I decided to reprocess many of my old images to round off the year that was 2022. New processing tools (particularly BlurXTerminator and NoiseXTerminator), combined with general improvements in processing skills, can make old data seem sparkly and new!
For each image I haven’t reintegrated any data, but rather simply started with the integrated stacks that I always save. I tried to pay particular attention to improving how the images hold up when you look at them zoomed in to around 100%.
Each reprocessed image is presented here as a slider comparison. Old version on the left, new on the right. I’ve included many zoomed in crops as well. Note that the slider function, although very neat, does compress images a little, which can lead to compression artifacts. Regular JPEG images can be found on each object’s dedicated page.
The Heart Nebula
My first astroimages with my Askar FRA400, this will actually be processing version 3. I always quite liked the fiery orange version, but now I’m able to add more colour into dualband images. The new version has a much higher image quality, as shown by the cropped comparison.
Click here for The Heart Nebula’s webpage.
The Pacman Nebula
Another early image, this time from February 2021. The integration time is only 7.5 hours — this was before I fully embraced long integration times! As a result the image is very noisy. Still, I think my reprocess makes it seem like a new picture, especially with the added blues.
Click here for The Pacman Nebula’s webpage.
The Pinwheel Galaxy
A 20-hour integration from March 2021. I found that BlurXTerminator was immensely useful during the reprocessing, keeping the stars tight and sharpening the galaxy nicely too.
Click here for The Pinwheel Galaxy’s webpage.
M3
I find globular clusters tricky because it’s all too easy to blow out the cores. I fell into this trap with my first processing attempt, but was more careful this time. I want to tackle a globular with my new Askar 130PHQ telescope, and really try to do the core justice.
Markarian’s Chain
I remember finding this really tricky to process the first time around. It’s still a challenge to get detail in the small galaxies despite using a wide-field refractor. Still, BlueXTerminator in particular helped a lot, along with my being more careful with noise reduction.
Click here for Markarian’s Chain’s webpage.
The Iris Nebula
I spent a lot of time processing this image the first time around! I remember being happy at getting so much detail despite my city centre location. This new version has much tighter stars that emphasises the faint nebulosity.
Click here for The Iris Nebula’s webpage.
The Bode and Cigar Galaxies
Not a night-and-day difference here, but certainly an improvement in noise levels and sharpness. The core of M81 is better controlled, too.
Click here for the Bode and Cigar Galaxies’ webpage.
The Rosette Nebula
Not a huge difference, but tighter stars and higher image quality when zoomed in.
Click here for The Rosette Nebula’s webpage.
The Soul Nebula
This was perhaps the first image using a dualband filter (Optolong L-eXtreme in this case) that I processed with a pseudo-Sulphur II channel in order to bring in more colours. My original edit was a little on the lurid side, but it proved to me that it was possible! Returning to the data now I think I’ve got a more pleasing colour palette, and slightly better image quality although the original wasn’t bad.
Click here for The Soul Nebula’s webpage.
The Lion Nebula
At 28 hours, this was my longest integration at the time. It was needed to bring out the faint nebulosity, but I remember having real trouble controlling the stars. The result was a decent enough image, but perhaps overly-peppered with stars. When reprocessing, BlurXTerminator helped to keep the stars nice and tight. I still like the original version, but do think that the reprocess has the edge.
Click here for The Lion Nebula’s webpage.
The Jellyfish Nebula
This was incredibly hard to edit at the time, but a fair bit easier with new tools and skills. I like the colour palette in the original, and the glowing lilac shades in particular, but I’ve never been able to reproduce them! The original image looks terrible when viewed large or with any kind of zoom, however, so I tried to improve that while also keeping some nice colours in.
Click here for The Jellyfish Nebula’s webpage.
The Whirlpool Galaxy
An incremental improvement here, it’ll always be tough to get a good result on this target using a widefield telescope!
Click here for The Whirlpool Galaxy’s webpage.
The Shark Nebula
Legendarily difficult to image with light pollution, I was originally happy to get anything at all with this target. Fast forward six months, and new processing tools — in particular BlurXTerminator and NoiseXTerminator — have allowed me to get a much more refined end result.
Click here for The Shark Nebula’s webpage.
The Lobster Claw Nebula
Almost exactly six months separates the original with this reprocess. The original was fine but perhaps a tad too contrasty. I tried to apply a lighter touch this time around. Really, it needs a longer integration time. Always the way!
Click here for The Lobster Claw Nebula’s website.
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Hola Lee….impressive images.
Question…all these were taken with your Askar Fra400…?
I have a 5” Newtonian Celestron scope, am a beginner, but thinking in get involved in astrophotography in the near future I am doing some research about an adequate scope for this….not so heavy because I am 73….I read your review of the Askar 130 PHQ….is the Askar 107 as good as the big brother?….the FOV is too wide …?..
Well, thanks for sharing your knowledge….my latitude is 24º10’49”N….with a Bortle in +-6
Greetings..
Francisco
Thanks Francisco. Yes, these were all taken with an Askar FRA400.
I haven’t used an Askar 107PHQ, but I’ve heard good things. Regarding your question of whether the field of view is too wide, that’s largely dependent on what targets you want to image. I generally encourage new astroimagers to go for a widefield telescope (e.g. Askar FRA400, Askar FRA300, Askar 65PHQ) because widefield is quite forgiving, and there are plenty of large targets to choose from. But really it depends on lots of factors, including the targets you’re interested in; the camera; mount, etc. Those telescopes are also lightweight.
Good luck with whatever you choose!
These are really wonderful and interesting comparisons – what a great article. Satisfying to see the cool split screen before and after images I’ve just been through a similar process myself having used Photoshop for three years and just recently converted to become a born again, evangelical PixInsighter – well, kind of, as I agree with your well balanced review of PixInsight mentioning it might not be for everyone. I think a combination of PS and PI is a good way to go. I really like your ’10 Controversial opinions also, as someone based in light polluted London. Especially agree with the summer nights point, since in the UK we can’t afford to miss any opportunities. When you do occasionally travel to a dark site, where do you go from Bristol?
Hi Jeremy, thanks for your kind words. PI is great, and once you get past that steepest part of the learning curve it isn’t that bad. As for dark sites, I haven’t travelled to any for years! I do all my imaging from by back garden in Bristol. Having said that, I’ve recently acquired a SeeStar50 (review coming soon!) and while that’s definitely not in the same league as my main imaging rig, I think it might be fun to use if I do ever get under properly dark skies.
Thanks – looking forward to seeing the results!
Hi Lee,
Do you have set or steps to follow to process images and get such beautiful colours.
I’m particularly struggling to bring out the blue in the Oiii.
Thanks !
I’ll be making more processing videos when I have time, for sure!