Highpass filter overlay reprocessing

More playing during the monsoon...

Similar to the way Floyd suggested, I reprocessed the M101 data from scratch using an overlay layer with a highpass filter applied on the Luminance. I like the improved contrast, but need to figure out a better way to do the stars. Here is the problem. They all get bigger and have sharper edges. But when you process them separately, the highpass filter will darken rings around them that don't flatten very well. I tried several techniques, and it would help if the stars near the edge had been rounder to start with, but they are what they are. Definitely more detail shows up in the dim areas, but I wonder if the brighter stuff now looks "too" processed. I also fiddled with the color balance. Feedback?

The newer M101 is here:

http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory/image_detail.asp?ID=218

Charlie

Hi Charles,
Well, there is a way to leave the stars out of the High Pass. You can select them with the Magic Wand, use the settings to just get the stars. You can also use some of the Photoshop plug-ins, like Carboni Actions, to "select bright stars". Then you invert the selection and you have now excluded the stars. You can now use the High Pass on the layer and then flatten the layers.
Try that and see what you think.