Chapter 16 of book will explain how to blend images 1. Extract Lightness image from original using 'ChannelExtraction'. 2. Create a preview which includes various star sizes GUIDELINES - If noise or other non-stellar structures are included, raise the 'Noise threshold'. - If large stars are not included, raise the 'Scale' amount. - Under 'Mask preprocessing', raise the 'Midtones' slider to exclude dim stars. - If needed, raise the 'Shadows' slider to further restrict selection to bright stars. - Lowering 'Truncation' will also provide a stronger result. - Deselect galactic cores using the Clonestamp process (Ch 17) or by adjusting the 'Midtones' slider further. - Structure Growth > Lower 'Large-scale' to make large stars smaller, increase for the opposite effect. > Lower 'Small-scale' to make small stars smaller, increase for the opposite effect. *********************************************************** *** USE THIS FOR GALAXIES, OR NEBULA, WITH BRIGHT CORES *** *********************************************************** 1. Layers normally work best at 6 but 3-7 is an acceptable range. 2. Test settings with 'Median transform' ticked then redo with it unticked to see which looks better, ignore any ringing around stars with it unticked. [Unticked = Atrous Wavlet Algorythm (AT)] 3. If AT (unticked) looks better then enable 'Deringing', try to use as low a settinng as possible for both small & large scale sliders. Try default values first. 4. With AT the 'B3 spline' scaling function is normally fine, you can try 'Linear Interpolation' if you are trying to isolate small structures. 5. Keep 'To Lightness' & 'Preserve hue' ticked. 6. Use Lightness mask as first try, if it turns large stars into donuts try using a 'Local Deringing Support Image' 0.003906,0.015625,0.023438,0.015625,0.003906,0.015625,0.0625,0.09375,0.0625,0.015625,0.023438,0.09375,0.140625,0.09375,0.023438,0.015625,0.0625,0.09375,0.0625,0.015625,0.003906,0.015625,0.023438,0.015625,0.003906 0.0625,0.25,0.375,0.25,0.0625 0.0625,0.25,0.375,0.25,0.0625 B3 Spline (5) ********************************************************** *** TRY NOT TO OVERDO IT, YOU CAN ALWAYS DO MORE LATER *** ********************************************************** 1. In 'L' channel: - Fix top on top third intersection. - Adjust middle up very slightly. - Adjust botton third intersection down slightly. 2. Optionally repeat Step 1 for individual colour channels. To reset adjustments to a single channel, select it and click the red 'X' button. 1. For RGB image, lock sliders together. 2. Drag middle slider over to bring out all detail required. 3. Optionallu unlock sliders to adjust individual colour channels. 4. Drag left slider over to darken background, not too black. 5. Drag the STF instance into 'HitogramTransformation' then apply to image. Transfer the STF settings into HistogramTransformation by dragging the 'New Instance' icon from STF into bar at the bottom of HistogramTransformation. Don't select too much detail, only protect really bright areas. A value of 0.3 is normally suitable to select galaxies. ************************************************************** *** USE AN INVERTED RANGEMASK TO PROTECT HIGH-SIGNAL AREAS *** ************************************************************** Strength 1. Change the exponent value (far right) to find the best range to be in. 2. Change the coefficient value (middle box / slider) to find the best value. Edge Protection 1. Create a small preview with no stars or nebulosity. 2. Open Statistics process and select preview as view. 3. If StdDev isn't in the list, add it using the wrench button 4. Set the edge protection of the middle value and power. Smoothness 1. Default values generally work well, adjust it to combat 'blotchyness' if required. Iterations 1. Use 250 iterations for testing. 2. Increase to 500-1000 for the actual application.