M31 work in process

This is my first DSLR object that I have been working the processing end to get a final image. The more I stare at it the more I want to tweek it for better or for worse. As it stand now I am fairly happy with it. The one thing I can say that I would like to do is reduce the stars sizes and brightness without affecting the rest of the image. It just seems to me that they pop out too much and detract from the galaxy. Feel free to tinker and let me know how you made out and the steps in getting there.

Attached Image:

Brian VanLiew said:

This is my first DSLR object that I have been working the processing end to get a final image. The more I stare at it the more I want to tweek it for better or for worse. As it stand now I am fairly happy with it. The one thing I can say that I would like to do is reduce the stars sizes and brightness without affecting the rest of the image. It just seems to me that they pop out too much and detract from the galaxy. Feel free to tinker and let me know how you made out and the steps in getting there.

How about this?

Attached Image:

Brian,
Nice one looks pretty good. I agree about the star sizes and Floyd's rendering adresses this pretty well. I think I prefer the star colors in your original image though.