This is my version of the Carina Nebula from the posted data from the James Webb Space Telescope. I just could not resist having a go at it. If you are interested, it is available from the Space Telescope Science Institute site (
https://mast.stsci.edu/portal/Mashup/Clients/Mast/Portal.html). And it's all free of course. From the home page, enter the name of the target, find the listing of the JWST and download the six filter images and you are off and running.
This isn't the easiest processing. The downloaded files are fits format. They open up easily with PixInsight. Each downloaded file has multiple components. Close all but the actual image file. The first thing to do is register the files to one file. I chose the brightest using auto-stretch. not sure it makes any difference. Stretch the files as you see fit. I have no recommendations here.
I saved the files as TIFFs and opened them in Photoshop. Now you want to map them to a specific range of the RGB spectrum. Use the standard approach of assigning the longer wavelengths to the redder end of the spectrum. The wavelength cut of each file is indicated on the name of the file itself. It's easy to put them in order.
I then used the channels tab to darken each of the six files so that the color approximated what I though it should be based on its wavelength position and its assignment on the RGB histogram/spectrum. I don't have any exact numbers for this. It was done by eye. then starting with the blue image, I stacked each in the layers palette, making each a Lightening layer. In the end, you have yourself an RGB image. Final color adjustments are up to you of course. Be sure to take care of the stars with the black holes in them. And have fun.
Eric
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