My PixInsight processing comparison between 2021, 2024 and 2025 and some Tools and Methods I use.
I am overwhelmed by the differences of the final results when skill and tools grow.

Blog Article: https://astrocamp.eu/hoogj

Over the past few nights, I’ve been running the RedCat with the ASI2600MC exclusively on IC 443, with the Monkey Head Nebula also in the frame. The nebula is processed in HOO (extract) using the APP RGB Combine process, while the stars were handled separately in pure RGB.

Dates: February 16–19, 2025
Sub-frames:
-Altair Ha Oiii DualBand ULTRA 4nm CERTIFIED CMOS Filter 2": 191×300″ (15h 55′) (gain: 100) at -10°C
-Optolong L-Quad Enhance 2": 13×300″ (1h 5′) (gain: 100) at -10°C
Total Integration: 17h

Calibration Frames:
Darks: 20
Flats: 20
Flat Darks: 20
Bias: 30
Processing followed my usual PixInsight flow, but after a NoiseX Light pass, I focused on TGVDenoise in CIE Lab* mode using an inverted lightness mask (see this guide). Final tweaks to the stars and composite were done in Photoshop. Edited on a BenQ in P3 with final checks in sRGB (P3 shows deeper reds, by the way). #astronomy #astrophotography #space #deepspace #pixinsight

Here’s the result so far:

PixInsight 1.9.0 dropped recently and I was intrigued by the new gradient correction tool, so I ran some tests on Cocoon Nebula narrowband, which I've been processing. In short, it's very powerful and definitely worth checking out!

Here's the rest of the story: https://blog.briangweber.com/gradient-correction/

Thought I'd take another crack at processing data from a year ago of NGC6888 "The Crescent Nebula"

Telescope: Evostar 72ED
Camera: ASI 1600MM
Software (Capture): N.I.N.A.
Software: (Processing): #Siril, #Pixinsight, #darktable

Nothing super special about this image, except I used a brand new process for me. Instead of using DBE, GraXpert, or any other software solution for fraudulent removal, I used a process called Multiscale Gradient Correction and described in this tutorial: https://pixinsight.com/tutorials/multiscale-gradient-correction/index.html

It's a little complicated to go through the process, but the gist of the idea is that on a wide image you can correct the gradients better over a small area compared to a tighter field of view. So you take a wider image, correct the gradients, then subtract the corrected wider field from the tight field to give you only the gradients, which you subtract from your tight field image.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked, taking out gradients I didn't realize were there. It made me want to take a wide field shot of all my targets so I can correct gradients better.

Miraculously, I was able to brute force every spare bit of my desktop's storage to process the over thirty-eight hours of data we collected on the Veil Nebula.

Imaging by @alex NYC-Bortle 9 / 467 x 300s subs / Poseidon-C Pro / Z61 (f5.9, 360 mm) /AM5 /ZWO asi120mm mini / Anti-Halo PRO Dual-Band Filter

My process: #Pixinsight

This is the result of a 63x30’’ capture of the Milky Way taken at Dieulefit (Drôme, south of France - 22 and 23/08) The sky over Dieulefit (Bortle4) is magnificent !
Image taken with a Canon EOS80D on à StarAdventurer GTI mount, processed via #pixinsight and #photoshop
#milkyway #astronomie #galaxy #Galaxie #astrophotography #Astrophotographie #Dieulefit #drome

PixInsight released Fast Batch Preprocessing yesterday, claiming to be 10x faster than WBPP. I put that to the test in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD2yj0GTBo8

Reprocessed images from April and February using #pixinsight and a new script called Statistical Stretch
#astrophotography

Djaffar nous partage son #astrophotographie de la #comète #ponsbrooks
Il s'est essayé à l'outil "Comet" de #pixinsight
#astronomy #astronomie #astrophotography #comet #12pponsbrooks

Here's a wider look at the Leo Triplet.

Imaging by @alex NYC-Bortle 9 / 154 x 300s subs / Poseidon-C Pro / Z61 (f5.9, 360 mm) /AM5 /ZWO asi120mm mini / UVI IR-CUT filter

My process: #Pixinsight

To process our Rosette Nebula images, I opted to use the Foraxx Palette. Its dynamic color range highlights the regions of the dark nebulosity that make the Rosette a compelling target.

Imaging by @alex Bortle 9 / 171 x 300s subs / Poseidon-C Pro / Z61 (f5.9, 360 mm) /AM5 /ZWO asi120mm mini / Anti-Halo PRO Dual-Band filter

My process: #Pixinsight

So I have another #astrophotography proof to share. I’m still getting used to editing in #pixinsight and the camera was not kind last night with more massive dust spots (cropped out) appearing out of nowhere. This is two hours of #M101 on my RedCat51 and ASI294MC Pro. #Astrodon

This is my most recent capture from City of Rocks state park in Faywood, NM. IC 410, also known as the Tadpoles Nebula, is about 12,000 light years from Earth. This represents 11 hours and 30 minutes of acquisition spread over three nights under bortle 2 skies but a glaringly bright full moon. #astrophotography #tadpolesnebula #ic410 #cityofrocksstatepark #faywoodnm #zwo #pixinsight

M81 and M82 captured from New Mexico. This is the first clear night I’ve had in a couple months so it was nice to get the gear out. 6 hours of RGB data. #zwoam5 #asi294mmpro #at115edt #newmexico #deming #cityofrocksstatepark #astronomy #astrophotography #m81 #m82 #pixinsight

NGC2024, Flame N. is an emission n. that is part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex.1/2#MyStellina @Vaonis_fr #Pixinsight #cosmos #stargazing #astrophotography #Universe #astronomy #deepsky #night #nightscap #NGC2024

I think this is my favourite nebula photo that I've taken to date. I shot this earlier this month from my back garden here in Wales. Everything came together just right for this one image of the beautiful #RosetteNebula (or #NGC2237).

Shot using a #zwo 533mcpro through a #WilliamOptics #Zenithstar81 attached to a #Skywatcher HEQ5Pro mount

#astrophotographers #nebula
#astronomy #astronomy #space #cosmos #universe #stars #nightsky #nightphotography #stars #pixinsight #astrodon