[RCC] M42 Orion nebula - Photoshop

0.00 dreamsandmonsters #... · view views
Hello everyone, I just got my first monochrome cam last week and while not being equipped to shoot in cold nights for the moment, I decided to spend as much time as possible for editing. My purpose is to find a proper editing process that would 1) Avoid losing as much data as possible 2) Keep a natural feeling 3) Keep interesting colors that match well together. This is only a stack of x1 H, x1 S, x1 O of 180s each, with dark frames, so I am NOT looking for suggestions regarding the poor quality of the picture/blurriness. Initially, it was meant to be a shooting test, not intended to be processed. I'm looking for your input for the other aspects: regarding your processing suggestions, color choices, what you'd avoid, what you'd change. I used AstroEd Youtube videos as a starting point for editing. In his videos, he was using the channel mixer to even his colors, he boosted the lowest channels colors to match to the level of the channel with the most luminosity. In my case, I saw a huge loss of details in the light pixels trying to use the channel mixer to boost colors, in the core of M42. This is the reason I used levels to adjust. Maybe it works well if the data is pretty well flattened instead? Orion is also probably pretty rough for the variations of light, might not be a good subject for this. Would love to hear anyone's thoughts on using the channel mixer. Here's my Photoshop editing process below, I tried to keep it on adjustment layers as much as possible, so I could always go back and change a little thing if needed. Especially since I'm still trying to find my colors. After doing a basic Arcsin curve to the stacked picture of each filter: First file: Combine SHO shots to the RGB channels in a new file + align them + crop edges Create a layer threshold, edit the threshold to show the blackest points. Pick the "color sampler tool" to one of the dark pixels (to keep an eye on color balance anytime) Add an adjustment layer - Arcsin curve Add another adjustment layer - Arcin curve, if needed Add adjustment layer - Levels, adjust all colors to be the same in the blacks Flatten a copy, name it "stars" Flatten a copy, name it "starless" and run StarXterminator On the starless version, apply substract as layer mode and create a copy named "stars only" Apply as Linear Dodge to the "stars only" Remove hue of "stars only" + adjust curves as needed Second file: Create a new document Copy paste each of the RGB channels as layers (of the starless version) Ha layer above all layers, OII layer below, SIII as last layer Hide all, except SII layer, copy, create a mask on OII layer, paste in the mask, invert the mask Hide all, except OII layer, copy, create a mask on OII layer, paste in the mask, invert the mask For each of SHO layer - Add an adjustment layer - Hue/Saturation. Apply as coloration layer. Apply to edit the layer below only. Boost saturation to 100. Pick a color for each Hue layer Make a copy of this for backups of HSO layers masks, before curve editing Edit the curve of each mask on the HSO layers to make it more natural Add adjustment layer - Levels, if needed to flatten colors again Add adjustment layer - Selective color > green channel: remove all cyan Add more adjustment layers for selective colors, adjusted per color taste Contrast adjustments Would add noise correction plugin here, for real shooting Back to first file: Once done color adjusting and doing all edits on the nebula, flatten + copy back to the first document, below the "stars only" layer So... What would you recommend for this picture to look more interesting? What would you change in the editing process? What do you pick for blackest pixels? Do you bring it as close to 0 as possible, or do you leave room to be greyer? Colors, colors... I know it's very personal to each but... how do you decide to stop with X color and not another? When to know to stop in the saturation? Do you use references? Do you just walk away and come back minutes... hours... days later to it? I feel like after being on the screen for too long, I get lost. How do you adjust your contrast to make it pop more, without killing your data? Thank you for taking the time to read this... if you made it until here Cheers and clear skies to you! https://www.astrobin.com/full/1h0oba/0/ Edited ... Like

0.00

#...

Hello everyone,

I just got my first monochrome cam last week and while not being equipped to shoot in cold nights for the moment, I decided to spend as much time as possible for editing. My purpose is to find a proper editing process that would 1) Avoid losing as much data as possible 2) Keep a natural feeling 3) Keep interesting colors that match well together.

This is only a stack of x1 H, x1 S, x1 O of 180s each, with dark frames, so I am NOT looking for suggestions regarding the poor quality of the picture/blurriness. Initially, it was meant to be a shooting test, not intended to be processed. I'm looking for your input for the other aspects: regarding your processing suggestions, color choices, what you'd avoid, what you'd change.

