Learning to process Astro images, for me, is a cumulative process. When I learn a new technique, I’m anxious to test it out and practice it until I fell I’ve mastered it for my style of processing.  I offer 2 images here. The data for these images was captured about 2 years ago.  The first image shows my level of knowledge at the time in collecting data and creating an image.

Galaxy M31 in Andromeda

The following image is using the same data, but applying additional skills of masking and filtering the data to draw out more detail and better contrast.  I do tend to over sharpen a bit, but that’s part of my style.

Galaxy M31

Now in looking at these images, it’s obvious to me that I need more data to clean up the noise and reveal the true beauty of this object.  In comparing these images of M31 with others, they’re obviously not going to be a “Picture of the Day” on anyone’s website but my own.

My message is to keep working with the data as you learn more to improve your skills.  It also helps you understand better, how much data you really need to create a top quality image.  I know personally the excitement of producing any image as the novice I consider myself to be, leads me to publish my work sooner than it should be.

dw