Need help blending core of galaxy

Hello,
This may sound funny but I need to make some color images using data taken on a 4m telescope in chile. I want to smoothly blend in an unsaturated image of a core of a galaxy onto a burned out full image. I just don't know how to set up a gradient so there is a smooth transition between the two. I am using photoshop

Can anyone help?

Eric Pellegrini

Eric, just in case you don't know about it.... go here:

http://www.astropix.com/INDEX.HTM

Then click on DIGITAL PROCESSING, and check some of the tutorials. (specially the combining/compositing methods)

This is Jerry Lodriguss site, and it has some excellent tips, besides shots... check it out!


Hope it helps you!

hi,

Basically use two images, one with the core burned out to show the arms and faint details and one with the core detail. Use layers, and select the core from the " core " image and use feathering about 15 to 25 pixels and copy the core. Then paste this as a layer over the core region of the " core burned out image " and blend them. The region of the blending should have near the same density and you can achieve this by different amount of non-linear stretching of the two images you are blending.


Larry Citro