I used AstroEd Youtube videos as a starting point for editing. In his videos, he was using the channel mixer to even his colors, he boosted the lowest channels colors to match to the level of the channel with the most luminosity. In my case, I saw a huge loss of details in the light pixels trying to use the channel mixer to boost colors, in the core of M42. This is the reason I used levels to adjust. Maybe it works well if the data is pretty well flattened instead? Orion is also probably pretty rough for the variations of light, might not be a good subject for this. Would love to hear anyone's thoughts on using the channel mixer.

Here's my Photoshop editing process below, I tried to keep it on adjustment layers as much as possible, so I could always go back and change a little thing if needed. Especially since I'm still trying to find my colors.

After doing a basic Arcsin curve to the stacked picture of each filter:

First file:

Combine SHO shots to the RGB channels in a new file + align them + crop edges
Create a layer threshold, edit the threshold to show the blackest points. Pick the "color sampler tool" to one of the dark pixels (to keep an eye on color balance anytime)
Add an adjustment layer - Arcsin curve
Add another adjustment layer - Arcin curve, if needed
Add adjustment layer - Levels, adjust all colors to be the same in the blacks
Flatten a copy, name it "stars"
Flatten a copy, name it "starless" and run StarXterminator
On the starless version, apply substract as layer mode and create a copy named "stars only"
Apply as Linear Dodge to the "stars only"
Remove hue of "stars only" + adjust curves as needed

Second file:

Create a new document
Copy paste each of the RGB channels as layers (of the starless version)
Ha layer above all layers, OII layer below, SIII as last layer
Hide all, except SII layer, copy, create a mask on OII layer, paste in the mask, invert the mask
Hide all, except OII layer, copy, create a mask on OII layer, paste in the mask, invert the mask
For each of SHO layer - Add an adjustment layer - Hue/Saturation. Apply as coloration layer. Apply to edit the layer below only. Boost saturation to 100.
Pick a color for each Hue layer
Make a copy of this for backups of HSO layers masks, before curve editing
Edit the curve of each mask on the HSO layers to make it more natural
Add adjustment layer - Levels, if needed to flatten colors again
Add adjustment layer - Selective color > green channel: remove all cyan
Add more adjustment layers for selective colors, adjusted per color taste
Contrast adjustments
Would add noise correction plugin here, for real shooting

Back to first file:

Once done color adjusting and doing all edits on the nebula, flatten + copy back to the first document, below the "stars only" layer

So...

What would you recommend for this picture to look more interesting?
What would you change in the editing process?
What do you pick for blackest pixels? Do you bring it as close to 0 as possible, or do you leave room to be greyer?
Colors, colors... I know it's very personal to each but... how do you decide to stop with X color and not another? When to know to stop in the saturation? Do you use references? Do you just walk away and come back minutes... hours... days later to it? I feel like after being on the screen for too long, I get lost.
How do you adjust your contrast to make it pop more, without killing your data?

Thank you for taking the time to read this... if you made it until here

Cheers and clear skies to you!

https://www.astrobin.com/full/1h0oba/0/

Edited ...

0.00 Christophe Perroud #... · view views · 1 like
Hi Laure, Your image of M42 looks great and you will be very happy with your new mono camera I guess ;-) I can't help you with SHO process as I'm shooting with a modded DSLR and have RVB image only to play with. But when I started astrophotography a couple of years ago, I was using PS for post-production. And here some steps I’ve applied to boost my stacked images : Star selection : - Duplicate main layer - Apply Filter > Other > High pass : enter value of 1px - Image > Settings > Threshold : enter value between 129-132 to select star only - If necessary, expand selection by 1px (Selection > Modify > Expand) - Doublecheck big stars and add new selection if needed - Save selection as "Star" : Selection > Save selection as… Increase detail’s level - Duplicate main layer - Load the selection "star" and invert it - Apply Filter > Other > High pass : enter value between 30px (for small structure) and 100px (for large structure) - Change layer type to "incrustation" and adjust opacity to match your personal taste of detail’s enhancement Tones adjustment - Image > Dark tones / High tones : select "advanced options" and adjust some cursor and see what happens, especially on overexposed area of the image using high tones controls Global adjustment - Image > Curve : move dark point a few to the right (max. up to 5, not much) and adjust the curve by grabbing a point in the middle and gently move it up. If necessary, add more control points in the curve to match a better rendition. Do not hesitate to contact me if you need more support If you have some French knowledges, you can have a look at this SHO tutorial for PS here. Here is my attempt at your image following above steps. Hope you'll like it Cheers, Christophe Like

0.00

Christophe Perroud

#...

