M 74

[andyschlei]

This is M74, a nice spiral galaxy in Pisces.  I've been busy with my data from last month.

2hrs 20 minutes LRGB (4,200 seconds L, 1,400 each of RGB, binned 2x2).  Captured with Maxim DL and CCDCommander.  Data reduction and processing in PixInsight with final touch up in Photoshop.

I think I may have pushed too hard on the saturation, or have pulled up too much noise.  But it looks pretty good to me.

Thanks for looking.  Clicking on the image will bring you to a larger version.



Clear skies,

--Andy

[Lex]

Hey there,

Nice Work with your C11 

My personal opinion:
I would give it perhaps a pick of HDRWT, some more ACDNR and be more restrictive with the DBE tool to let the galaxy come out of the image and create some kind of "Relief"...

As I sad, just personal opinion 

Regards

Lex

[sleshin]

Hi Andy,

Good to see some images from you, both are very nice. On M 74 there is a slight cyan/green bias. Might give SCNR a try.

Steve

[andyschlei]

Lex,

On HDRWT -- This is an average of 3x @ 4 layers and 1x  of 5 layers and 6 layers with pixel math: mean( M_74_HDR4*3.0, M_74_HDR5*1.0, M_74_HDR6*1.0 ).   I agree that the background retains a fair bit of noise and that is partly by design.  I don't want to lose any of the faint fuzzies or faint arms of the galaxy.   But I get your point on dropping the background some.  I have quite a bit of room at the bottom as even a pure rescale would drop the sky background substantially.

Thanks for the input.

Steve,  Good suggestion.  I've attached a version on which the only change is SCNR on green.  What do you think?

And thanks for the helpful suggestions!

--Andy

[andyschlei]

Per Lex's comment, here is a version that drops the background some (just with levels).

Thoughts?

[Lex]

Andy,

I prefer that one, kind of looks way more impressive ( galaxy outpointing )
But as I said, it still stays on your side to organize your stretchings and background levels and nobody else can change this 

On the other hand the main target really nicely pops out in your last image!!

I like it, both of them BTW 

Nice work


Cheers

Lex

[andyschlei]

Lex,

Thank you very much for the advice.  It is well taken.  It is through good, honest criticism and commentary that we learn.

I have updated the image on my web site, so for comparison purposes I have attached a version of the originally posted processing.   The OP links directly to my site.

Clear skies,

--Andy

[Lex]

That's absolutely right Andy!

Nice Pic now

Cheers

Lex