Lagoon Revisited

All,
Richard Crisp had offered some advice on my recent posting of the Lagoon Nebula. I reprocessed accordingly (at least in principle). I used the RGB data stretched up to the H-Alpha levels as a color layer. I also combined the Ha data blended with blue under the color layer to help tighten up the stars on the RGB. I was a quick reprocess and there may be some artifacts, but a couple of things happend:

1. The little blue reflection nebula in the upper left now shows up. It was completely invisible in the earlier post.

2. The colors are quite a bit different - possibly a bit more muted but more natural?

The reprocessed image is here:

http://www.jthommes.com/images/M8_MN152_PS2RevA.jpg

For reference, the original image is here:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/images/M8_MN152_PS2_large.jpg

I think I like the reprocess color better. What do you think?

I got that same lecture from Richard last year. (Thanks) This time, I want to make sure I understand your process details a bit better, so let me repeat back to you so you can correct my misunderstanding.

1. Make an RGB image with "correct" color balance.
2. Make an H-alpha image where the histogram "looks sorta like" the RGB.
3. In Photoshop, paste the Ha into the RGB (or vice versa) and it shows up as a new layer, so now you have two layers. (which on top?)
(Here is the part that gets fuzzy. Under blending options you can change the mode and opacity, and there are more check boxes if you open the blending options window...)
4. RGB layer: Set the blending option as "color", opacity 100%, arrange as bottom layer(?).
5. H-a layer: Open the blending style window and check only the "red" box. Set the blending option for Ha as linear dodge (add)?, opacity 50%?, other options?
6. flatten and repeat something similar for blue? Or can you just make a third layer and do this all at once?

Once you have completed your blend, flatten the image. Then can't you just goose up the saturation if the colors look washed out?

Thanks for any help here.

Charlie

Yes, better. Great shot!

Tom