Image Processing Challenge.

[Radar]

I would like to see other people's version of processing my Southern Cross image.

It is always good to see how people interpret images differently and use different techniques.

I have uploaded a raw scan of this image. The file size is 400kb.

Simply click the link, right click the image when it appears and save it to your computer. Then you can process it.

http://www.myastrospace.com/images/Southern_Cross_400k_Raw.jpg

I think this is a good image to practise with because the high wind has caused some minor blurring around the major stars, there is some minor vignetting and also red and dark nebula's in this shot. So rather than having a nice pristine image to process, there are factors here which will require some work.

I have cropped part of this image to, so the vignetting may not be even.

Note you'll have to reduce the file size of the image to re-post it. Smaller than 150kb and physical size smaller than 800 by 700 pixels. Use your re-size function.

Looking forward to seeing your results. :thumbsupmate:

[Tenacious Del]

I would love to try this Radar, but my image processing skills are still in their infancy. I might try and have a play though. If I get any decent results I'll post them. :pipethinker:

[beren]

:thumbsupmate: Top image Ray...here's my go

[Radar]

Hi Beren,

Whatever you did really smoothed it out. What techniques did you use?

I've never used a high pass filter before so I'm not sure how that changed the image. But I'll experiment with that filter (if my version of p.s has it), and see what it does.

Cheers

Ray :thumbsupmate:

[beren]

Gday Ray just the usual colour gradient/levels and curves adjustment in Photoshop CS2 plus some experimention using features in a plugin for PS that can be brought over the net http://actions.home.att.net/Astronomy_Tools.html

used the high pass filter to bring out the stars a little more to lessen the smooth effect that brought out the milky way portions :duh:

[CanisMajorTom]

That pluggin looks quite comprehensive. I'm impressed with all the features. Even though I'm not really at a serious level yet, it still looks like good value for money.

[Radar]

That looks like very clever software. I'm going to purcahse it. I'll let you know what I think.

[Dusty]

Once you scan from filum, you really can't do much in the way of improving what you already have apart from making the basic colour balance and adjustments.
Since there's no "more" information present, any attempts to bring out detail will lead to introducing more noise and artifacts.

When imaging in RAW (Digital) and using stacking techniques it is possible to improve the image because you can increase your signal to noise ratios, thus improving the overall contrast and saturation of the final image while keeping noise to a minimum.

Anyway here's my effort Radar.
But really, your image is great as is.
The histogram of your original was near perfect when I opened it in photoshop.

:pipethinker:

[Radar]

When imaging in RAW (Digital) and using stacking techniques it is possible to improve the image because you can increase your signal to noise ratios, thus improving the overall contrast and saturation of the final image while keeping noise to a minimum.


I have stacked film images in the past to reduce noise. Noise reduction has been something I have been studying of late. But yeah, introducing noise can be a problem.



But really, your image is great as is.
The histogram of your original was near perfect when I opened it in photoshop.


Awesome mate, thanks for the feedback. :thumbsupmate:

[Noel Carboni]

I would like to see other people's version of processing my Southern Cross image.
...
Looking forward to seeing your results. :thumbsupmate:

The image was already very good! However, I did a few things to try to make it sparkle a bit more. Here you go...

http://www.ourdarkskies.com/gallery2/d/967-1/The_Southern_Cross_Area.jpg

Things done: Some trailing removal in the corners via selective application of Focus Magic's "Fix Motion Blur" function, some sharpening (Focus Magic again, and Photoshop's Smart Sharpen), some noise reduction, some contrast enhancement, a bit of gradient removal, color balance to remove the magenta from the background, some digital diffraction spikes added, increased color saturation, burning to make the big stars rounder, added frame.

-Noel

[Radar]

Hi Noel, wow! I have a heap of questions about this but I have to shoot off to work.

Nice job anyway.

I'll be back soon.

Ray

[Radar]

Things done: Some trailing removal in the corners via selective application of Focus Magic's "Fix Motion Blur" function, some sharpening (Focus Magic again, and Photoshop's Smart Sharpen), some noise reduction, some contrast enhancement, a bit of gradient removal, color balance to remove the magenta from the background, some digital diffraction spikes added, increased color saturation, burning to make the big stars rounder, added frame.

-Noel

Okay, finally got to this post.

So Focus Magic is obviously an image processing program? Just looked at their site. Downloading it as we speak. Have you also heard of Noise Ninja?

When you say Gradient removal, exactly what does this mean please?

What does burning to make the stars rounder mean please? I imagine you use an action to select all the stars first?

Thanks

Ray

[Draig]

Hi All,

Radar issued a challange and a lot of brilliant images as a result.

Infortunately you are all speaking a foriegn langauge to me, I mean histograms (wasn't that something nasty that happened to women?), gradients (a hill isn't it?) - it's all to confusing :duh: - I think I'll go and hide under a bushell for a while.

