Original post - 12-24-2022:

I started shooting this target back in November of 2021, then held off processing in order to shoot a layer of RGB stars, which I finally fit into the target schedule on November 25, 2022.  I also took some time to learn about BXT and other Russell Crowman tools along with Bill Blanshan's scripts.  There are so many new techniques and tools coming out lately that one could get paralyzed to ever process an image.  I have started to reprocess some of my older targets to incorporate all of these developments and to utilize my much expanded experience and knowledge over a year later.  In this regard, waiting to process this target has saved me many hours and I'm sure has resulted in a much better initial result.

I have also decided to start consistently listing my workflow steps.  My good friend Aaron Freimark (@Aaron Freimark) ​​who has been a big influence in getting me into this hobby and a great reference and person to bounce ideas off inspired me to start doing this.  I sometimes check the workflows he has documented in his photos to figure out new ways to improve my own photos or to get a base idea on how to work a particualr target.

The other reasons I plan to do this are for my own workflow reference and to help others who may need some process confirmation against their own ideas and steps.  One could wager posterity as a final reason.


Target Workflow:

Do for each set of subs SHO (nebula) and RGB (stars):
--------------------------
Blink
- Review all subs and remove visually bad frames

WBPP
- w/ Interactive mode for Local Normalization
- Cosmetic Correction Applied
- Pedestal added to avoid clipping in later processes
- Drizzle Enabled
- Best Images reviewed and used to Generate Local Normalization Ref for each channel

Subframe Selector
- Sort by PSF Signal Weight and Star Count to weed out subs that are far from median values
- Note best reference image for each filter for use in Image Integration

Image Integration
- Use Normalization and Drizzle files

Drizzle Integration
- Use Normalization Files



SHO Nebula
--------------------------
Dynamic Crop

DBE
- all channels separately

Linear Fit
- use Statistics to find the lowest channel Median value for reference sub

LRGB Combination
- Uncheck L channel and load S to R, H to G, O to B
- Apply (can also test with Chrominance Noise Reduction to see which is best)

BlurXTerminator
- This target uses defaults with Unstellar rage set at 0.5
- I did not know about turning of Auto PSF until after I finished this version
- Normally should turn off Auto PSF and use PSFImage script to determine PSF value for better results

NoiseXTerminator
- Defaults

Extract Luminance
- for use in later steps
- save as L

Apply FITS Header
- From any sub frame
- Drag process corner to SHO image

Image Solver Script
- Search and set target from database for best result

Spectrophotometric Color Calibration
- Set Background Preview
- Use Preview for Background Neutralization

Bill Blanshan SCNR
- Drag to image without modification 

StarXTerminator
- Do not generate Star Image as RGB stars are separate

Generalized Hyperbolic Stretch - SHO image
- Multiple iterations to zero in and finalize with Linear at end

Curves Transformation
- Apply L as mask to SHO
- Adjust contrast and colors to taste

Convolution
- Std Dev = 7.0

LRGB Combination
- Apply L to SHO w/ Chrominance

Exponential Transformation
- Apply L as mask to protect background
- Utilized defaults with Order = 0.4

Local Histogram Equalization
- Large structures - KR = 150, CL = 1.3, Amount = 75%
- Small structures - KR = 50, CL = 1.3, Amount = 15%

Curves Transformation
- Adjust saturation



L - Image
--------------------------
Generalized Hyperbolic Stretch
- Statistics to check Median value of SHO image (take average of all channels)
- Use same steps as SHO stretch, but monitor Statistics at each step until similar Median value, then apply Linear step

Histogram Transformation
- Darken background



RGB Stars
--------------------------
StarAlign
- R, G, and B images to SHO cropped image (this will also apply the crop)

DBE
- all images separately

Linear Fit
- use Statistics to find the lowest channel Median value for reference sub

LRGB Combination
- Uncheck L channel and load R, G, and B channels

BlurXTerminator
- Defaults

NoiseXTerminator
- Defaults

Image Solver Script
- Search and set target from database for best result

Spectrophotometric Color Calibration
- Set Background Preview
- Use Preview for Background Neutralization

Generalized Hyperbolic Stretch
- Sames steps as were applied to L

StarXTerminator
- No need to Generate Star Image as using Bill Blanshan scripts



Final Image:
--------------------------
Bill Blanshan scripts
- New image with SHO starless and RGB Stars merged
    - Clone Starless_RGB on RGB_starless
    - Clone Starless_NB on NB_Starless
    - Apply RGBstars_to_NB to full RGB image with stars

NoiseXTerminator
- This image was better with one more round using defaults

Dynamic Crop
- Final crop