Starlight Xpress SXVR-H674C - Manual (Page 18)

Handbook for the SXVR-H674C Issue 1 March 2012
18
M42 – 30 seconds exposure at F2 with a C8 Hyperstar
2) Once you have subtracted any dark frame, you can convert the raw image to
colour.
3) The resulting image will probably look faint and dull, possibly with a pale
yellowish background, due to light pollution so it is now time to process the
‘luminance’ (brightness and contrast) of the image to get the best visual appearance.
First, use the ‘Normal’ contrast stretch to darken the background by setting the
‘Black’ slider just below the main peak of the histogram. Alternatively, you can use
the ‘Remove Background’ option to let the software decide on the best setting. This
will greatly reduce the background brightness and the image will begin to look rather
more attractive, although dark. You can now try brightening the highlights with