Streaks of light from star reflections

Rafael Sampaio

Hi Adam! Do you have any tips or videos on efficiently removing light streaks from star reflections? I usually rely on the Clone Stamp or Healing Brush on a starless image, but I’m curious if there’s a more effective technique out there.

BlockHead

It depends. If the scattered/reflected light is strongly a particular color- it is possible to use substitution (from the other colors) to replace or adjust the offending pixels. If there isn't a way to distinguish the obtrusive light from other elements in the image... there probably isn't a more effective method.

I assume you have seen my videos on the former methods.

-the Blockhead

Rafael Sampaio

Hi Adam, my scattered light is all over the LRGB channels. Is there any video considering this situation? 

BlockHead

A screenshot would help me understand!

You know..this IS all about images...

But yes, this one *might* be helpful:

https://www.adamblockstudios.com/articles/scattered-light

Is this what you are looking for?

-the Blockhead

Rafael Sampaio

The problem is I have the same scattered light in L, R, G and B channels, so I don’t have a source to copy from, as you suggested in your video. I will send you an image soon, but basically is a scattered light in the corner of the image

BlockHead

That is why I asked and commented in my original answer.

Thanks

-the Blockhead

Rafael Sampaio

Thank you Adam,

Any advice to avoid this issue in the capture? I am using a CDK 17 and a Moravian C3 camera in Obstech, with no rotator, so is not so easy to change camera position.

BlockHead

No... there isn't really anything you can do about it if the stray light is coming from specular reflections of your sensor/camera. The solutions are all pretty much the messy cosmetic manipulations. 

-the Blockhead

Rafael Sampaio

Thanks Adam,

I attached the images, the luminance has a stronger stray light, but all channels have the stray light too. Well, seems to me I will still need to rely on Clone Stamp or Healing Brush in a starless image, and maybe use Photoshop with two layers (original and modified) to eventually manually recover (using masks) any information erased. Any suggestions are welcome.  

BlockHead

No other suggestions..that is indeed the best way to proceed. You can attempt to incorporate my structure elimination technique. I show how this is done in Comet Academy in a few places.

https://www.adamblockstudios.com/articles/comet-academy-comet-tracked-method-part-4

-the Blockhead