Is This Overexposed???

[KenMiller]

One of these is a 5 min. exposure through a Tak E-180 with a Canon Digital Rebel XTi and the other is a 2 min. exposure.

Is the 5 min. exposure overexposed?

When I combine 5 min. exposures, a large portion of the center is all white.

I'm guessing I need to use the shorter exposures?

[neilfleming]

It depends on how the initial processing was done. These were also NOT full sized, right?

Here is a quick run through Photoshop. Gradient removal was done this way:
http://www.flemingastrophotography.com/gradients.html

I did that for both the 5 and 2-minute exposures, then I layered in the core of M31 from the 2-minute exposure like this:
http://www.astropix.com/HTML/J_DIGIT/LAYMASK.HTM

Here is the result:

[KenMiller]

That is... amazing. Thanks for showing me what's possible. I guess I should get serious about using Photoshop. Until now I've mostly used MaxDSLR.

I attached a copy of the best I could do with 6 original images. There's obviously a lot more I can get out of them

The only processing on those images was to scale them to a size that would be uploadable to the forum - nothing else. So no, they weren't full size.

Thanks for posting the links too Neil.

[KenMiller]

I am trying to walk through each of the links you provided.

Originally Posted by neilfleming

Here is a quick run through Photoshop. Gradient removal was done this way:
http://www.flemingastrophotography.com/gradients.html

1. Duplicate your image into a separate document, then flatten it.

What do you mean by "flatten it?" I've looked in the PhotoShop help but the context in which they discussing flattening doesn't seem appropriate.

[neilfleming]

You will see that option under the Layers menu if you have more than one layer in your photoshop document. SHIFT+CTL+E is the keyboard shortcut.

...Neil

[KenMiller]

Using the techniques described in the links you provided I was able to improve to the point of the attached image.

Did you do anything else Neil or do I just need that much more practice?

[neilfleming]

You're certainly getting there, Ken. You will find that your processing skills with grow over time. I know mine certainly have, and I started out with a good knowlege of PS.

...Neil

[KenMiller]

Thanks Neil. From what I've seen so far, I'm going to be spending a lot of time learning PS and a lot of time putting together a machine shop in order to fabricate the parts necessary to make the optics do what I need them to

[BT Technologies]

That is REALLY impressive Neil.. Isn't the software that is available to us simply incredible in what we can do with it?

Originally Posted by neilfleming

It depends on how the initial processing was done. These were also NOT full sized, right?

Here is a quick run through Photoshop. Gradient removal was done this way:
http://www.flemingastrophotography.com/gradients.html

I did that for both the 5 and 2-minute exposures, then I layered in the core of M31 from the 2-minute exposure like this:
http://www.astropix.com/HTML/J_DIGIT/LAYMASK.HTM

Here is the result:

[mdine1us]

Impressive?! Heck that's downright HUMILIATING! I just keep staring at the thing. It's really beautiful!

Nicely done Neil, and Ken for getting the data! That's alot of good data in those two exposures...

Regards,
Marty