both the three channel and two channel combinations. The script was straight forward and very easy to use. I then processed the North American and Pelican nebulas NGC7000 and IC5370 expecting similar results but was not as impressed. This is probably a result of personal taste and nothing else but then not every tool is right for the job. So I figured with all the summer weather that is not conducive to imaging, I would find an image set with strong Ha,SII and OIII channels and the Rosette fit the bill. Besides, I needed processing practice.

The images on the comparison chart are arranged with the three channel images  on the left side and the two channel images on the right. The separate channel masters were all stretched using the HST tool in Pixinsight prior to combining. All the images have had a synthetic luminance added to them. The images were combined in Foraxx completely, in pixel math completely using a custom blend and then the custom blend nebula was combined with the Foraxx produced star image. The usual curves adjustments were made to all originally combined images for enhancement but editing was kept to a minimum as to not distort color presentation to much. It is an art form after all isn’t it? At any rate, the Foraxx Palette script has it’s advantages in some regards and that is if you want a decent bi-color result it does a good job compared to my custom pixel math palette. However the three channel combination may not be suited to everybody’s taste as it tends to be heavy on the red/bronze side of the color wheel. What I found useful were the stars produced by the script,with slight increases in saturation and color using curves, a more natural star color was achieved in both the two and three channel images. When using Starnet, StarXterminator or other methods for nebulas and star isolation the resulting star field could then be combined with other color palette nebula for a decent result. It might not be as good as an RGB star image, but the result saves time from taking the necessary RGB subs during your imaging session.

To find out more info on equipment used for this target click here.

Comments are welcomed.