IMAGE PROCESSING STEPS FOR DEEP SKY IMAGES
1. Acquire L and RGB subexposures using CCDSoft for camera control.
Use CCDAutoPilot to automate certain aspects of the image acquisition,
including use of dithering. Take dark frames to create a master dark with
the same camera temperature and exposure time (number of frames
dependent on temperature-usually 30+). Take 20-30 flats at the camera
rotation angle used for the light frames to create a master flat for each
camera orientation. If possible do this for each color filter.
2. Review subexposures for hazards (planes/satellites) and measure
FWHM using Mira AP or MaximDL. Discard inferior subexposures.
3. Dark and Flat subtraction using CCDSoft or MaximDL for calibration.
4. Debloom, gradient removal, hot/cold pixel removal, other repairs (if
needed), using MaximDL with Russ Croman's and Ron Wodaski's plugins.
5. Align L and RGB subexposures using Registar or MiraAP. For the
RGB, use Registar or MaximDL to equalize the size of the RGB to L
images if necessary prior to alignment.
6. Combine reduced images in each color group, resulting in individual
master L, R, G and B images using Ray Gralak's Sigma Pre-Beta 11 or
MaximDL's RC Console Sigma-Reject plugin .
7. Color combine R, G and B master images into an RGB master using
MaximDL .
8. Using CCDSharp, deconvolve L master . In MaximDL, apply DDP to L
master.
9. Open L and RGB masters in Photoshop CS2 and adjust levels, curves,
apply noise reduction and adjust color saturation.
10. Copy and paste L into RGB (or vice versa), and flatten layers.
11. Peform other steps as needed to final image to display detail
appropriately.