Digging out details in Nebula images

[sreilly]

I have seen that HDR Wavelet Transformation brings out the finer details in galaxies quite well although I'm still experimenting with the different settings. What I don't see is the detail in nebula images getting anywhere near the same result. I've been re-processing a number of images using PI and getting some better results but these have been galaxy images. Other than the basic steps, what additional steps work well on nebula. I've been re-doing IC1536 and M16.

Thanks,

[Nocturnal]

Hi Steve,

I've noticed the same thing. I have in the past used the 'dark structure enhance' script on field filling nebulae. That seems to help bring out contrast although it does sometimes punch holes where there's actually some nebulosity.

HDRWT requires high signal levels and subtle detail in that signal. It's certainly possible that the nebulae you've tried it on were relatively dim and even. You know, a gas cloud is, well, a cloud. Pretty even, smooth. A galaxy has the potential for much more detail due to the arms, dust, clusters and other features that are huge but so far away they appear minute in our pictures.

[sreilly]

That certainly makes sense. Usuall in another package I'd make a duplicate layer of that image and creat a high pass filter mask and then slowly reveal the enhanced detail that the high pass filter provided. This allows you to do selected areas instead of the entire image. Often stars need very little sharpening so that is usually an area that I avoid using high pass. There must ne somethinmg similar in PI. Just need to look harder. Also, from a previous post, it apperas that there is an unofficial reference guide at http://blog.deepskycolors.com/PixInsight/ That looks promising. I need to see if I can save them as a pdf file for printing.

Thanks,

[Nocturnal]

Indeed, I'm hoping someone with more knowledge will jump in and suggest a few things to try. I have in the past played with L masked deconvolution to sharpen the Veil but it was tricky and not very rewarding. Lots of effort for not so much result.