Processing Example

NGC 253 - Sculptor Galaxy

by Alejandro Tombolini

Introduction

Highlight the fine luminosity in the periphery of the galaxy. Main notes: high stretch with HistogramTransformation - Saturation - Contrast with ATrousWaveletTransform. Date: November 2013.

Image Data

  • Object: Sculptor Galaxy
  • Camera: Canon 5DIII - Filter Type I
  • Telescope: William Optics 132 FLT - Focal Lengl 925 mm - f/7
  • Images: 47 x 5 minutes @ ISO 1600
  • Total Time: 3 hours 55 minutes
  • Processing Software: PixInsight
  • Comments: Guiding with Orion 100 and SSAG. From Trenel - La Pampa - Argentina
  • Author: Alejandro Tombolini

Processing

I couldn't have a good set of flats, so the integration was not as good as expected. Even can be seen a couple of dust spots.

NGC 253

In the processing I would try to highlight the fine luminosity that is seen in the periphery of the galaxy. See the area showed with previews.

NGC 253

First a crop using DynamicCrop.

NGC 253

DynamicBackgroundExtraction placing the samples carefully, to avoid placing it over the stars or in the galaxy halo that I want to preserve.

NGC 253

With AberrationInspector create a mosaic of 4 panels and use it as reference image in BackgroundNeutralization tool.

NGC 253

Generate a new mosaic with AberrationInspector for using as Reference image of Background Reference and a preview that include the galaxy for using as Reference image of White Reference in ColorCalibration tool.

NGC 253

Open the DynamicPSF tool and generate the PSF to be used in Deconvolution.

NGC 253

With star mask generate a mask to protect the core of the big stars when applying Deconvolution and to be used as Local support of Deringing.

NGC 253

Apply Deconvolution to increase subtle details in the structure of the galaxy and make stars more puntuals.

NGC 253

Apply the ScreenTransferFunction to the image by moving the blue triangle to the control bar of HistogramTransformation tool.

NGC 253

Build three masks to be used in different process. A range mask, an starmask and add both to have another to protect stars and background at the same time.

NGC 253

HDRMultiscaleTransform for increasing details in the galaxy.

NGC 253

As the stretch was intensive transfering the Automatic STF to the HistogramTransformation, I am going to saturate also quite a lot to give color.

NGC 253

The saturation generate noise in chrominance, that can be easily removed with ACDNR with a double mask, using rangemask to protect the background and the incorporated mask of the tool to protect the core of the galaxy that I want to continue saturated

NGC 253

SCNR to remove a greenish that has appeared, still protecting the background with the mask, as it look like nicer with green on it.

NGC 253

 With ATrousWaveletTransform increase the contrast selecting Chrominance as target and modifying the Bias from layer of 16 pixels to 128.

NGC 253

Extract luminance and use as mask protecting the galaxy and decrease the middle lights in the HistogramTransformation.

NGC 253

Noise reduction using a range mask to protect the galaxy and slightly the background far from the galaxy. The main objective is the halo of the galaxy.

NGC 253

A little contraste and Saturation with CurvesTransformation tool.

NGC 253

Reduce the background bright protecting the galaxy with range mask and apply Gamma Stretch.

NGC 253

Star reduction protecting background and galaxy with star mask and applying MorphologicalSelection.

NGC 253

Extract G channel and apply HDRMultiscaleTransform and HistogramTransformation. It is going to be used as mask in the following process.

NGC 253

LocalHistogramEqualization protecting with G_channel.

NGC 253

Increase contrast with InterChannelCurves using the Hue as Reference Channel and the CIE c as Target Channel.

NGC 253

Decreasing the background a little more with Gamma Stretch.

NGC 253

InterChannelCurves again to reduce the Cyan in the galaxy, protecting background and stars with Image56.

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Resample.

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Signature.

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Final image.

NGC 253

Last Update: 27/11/2023 03:55 UT