The XCM Hybrid
Combine a high resolution XM mono luminance layer with an XCM color layer for big changes
This isn't a test but more a demonstration of a growing trend to use a high resolution, high S/N grayscale luminance layer taken with a mono camera and combining it with a color layer taken with the XCM. I call this the 'XCM Hybrid' technique because it uses two different camera types to accomplish the task. This technique is already widely used with separate L,R,G,B layers taken with a mono camera and is commonly referred to as the "Luminance Layering" method and is one of the major benefits of using a mono camera.
You can use the hybrid technique if you now have a mono camera and want to enhance your previous or new images taken with the XCM. This technique uses lower resolution XCM color layers blended into a high resolution luminance layer taken with the XM to produce high resolution color images. The results are well worth the effort.
Below are examples of NGC 6992 and NGC 7635 the Bubble Nebula before and after a grayscale luminance image taken from the XM camera was added.
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Luminance layer taken with the XM camera.
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Three hour image taken with the XCM camera.
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Same image above combined with the luminance layer from the XM
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Same image above combined with the luminance layer from the XM. |
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Three hour image taken with the XM camera.
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Same image above combined with the luminance layer from the XM. Even a mono RGB image can use a boost from a Lum layer! In this case it is commonly referred to as an LRGB image and it one of the benefits of using a mono camera. |
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Luminance layer taken with the XM camera.
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XCM Bubble Nebula. | XCM Bubble Nebula combined with XM luminance layer. |
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XM Bubble Nebula. | XM Bubble Nebula combined with XM luminance layer. |
The XCM Hybrid Summary
This technique works very well when using a high resolution, high S/N luminance grayscale layer to boost S/N and detail contrast. When using this technique spend more time gathering data for the "L" layer as it will add details that are more difficult to bring out in normal RGB images as well as improve the overall S/N of the image. Creating a synthetic luminance layer from the color XCM image will not contain any improved S/N, brightness or details as the base RGB image and stretching the image more will only raise the noise level that is already there. |