· 1 like

Hi Laure,

Your image of M42 looks great and you will be very happy with your new mono camera I guess ;-) I can't help you with SHO process as I'm shooting with a modded DSLR and have RVB image only to play with. But when I started astrophotography a couple of years ago, I was using PS for post-production. And here some steps I’ve applied to boost my stacked images :

Star selection :
- Duplicate main layer
- Apply Filter > Other > High pass : enter value of 1px
- Image > Settings > Threshold : enter value between 129-132 to select star only
- If necessary, expand selection by 1px (Selection > Modify > Expand)
- Doublecheck big stars and add new selection if needed
- Save selection as "Star" : Selection > Save selection as…

Increase detail’s level
- Duplicate main layer
- Load the selection "star" and invert it
- Apply Filter > Other > High pass : enter value between 30px (for small structure) and 100px (for large structure)
- Change layer type to "incrustation" and adjust opacity to match your personal taste of detail’s enhancement

Tones adjustment
- Image > Dark tones / High tones : select "advanced options" and adjust some cursor and see what happens, especially on overexposed area of the image using high tones controls

Global adjustment
- Image > Curve : move dark point a few to the right (max. up to 5, not much) and adjust the curve by grabbing a point in the middle and gently move it up. If necessary, add more control points in the curve to match a better rendition.

Do not hesitate to contact me if you need more support

If you have some French knowledges, you can have a look at this SHO tutorial for PS here.

Here is my attempt at your image following above steps. Hope you'll like it

Cheers,
Christophe

0.00 dreamsandmonsters #... · view views · 1 like
Hey Christophe, The french tutorial was SUPER useful, thank you so much! (French here) I didn't understand how people got their typical SHO colors and now I do. Very similar steps to what I've found online, but I didn't see or think of applying the HSO layers themselves as "lighten" instead of using masks, that's clever. Posting an edit using this tutorial below, still feel like it could use a bit more pop, maybe more light in the midtones.. or else? The Shadows/highlights is pretty sweet for the getting the edges of the nebula out, I'm assuming that's what you used in the one you just posted? Not to sure how it works exactly, but will probably take a deep look to try to understand it. Looks like it makes a major difference and save the data in the highlights. For the stars, you lost me pretty early in the game: Christophe Perroud: Star selection : - Duplicate main layer - Apply Filter > Other > High pass : enter value of 1px - Image > Settings > Threshold : enter value between 129-132 to select star only - If necessary, expand selection by 1px (Selection > Modify > Expand) I get the Duplicate > Apply filter / other / high pass > Image adjustment (not settings?) / threshold... and afterwards it looks like you already manage to get a selection and I'm not sure how you got that? The Image adjustment thing changes the picture itself and doesn't select any pixel. I'd like to get it, as it feels like it'd give a more accurate selection + control on the stars. Thank you so much for your time, really appreciate the help Edited ... Like

0.00

dreamsandmonsters

#...

· 1 like

Hey Christophe,

The french tutorial was SUPER useful, thank you so much! (French here) I didn't understand how people got their typical SHO colors and now I do. Very similar steps to what I've found online, but I didn't see or think of applying the HSO layers themselves as "lighten" instead of using masks, that's clever.

Posting an edit using this tutorial below, still feel like it could use a bit more pop, maybe more light in the midtones.. or else?

The Shadows/highlights is pretty sweet for the getting the edges of the nebula out, I'm assuming that's what you used in the one you just posted? Not to sure how it works exactly, but will probably take a deep look to try to understand it. Looks like it makes a major difference and save the data in the highlights.

