Milky Way : Image processing

[jennifer1611991]

That picture is simply sublime...

[Meng Lee]

Image processing steps for the picture:

1) The 3 original JPG files:

http://www.singastro.org/album_showpage.php?pic_id=873
http://www.singastro.org/album_showpage.php?pic_id=872
http://www.singastro.org/album_showpage.php?pic_id=871

2) Median stacked in MaxIm DL essentials with 2 star alignment:

http://www.singastro.org/album_showpage.php?pic_id=874

3) Log stretch in MaxIm DL

http://www.singastro.org/album_showpage.php?pic_id=875

4) Set white/black points in Photoshop, with increase in saturation and hue:

http://www.singastro.org/album_showpage.php?pic_id=876

5) One round of SMI in Photoshop:

http://www.singastro.org/album_showpage.php?pic_id=877

6) Lastly high pass sharpening in Photoshop, 1 round:

http://www.singastro.org/album_showpage.php?pic_id=878

And there you have the final Milky Way pic (without subtracting the noise!)

Hope this helps.