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Flaming Star processing
Hi Adam,
Just a quick update...
I finished processing, and post processing of Anthony Quintile's Flaming Star Nebula. It was great to have another quality data set to practice and get more experience. Thank you for your great arrangement!
In post processing I used the new SPCC and Russ Croman's Star Exterminator. The bright stars in the non-nebula area left artifacts in the background which I applied multiple game masks to, and used MLT + reduced saturation via curves.
I submitted my data to Russ Crowman to include in his next AI processing training.
When enhancing the starless nebula the white portions were blown out. So I went back and applied a large gradient game mask over the white nebula area and enhanced the background nebula contrast independently. Much better result.
I used Bill Blanshan's star reduction PixelMath to recombine, but I found, like you did, that reducing the stars took away from the halos of the brightest stars. So I used gradient game masks on the 6 or 8 brightest stars to protect them and their halos from the star reduction routine. I think the result good.
Thank you for your detailed review of using the StarXterminator and Bill's recombination technique..
Roger