ABSTRACT
The image processing follows three distinct paths: the main narrowband color image that forms the Crescent nebula and background; a synthetic luminance channel used to emphasize details; and a second color image route, made with the RGB filters and processed for strong star color. Stretching was applied in two rounds with the Histogram Transformation tool, using the live preview to ensure the highlights were not over-brightened and hence desaturated. This image was put aside for later combination with the luminance data. The narrow-band color image and the luminance were combined as normal using the LRGB Combination tool; by checking the L channel, selecting the Luminance file and applying the tool to the color image by dragging the blue triangle across. This image was subtly finessed with the Multiscale Median Transformation tool to improve the definition of the nebula structure and further noise reduction on the background using TGVDenoise, both using a suitable mask support to direct the effect.