For the stars, you lost me pretty early in the game:

Christophe Perroud:
Star selection :
- Duplicate main layer
- Apply Filter > Other > High pass : enter value of 1px
- Image > Settings > Threshold : enter value between 129-132 to select star only
- If necessary, expand selection by 1px (Selection > Modify > Expand)

I get the Duplicate > Apply filter / other / high pass > Image adjustment (not settings?) / threshold... and afterwards it looks like you already manage to get a selection and I'm not sure how you got that? The Image adjustment thing changes the picture itself and doesn't select any pixel.

I'd like to get it, as it feels like it'd give a more accurate selection + control on the stars.

Thank you so much for your time, really appreciate the help

Edited ...

0.00 Christophe Perroud #... · view views
Hi Laure, I'm so glad that this tutorial has helped you managing SHO layers in a way to get better result Your 2nd image has a nice overall rendition and shows much more details in the nebula and its surrounding parts. Well done! For the stars, you lost me pretty early in the game: Christophe Perroud: Star selection : - Duplicate main layer - Apply Filter > Other > High pass : enter value of 1px - Image > Settings > Threshold : enter value between 129-132 to select star only - If necessary, expand selection by 1px (Selection > Modify > Expand) I get the Duplicate > Apply filter / other / high pass > Image adjustment (not settings?) / threshold... and afterwards it looks like you already manage to get a selection and I'm not sure how you got that? The Image adjustment thing changes the picture itself and doesn't select any pixel. I'd like to get it, as it feels like it'd give a more accurate selection + control on the stars. Sorry, I forgot to mention some steps in between here the star selection process again : - Duplicate main layer - Apply Filter > Other > High pass : enter value of 1px - Filter > Attenuation > Gaussian blur... : enter value of 1px - Image > Adjustments > Threshold : enter value between 129-132 to select star only - Go to tab "Couches" (sorry, cannot figure out the English translation here) and clic the dotted circle icon (lower right corner) to get the selection as shown in the picture - If necessary, expand this selection by 1px (Selection > Modify > Expand) - Doublecheck big stars and add new selection if needed by using the circle selection tools + Maj key - Save selection as "Star" : Selection > Save selection as… Doing this, you will protect the stars while using others adjustments for the nebula. You can use it as well for working only on stars. I'm using a French version of PS, so I could have make some mistake while translating some words! Christophe Like

0.00

Christophe Perroud

#...

Hi Laure,

I'm so glad that this tutorial has helped you managing SHO layers in a way to get better result

Your 2nd image has a nice overall rendition and shows much more details in the nebula and its surrounding parts. Well done!

For the stars, you lost me pretty early in the game:
Christophe Perroud:
Star selection :
- Duplicate main layer
- Apply Filter > Other > High pass : enter value of 1px
- Image > Settings > Threshold : enter value between 129-132 to select star only
- If necessary, expand selection by 1px (Selection > Modify > Expand)

I get the Duplicate > Apply filter / other / high pass > Image adjustment (not settings?) / threshold... and afterwards it looks like you already manage to get a selection and I'm not sure how you got that? The Image adjustment thing changes the picture itself and doesn't select any pixel.

I'd like to get it, as it feels like it'd give a more accurate selection + control on the stars.

Sorry, I forgot to mention some steps in between

here the star selection process again :
- Duplicate main layer
- Apply Filter > Other > High pass : enter value of 1px
- Filter > Attenuation > Gaussian blur... : enter value of 1px
- Image > Adjustments > Threshold : enter value between 129-132 to select star only
- Go to tab "Couches" (sorry, cannot figure out the English translation here) and clic the dotted circle icon (lower right corner) to get the selection as shown in the picture

- If necessary, expand this selection by 1px (Selection > Modify > Expand)
- Doublecheck big stars and add new selection if needed by using the circle selection tools + Maj key
- Save selection as "Star" : Selection > Save selection as…

Doing this, you will protect the stars while using others adjustments for the nebula. You can use it as well for working only on stars.

I'm using a French version of PS, so I could have make some mistake while translating some words!

