Here is my first attempt at creating a Hubble palette image. I used Optolong filters--their Sii and L-eNhance 2 inch filters--with my QHY168c camera. Most of the details are in the description of the image in my gallery here. (Yes, I need to tune the Hotech better. No, a dedicated one for my scope is not currently available from A-P; no, I haven't yet searched for one on the used market; yes, if you have one you would part with I am interested
and yes, I have elongated stars that need other attention...)This was really just an experiment to see if and how I would create an SHO image using a dual band filter and a dedicated sulphur filter from my OSC camera. I figured that buying the sulphur filter would be reasonable: if I go mono eventually, I will have one; if it works with the OSC, great; if it doesn't, I can sell it or give it away to someone who wants or needs it. As the Optolong filters are pretty reasonably priced, I just did it. I have no reference for quality in these, other than user comments here and using cost as a surrogate for quality is usually a reasonable reference, but incremental difference may be hard to discern, at least for me. I think that for the amount of integration time in this image and its relatively straightforward processing, it compares reasonably well with some of those posted in various places. Obviously, it could be better. Equally obvious, it is not the most efficient way to do this. For those who, like me, haven't gone to the dark side, it offers hope that we can create false-colour-palette images that we can be happy with. Whether anyone else likes them, or how they were created, is another story
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