[APML] NGC 2903 OT

["Tony Hallas" <tonyhallas@foothill.net>]

Hi Guys,

     Feels good to be able to offer something to my old group ... I have
always been intrigued by the strange bar across NGC 2903 so I decided to
take it on ... of note is that I tried out a new system for opening the
image out of 16 bit data ... I only used curves to do this, no levels. It
occurred to me that each time you use levels to attenuate the black point,
you are clipping data ... so I figured out a way to do the same thing only
using curves ... basically you open the image three times ... once to get
the max out of the "dark" data ... this will be a bit noisey and blow out
the highlights, once to open it to the point of smoothness, and once to get
the highlight data. You will use the curves differently each time and then
use layers to seamlessly blend these pieces together, almost like dealing
with an M-42 image. The end result hopefully will be an image that is smooth
but did not have to resort to a smoothing filter of any kind.

      I used the AstroDon filters for the first time ... their claim to fame
is the ability to shoot 1:1:1 RGB ... with only minor tweaking I think the
color came out beautiful IMHO ...

     Not much else to say except that I continue to use PS for all my post
processing with CCD data ... you cannot underestimate the value of having
worked with film to be a successful CCD practitioner ... those of you who
have or will use a CCD will find this foundation essential to photorealistic
results.

     http://www.astrophoto.com/NGC2903.htm

     Have a good one,

          Tony


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