increasing detail in RGB only (no L) images

[urbanMark]

I'm playing with an R+G+B only image I took of M16 and wanted to see what I could do to increase detail. First I tried the new drizzle function and was very impressed (original image scale was 1.98 arcsec/pixel, applied 2x drizzle). But I wanted even more, so since R subs had the most detail I decided to try re-using the R channel as L. This produced great results as well, but created halos around the bright stars. I then went back to just RGB and tried getting the same result by boosting the L channel in curves, but could never get quite the same result.

So what is the best way to get the most detail out of an R+B+G only image?

RGB + R re-used as L - http://www.astrobin.com/105004/

Thanks,
Mark

[MikeOates]

Hi Mark & welcome to the forum.

Instead of just using R as a luminance channel, produce your RGB image, then extract the L from that. Work on the L image to increase detail and then recombine with the RGB using LRGBCombination.

Mike

[jsines]

Another option that Vicent taught at the recent CfA PI forum is to combine all of your R, G, B frames into a single image, and use that as your Lum frame when combining Lum into RGB.

[Alejandro Tombolini]

Hi Mark, you can also see the processing examples here, most of them are RGB images.  And also M16 which has the option to download the integration and follow the process.
Saludos,  Alejandro.

[Warhen]

Remember too Mark that many enhancement tools can be targeted directly to the Lightness channel.