Veil Nebula Processing Newbie Help

Questions and answers about processing in StarTools and how to accomplish certain tasks.
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scitmon
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 10:52 am

Veil Nebula Processing Newbie Help

Post by scitmon »

Hello all,

I had my first imaging session with my new equatorial mount last week which meant I spend a lot of the night familiarising myself with polar alignment and such things. However, I did manage to get around 30 x 60 second exposures of the Eastern Veil Nebula at ISO 800 with my unmodified Canon 700d and I am currently struggling to get a good image from the data using StarTools. I have stacked with darks, flats and bias using DSS, but I'm seeing a lot of noise which seems to be blended in with the data of of nebula. I have been following the guides but still struggling.

I'm wondering if I am expecting too much from 30 mins of data or whether I'm just rubbish at processing? I have attached my stacked image and challenge any startools gurus out there to show me where I'm going wrong.

https://1drv.ms/i/s!Al9nr2n1J94MkHTdr8SP-EayBA8P
Rkonrad
Posts: 247
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2016 2:55 am

Re: Veil Nebula Processing Newbie Help

Post by Rkonrad »

I did my best with this. I think the data is pretty good considering only 30 min exposure - possibly you could get more detail in the nebula with more time. If interested I can post the log file of what I did a bit later. https://www.flickr.com/gp/rkonrad/fD706U

Cheers Richard
scitmon
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 10:52 am

Re: Veil Nebula Processing Newbie Help

Post by scitmon »

Thank you Richard, that is much better than I have managed so far. I would appreciate the log as I do want to learn how its done rather than asking others what they can do with my data.
Rkonrad
Posts: 247
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2016 2:55 am

Re: Veil Nebula Processing Newbie Help

Post by Rkonrad »