Cheers Colin:Chessy_Smile:

[Noel Carboni]

I'm sorry I haven't replied sooner. I mean to, but I have a lot to write and the time hasn't presented itself. The only time I've had free in the past few days was in the evening, when my mind is already fried and all I can hope to do is play a game or two.

I'll get back to you on this one.

-Noel

[Tony Leece]

This is my effort, can't get rid of the star trailing, reduce the main stars and have not got as much colour, but had loads of fun playing around with a real astro image for a change, instead of my effoerts.:Chessy_Smile:
Thanks Noel mate:thumbsupmate:

Tony.........

360

[Radar]

Infortunately you are all speaking a foriegn langauge to me,

The word "infortunately" is foreign to me to Col :Chessy_Smile:


I'm sorry I haven't replied sooner. I mean to, but I have a lot to write and the time hasn't presented itself. The only time I've had free in the past few days was in the evening, when my mind is already fried and all I can hope to do is play a game or two.

I'll get back to you on this one.

-Noel

I know the feeling Noel. Recharge those batteries first mate.


This is my effort, can't get rid of the star trailing, reduce the main stars and have not got as much colour, but had loads of fun playing around with a real astro image for a change, instead of my effoerts

Hey Tony, glad you had a stab at it. The challenge of processing is always fun. I'm always interested to see how other people would process my images. Sometimes people see something I didn't or pull a colour I didn't etc.


Regards

Ray

BTW - Does everyone here know how to use multiquote? Meaing, to be able to quote more than one person in a post, like this post?

When you are reading a thread, simply click the mutliquote button at the bottom right of a person's post. The multiquote button should turn orange, nothing else will happen. Keep reading through the thread as normal, use the multiquote button again and again if need be, then when you are ready to post, click the 'post reply' button lower left.

You will see the other poeple's posts appear in your post. Be careful not to delete the BB code that is at the top and bottom of each persons post, though you can always delete their text to be more specific.

The BB code looks like this [quote=AstroDave] etc. Do not delete these peices of code in order for the quotes to work properly, everything not in brackets can be deleted.

[Draig]

Hi Ray,

Please forgive me for my bad spelling, typing or for often than not both. :Chessy_Smile:

When I do notice them I do try to correct them.

But thanks for that info on multi quotes, I was wondering how you did that

Cheers Colin

[wakaleo]

Gidday Radar

After seeing Noel's contribution I almost didn't bother submitting my meagre attempt. However, I thought it might be interesting for others to see the job that open-source and free software can do.

I am no computer graphics expert so a lot of what I do is trial and error. Your already good looking image was processed in Gimp 2, where colour balance, colour saturation, and curves were adjusted. It was then resized using Irfanview.

[Radar]

Hi Jim, nice job mate. Very smooth and no noise. Is Gimp 2 astro software?

[wakaleo]

Hi Jim, nice job mate. Very smooth and no noise. Is Gimp 2 astro software?

Thanks mate, but it's the software that does the job. Gimp 2 is an open-source GNU Image Manipulation Programme that is available for free download (www.gimp.org). It is not as powerful as PhotoShop but can do just about all a keen amateur would need and then some. I have used Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop and some other lesser programmes and have given them up for Gimp, which I have been using now for a few years. I'm still an amateur though, a fact made quite clear when looking at the efforts of others such as your good self, Shevill, Noel, etc.

[wakaleo]

Great processing work Noel. However, I'm a little bit stumped as to how you can manage to post such an apparently huge image while still keeping within Radar's image uploading size limitations. When I resize an image to less than the required 150Kb it appears no bigger than a cigarette packet. Please, what's the secret?

[Radar]

Thanks mate, but it's the software that does the job. Gimp 2 is an open-source GNU Image Manipulation Programme that is available for free download (www.gimp.org).

Interesting. I'm going to download and experiment with it.


Great processing work Noel. However, I'm a little bit stumped as to how you can manage to post such an apparently huge image while still keeping within Radar's image uploading size limitations.

Jim this is easy if you have a website or webspace to upload an image to. 99% of people that have an internet connection also have webspace, they just don't know it. Call your isp and ask about your ftp space. Tell them you need the url, username and password. Once you get that info, upload your images to this webspace.

Then you just link to it, by using the 'insert image' button whilst creating a post (don't get this button confused with the insert attachment button). The "insert image" button has a small yellow picture of a mountain on it. Simply copy the URL into the pop up box that appears. This is what Noel did.

Let me know if you need a hand setting anything up.

Regards

Ray

[wakaleo]

Interesting. I'm going to download and experiment with it.

It works very well Ray, but the interface is quite different so takes some getting used to.


Jim this is easy if you have a website or webspace to upload an image to.
Ray

I'll be checking out the ISP mate. One of my brothers designs web sites and offers hosting so I might have to talk seriously to him as well. He's younger so perhaps I'll just pull rank!

[Radar]

Check with your own ISP first Jim, you probably have ten meg of webspace just sitting there. 99% of internet users have this kind of space and don't know it.

Let me know how you go.

Ray