There are a number of programs that can be used to enhance the details in deep sky images such as Seti Astro's Cosmic Clarity.
However GREYC's Magic for Image Computing from the GREYC research laboratory, a joint research unit of CNRS, ENSICAEN, and the University of Caen, France can be used to good effect. It has 625 filters and we are going to look a four of them here in the context of details enhancement.
Click on an image to get a closer view
The image we will use is a starless image of the Andromeda Galaxy
Starless Andromeda Galaxy
The four filters we shall use are found in the filter section Details. The names of the filters are:
- Freaky Details
- Local Contrast Enhancement
- Magic Details
- Mighty Details
We shall show screenshots of G'MIC with each filter and the preview turned on and off (to see the effect) and then the starless image processed with that filter.
The parameter settings that have been used can be seen in the screenshots, but it is important to experiment with the settings as the values used may not be optimal.
Freaky Details
Preview off
Image processed with Freaky Details
Local Contrast Enhancement
Preview off
Image processed with Local Contrast Enhancement
Magic Details
Preview off
Image processed with Magic Details
Mighty Details
Preview off
Image processed with Mighty Details
The 4 processed images were then blended 25% each in the Gimp to produce a details enhanced image with an equal contribution from each filter.
Blended image
Original image for comparison
In future articles we shall look at other filters in GREYC's Magic for Image Computing G'MIC for deep sky image processing.