Here is a better one https://www.flickr.com/gp/rkonrad/68M5E3. It takes a lot of time to coax data that is "less than you want" to the point of an ok picture. The hardest part of course is pushing the stars to the background. The isolate algorithm does that but also stretches the main object a bit much (beyond the capability of the data). In the end, I removed the stars and tried to make them even fainter. Not great but best I can do. I look forward to seeing more of your images! Here is the log file:
StarTools 1.4.328
Fri Nov 17 12:30:40 2017
-----------------------------------------------------------
File loaded [/home/rkonrad/Downloads/startools-example/stacked.TIF].
---
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [(scale/noise reduction 50.00%)/(400.00%)/(+2.00 bits)]
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [Off]
Parameter [Outside ROI Influence] set to [15 %]
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [83 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [144 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [2327 pixels (-313)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [1741 pixels (-23)]
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
Parameter [UNKNOWN] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Precision] set to [256 x 256 pixels]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [3 pixels]
Parameter [Drop Off Point] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Corner Aggressiveness] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [75 %]
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [1.4 pixels]
Parameter [Outside ROI Influence] set to [1 %]
--- HDR
Parameter [Small Detail Precision] set to [Max]
Parameter [Channels] set to [Brightness Only]
Parameter [Algorithm] set to [Equalize]
Parameter [Dark/Bright Response] set to [0.29]
Parameter [Detail Size Range] set to [21 pixels]
Parameter [Strength] set to [1.2]
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [No]
Parameter [Bias Slider Mode] set to [Sliders Reduce Color Bias]
Parameter [Style] set to [Scientific (Color Constancy)]
Parameter [LRGB Method Emulation] set to [Straight CIELab Luminance Retention]
Parameter [Dark Saturation] set to [2.00]
Parameter [Bright Saturation] set to [Full]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.29]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.90]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Mask saved [/home/rkonrad/Downloads/startools-example/stacked_mask.tiff].
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [0.86]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [Off]
Parameter [Blue Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Green Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Red Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [5 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [Off]
--- Life
Parameter [Detail Preservation] set to [Linear Brightness Mask]
Parameter [Compositing Algorithm] set to [Multiply, Gamma Correct]
Parameter [Inherit Brightness, Color] set to [Off]
Parameter [Output Glow Only] set to [No]
Parameter [Airy Disk Sampling] set to [128 x 128 pixels]
Parameter [Airy Disk Radius] set to [8 pixels]
Parameter [Glow Threshold] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Detail Preservation Radius] set to [20.0 pixels]
Parameter [Saturation] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Strength] set to [74 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- Wavelet Sharpen
Parameter [Intelligent Enhance] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 3] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 4] set to [49 %]
Parameter [Scale 5] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Amount] set to [185 %]
Parameter [Small Detail Bias] set to [75 %]
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [To Yellow]
Parameter [Bias Slider Mode] set to [Sliders Reduce Color Bias]
Parameter [Style] set to [Scientific (Color Constancy)]
Parameter [LRGB Method Emulation] set to [Straight CIELab Luminance Retention]
Parameter [Dark Saturation] set to [2.00]
Parameter [Bright Saturation] set to [Full]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [200 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.34]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.90]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- Wavelet De-Noise
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [90 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [90 %]
Parameter [Scale 3] set to [90 %]
Parameter [Scale 4] set to [90 %]
Parameter [Scale 5] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Scale Correlation] set to [6]
Parameter [Color Detail Loss] set to [12 %]
Parameter [Brightness Detail Loss] set to [12 %]
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [4.5 pixels]
Parameter [Read Noise Compensation] set to [Off]
Parameter [Smoothness] set to [81 %]
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [No]
Parameter [Bias Slider Mode] set to [Sliders Reduce Color Bias]
Parameter [Style] set to [Scientific (Color Constancy)]
Parameter [LRGB Method Emulation] set to [Straight CIELab Luminance Retention]
Parameter [Dark Saturation] set to [9.90]
Parameter [Bright Saturation] set to [9.90]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [80 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
---
Parameter [Quality] set to [Low]
Parameter [New Darker Than Old] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Grow Mask] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Neighbourhood Samples] set to [0]
Parameter [New Must Be Darker Than] set to [Off]
Parameter [Neighbourhood Area] set to [200 pixels]
File saved [/home/rkonrad/Downloads/startools-example/stackedns.TIF].
--- Layer
Parameter [Layer Mode] set to [Subtract]
Parameter [Cap Mode] set to [Clip]
Parameter [Brightness Mask Mode] set to [Off]
Parameter [Filter Type] set to [Gaussian (Fg)]
Parameter [Blend Amount] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Filter Kernel Radius] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Offset X] set to [0.0 pixels]
Parameter [Offset Y] set to [0.0 pixels]
Parameter [Brightness Mask Power] set to [1.00]
File saved [/home/rkonrad/Downloads/startools-example/stackeds.TIF].
File loaded [/home/rkonrad/Downloads/startools-example/stackedns.TIF].
---
---
Parameter [Quality] set to [Low]