Christophe

0.00 dreamsandmonsters #... · view views
Hey Christophe, I spent some time testing your stars technique and figured maybe a mix of both tutorials would be optimal, considering that I'm using a StarXterminator plugin to already get rid of the stars for me. I'll keep posting tried suggestions that I think worked well, in case someone looks here and think it can be useful for themselves too. Ran StarXterminator, the plugin being really accurate in its selection of getting rid of the stars On the starless version, I changed the layer type to be a "Difference" mode, with the stars version below. This way it only shows the stars. Flatten the data (ctrl+alt+shift+e) --> named it Stars only So far, this gives all stars, but also contains small stars that can be overwhelming in the general picture Hid the starless layer Removed the hue on Stars only, to get rid of the colors of the nebula Created a threshold adjustment layer, select which stars to keep Flatten the data / hide the threshold layer So far, this shows the stars wanted, but too harsh on their edges to be used Apply Gaussian blur to that flattened data Channels (Couches! ) --> Circle icon Expand selection (Selection > Modify > Expand) Feather selection (Selection > Modify > Feather) by as much as previously Create a mask on the Stars only layer, this will apply the selection as a mask directly Change the layer type of Stars only to be "Linear dodge (Add)" This makes the whole background much cleaner. Like you mentioned tho, to take a look at the bright/big stars. I'll have to take a look at which selection I did wrong, it looks like I killed the bright stars a bit too much (core of Orion + bright star on bottom left) Here's a comparison of stars background below, between the initial picture with stars and the edited: (kinda wish I could make a table to put them to each other, but couldn't find how) Like

0.00

dreamsandmonsters

#...

Hey Christophe,

I spent some time testing your stars technique and figured maybe a mix of both tutorials would be optimal, considering that I'm using a StarXterminator plugin to already get rid of the stars for me.

I'll keep posting tried suggestions that I think worked well, in case someone looks here and think it can be useful for themselves too.

Ran StarXterminator, the plugin being really accurate in its selection of getting rid of the stars
On the starless version, I changed the layer type to be a "Difference" mode, with the stars version below. This way it only shows the stars.
Flatten the data (ctrl+alt+shift+e) --> named it Stars only

So far, this gives all stars, but also contains small stars that can be overwhelming in the general picture

Hid the starless layer
Removed the hue on Stars only, to get rid of the colors of the nebula
Created a threshold adjustment layer, select which stars to keep
Flatten the data / hide the threshold layer

So far, this shows the stars wanted, but too harsh on their edges to be used

Apply Gaussian blur to that flattened data
Channels (Couches! ) --> Circle icon
Expand selection (Selection > Modify > Expand)
Feather selection (Selection > Modify > Feather) by as much as previously
Create a mask on the Stars only layer, this will apply the selection as a mask directly
Change the layer type of Stars only to be "Linear dodge (Add)"

This makes the whole background much cleaner. Like you mentioned tho, to take a look at the bright/big stars. I'll have to take a look at which selection I did wrong, it looks like I killed the bright stars a bit too much (core of Orion + bright star on bottom left)

Here's a comparison of stars background below, between the initial picture with stars and the edited:
(kinda wish I could make a table to put them to each other, but couldn't find how)

	Distinct awarded users	Total awarded images
Image of the day
Top picks
Top pick nominations

	Image of the day	Top pick	Top pick nominations	Total submitted
Deep sky
Solar system
Extremely wide field
Star trails
Northern lights
Noctilucent clouds
Landscape

	Image of the day	Top pick	Top pick nominations	Total submitted
Backyard
Traveller
Own remote observatory
Amateur hosting facility
Public amaeteur data
Professional, scientific grade data
Mix of multiple sources
Other
Unknown

Image Index:

Contribution Index (beta):

[RCC] M42 Orion nebula - Photoshop Requests for constructive critique · dreamsandmonsters · ... · 4 · 592 · 6

Image Index:

Contribution Index (beta):

[RCC] M42 Orion nebula - Photoshop Requests for constructive critique · dreamsandmonsters · ... · 4 · 592 · 6

Sorry

Sorry

Sorry :-(

Sorry

Sorry

Sorry

Sorry :-(

Sorry

Sorry

Sorry

Sorry :-(

Sorry

Sorry

Sorry

Sorry :-(

Sorry

Sorry

Sorry

Sorry :-(

Sorry

Notifications

AstroBin is in READ ONLY mode

Sorry :-(

Sorry :-(

Sorry :-(

Are you really sure?

Warning!

Warning!

Are you sure?

Report abuse

Slideshow settings

IOTD/TP stats (last [x] days)

Distribution of astrophotographers

Distribution of subject types

Distribution of data sources