I added some more data to the set used to obtain
that image, but I processed the whole lot non-linearly. I felt I owed it to my main target, having seen the color and detail non-linear processing brought out for the Horshead.
Workflow:
1) Rawtherapee
- Apply the D7500 color profile & daylight color balance.
- Bad pixel map (no darks, no bias)
- Vignetting correction (no flats)
- Noise removal
- AmaZE+RCD debayering, with false colour suppresion
- Raw data sharpening
- Hot/Cold pixel removal
- Highlight reconstruction (color propagation method)
- Highlight compression
- Painstakingly set an identical black point for the 834 raw images, using RGB color curves, Exposure and Black point adjustement. This step allowed me to integrate previously unusable data, taken with an almost full moon.
- Export as 16bit TIFF
Astropixel Processor
-Load, analyse stars, set reference, register
-NO NORMALISATION (very important)
-Integrate best 754 (out of 834) images using Automatic settings (it will go for LN MAD Sigma 8.0-4.0, note tha LN is only applied to clipping)
-Light pollution removal from the integrated sub (also crop)
Pixinsight
-Plate solving
-Photometric color calibration using G2V white balance reference
Back to AstroPixel Processor
-DDP (automatic stretch with moderate saturation boost and highlight protection)
Back to Pixinsight
-SCNR
-ACDNR
-HDRMultiscaleTransform (2 iterations, Light mask on)
-Deconvolution (default PSF, 15 iterations, deringing)
Darktable (Finishing touches)
-Denoise the shadows
-Defringe
-Raise temperature somewhat
-Base curve (fuse 2 exposures, fiddle a bit with the mask, the opacity and the exposure shift to avoid overburning the stars)
-Watermark
-Export JPEG
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