Parameter [New Darker Than Old] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Grow Mask] set to [3 pixels]
Parameter [Neighbourhood Samples] set to [0]
Parameter [New Must Be Darker Than] set to [Off]
Parameter [Neighbourhood Area] set to [200 pixels]
File saved [/home/rkonrad/Downloads/startools-example/stackedns.TIF].
--- Layer
Parameter [Layer Mode] set to [Subtract]
Parameter [Cap Mode] set to [Clip]
Parameter [Brightness Mask Mode] set to [Off]
Parameter [Filter Type] set to [Gaussian (Fg)]
Parameter [Blend Amount] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Filter Kernel Radius] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Offset X] set to [0.0 pixels]
Parameter [Offset Y] set to [0.0 pixels]
Parameter [Brightness Mask Power] set to [1.00]
File loaded in layer module [/home/rkonrad/Downloads/startools-example/stackeds.TIF].
--- Layer
Parameter [Layer Mode] set to [Add]
Parameter [Cap Mode] set to [Clip]
Parameter [Brightness Mask Mode] set to [Off]
Parameter [Filter Type] set to [Gaussian (Fg)]
Parameter [Blend Amount] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Filter Kernel Radius] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Offset X] set to [0.0 pixels]
Parameter [Offset Y] set to [0.0 pixels]
Parameter [Brightness Mask Power] set to [1.00]
File saved [/home/rkonrad/Downloads/startools-example/stackeds.TIF].
--- Magic
Parameter [Mode] set to [Shrink]
Parameter [Mask Grow] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [1 pixels]
--- Magic
Parameter [Mode] set to [Shrink]
Parameter [Mask Grow] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [1 pixels]
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [0.89]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [Off]
Parameter [Blue Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Green Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Red Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [5 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [Off]
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [No]
Parameter [Bias Slider Mode] set to [Sliders Reduce Color Bias]
Parameter [Style] set to [Scientific (Color Constancy)]
Parameter [LRGB Method Emulation] set to [Straight CIELab Luminance Retention]
Parameter [Dark Saturation] set to [Full]
Parameter [Bright Saturation] set to [Full]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [77 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
File saved [/home/rkonrad/Downloads/startools-example/stackeds.TIF].
File loaded [/home/rkonrad/Downloads/startools-example/stackedns.TIF].
---
--- Life
Parameter [Detail Preservation] set to [Linear Brightness Mask]
Parameter [Compositing Algorithm] set to [Multiply, Gamma Correct]
Parameter [Inherit Brightness, Color] set to [Off]
Parameter [Output Glow Only] set to [No]
Parameter [Airy Disk Sampling] set to [128 x 128 pixels]
Parameter [Airy Disk Radius] set to [8 pixels]
Parameter [Glow Threshold] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Detail Preservation Radius] set to [20.0 pixels]
Parameter [Saturation] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Strength] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
File saved [/home/rkonrad/Downloads/startools-example/stackedns.TIF].
File loaded in layer module [/home/rkonrad/Downloads/startools-example/stackeds.TIF].
--- Layer
Parameter [Layer Mode] set to [Add]
Parameter [Cap Mode] set to [Clip]
Parameter [Brightness Mask Mode] set to [Off]
Parameter [Filter Type] set to [Gaussian (Fg)]
Parameter [Blend Amount] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Filter Kernel Radius] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Offset X] set to [0.0 pixels]
Parameter [Offset Y] set to [0.0 pixels]
Parameter [Brightness Mask Power] set to [1.00]
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [0.93]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [Off]
Parameter [Blue Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Green Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Red Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [5 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [Off]
---
Parameter [Quality] set to [Low]
Parameter [New Darker Than Old] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Grow Mask] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Neighbourhood Samples] set to [0]
Parameter [New Must Be Darker Than] set to [Off]
Parameter [Neighbourhood Area] set to [200 pixels]
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [4 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [Off]
Parameter [Blue Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Green Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Red Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [5 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [Off]
Undo.
Redo.
Undo.
Redo.
Undo.
Redo.
--- Wavelet Sharpen
Parameter [Intelligent Enhance] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 3] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Scale 4] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Scale 5] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Amount] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Small Detail Bias] set to [75 %]
File saved [/home/rkonrad/Downloads/startools-example/lasttime.TIF].
File saved [/home/rkonrad/Downloads/startools-example/lasttime.jpg].
scitmon
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 10:52 am

Re: Veil Nebula Processing Newbie Help

Post by scitmon »

Thank you for the log and improved image, I will try to replicate what you did. I was hoping to add more data on Saturday night, but the promising forecast just didn't pan out. Pesky clouds!
Rkonrad
Posts: 247
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2016 2:55 am

Re: Veil Nebula Processing Newbie Help

Post by Rkonrad »

Good luck. I probably wouldn't use so much of the life module if the data were better. I find that it harms detail and reduces the accuracy of colour in the stars - just my findings so far. I love experimenting with the software. So far I've found, for me that the very first stretch with autodev is one of the most crucial steps and getting that right is very personal. There are many ways to adjust things afterwards but a good initial stretch saves a lot of time.

Richard
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