My first completed image of 2022 is the Rosette Nebula. I feel this is an improvement from my 2021 version, helped in large part by the fact that it was shot with more than twice the aperture.
This was also processed 100% in PixInsight. I only used Photoshop to create the JPGs because I like how Adobe compresses them better than PI.
My workflow continues to evolve. At this point I'm generating starless versions of the Sii, Ha, and Oiii channels right after stacking and DBE (using StarXterminator plugged into PI). That allows me an unimpeded view of the nebulosity as I work, and keeps me from screwing up the stars in the process. The individual channels get processed quite a bit before I combine them. I then usually create standard SHO, Forax-style SHO, as well as standard HOO and Forax HOO images to begin with.
From there I start blending those combinations. This file is about 40% SHO and 60% Forax SHO. It was really hard to choose a mix because there were so many great options, but I went with this. From there, I did more processing and lots (LOTS) of tweaking of curves (Saturation, Hue, Lab channels, etc.) to get this.
One thing I no longer do is remove the green from the SHO (Hubble style) because that drops a lot of detail. For this object retaining the green helps provide some color transition from the center of the nebula toward the outside. Instead of being a blue donut inside a red donut, you can see a band of green develop between them. This is lost with the use of tools like SCNR. The color is balanced here, so I consider the green to be natural ("natural" being subject to interpretation since this is a false color image).
The (slightly reduced) stars were added back in near to the end of the process. These are SHO stars with the magenta removed because I didn't shoot RGB stars.
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