I've moved 100% to saving the live stacks with adjustments. This saves the image as a 16 bit PNG as apposed to how I used to save exactly as seen witch generated an 8 bit PNG. The 16 bit PNG images allow more granular Photoshop manipulation and I think the noise reduction actions i'm using have a more subtle affect that produces a cleaner less blotchy image.
All images were live stacked then edited in Photoshop for crop, color balance, slight additional stretching and noise reduction. The goal was to image objects for 30 minutes but this usually went longer as the live stacked images were asking for more and the end result was worth it.
Click on any image to take you to flicker.com for the full size images.
Equipment:
RC 6 with Astro-Physics CCDT67 reducer. This steps down from f/9 1300 mm to f/6.7 1032 mm
IDAS D1 LPS filter
ZWO ASI294 MC Pro -10c exposures 30 seconds at 300 gain 10 brightness
Using master flat and dark
SharpCap v3.2.6232 64 Bit Live Stacking
iOptron CEM60 mount
Stellarvue 50mm Guide Scope with ZWO ASI290 MM guide camera + PHD2
Thanks, Chris
NGC2244 PS Edit Stack_77frames_2310s by Black Wikkett, on Flickr
M41 PS Edit Stack_30frames_900s by Black Wikkett, on Flickr
M93 PS Edit Stack_31frames_930s by Black Wikkett, on Flickr
M106 PS Edit Stack_120frames_3600s by Black Wikkett, on Flickr
SH2-234 PS Edit Stack_72frames_2160s by Black Wikkett, on Flickr
M3 PS Edit Stack_61frames_1830s by Black Wikkett, on Flickr
M51 PS Edit Stack_120frames_3600s by Black Wikkett, on Flickr
M82 PS Edit Stack_61frames_1830s by Black Wikkett, on Flickr
M97 PS Edit Stack_61frames_1830s by Black Wikkett, on Flickr
M101 PS Edit Stack_74frames_2220s by Black Wikkett, on Flickr
M5 PS Edit Stack_60frames_1800s by Black Wikkett, on Flickr
M104 PS Edit Stack_80frames_2400s by Black Wikkett, on Flickr