The next step in the process is to build the interior of the "cave" as outlined in the previous composition strategy post. Layer numbers used here follow the proposed layer numbers in the composition strategy post. Images referenced here can be found on the Utah Astro Gallery in directory: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2935 The resulting master Photoshop file resulting from the following interim processing steps can be found in file - 2010001222MasterImage.psd in directory - http://fisherka.csolutionshosting.net/astronote/photos/processing/Faulkes/ps... I. Build the cave interior. A. Make the blue-interior for of the cave. Layer02 Bright-blue from the blue image (201000115_cleanedblue_bit8) First, the blue cleaned image is colorized and brightened using the Colorize, Curve-levels and Contrast-brightness tools. The idea was to get a bright image color-popping image with lots of detail. Result is image Build02_01ColorCaveBlueInterior_cleanedblue_bit8.psd See "Shot01_Colorizebluecaveinterior.JPG" for the software controls used. The filename decodes as: Build-> "it's a component to build an image from." "02"-> Layer number "01"-> Version of this image-layer "ColorCaveBlueInterior"-> What it's for or the destintation of the layer. "cleanedblue_bit8"-> Where the source for this image-layer came from. B. Make the Ha string nebula as a transparent alpha foreground object layer Layer03 Bright-cyan from the Ha image (20100115_cleanedHa_bit8) To create our cyan string cloud, first will make an alpha transparency layer named "Layer03 Cyan String Cloud" in the image and a temporary working layer with a blackbackground. Second, using "Select by Color", clicking in the background of the image to select the image's background. Then invert the selection. This selects the nebulous region in the middle of the photo. Then paste the selected nebula into the transparency layer. See Shot02_SelectingStringCloud.jpg in the Utah Astro Gallery directory. I did that process twice to make sure I had Third, using the "Colorize" and "Levels" tool, change the color of this selected foreground string cloud to a bright pink. See Shot03_ColorizedStringCloud.jpg in the Utah Astro Gallery directory. See the resulting layer: Build03_01StringCloudCyanAlpha_cleanedHa_bit8.jpg in the Utah Astro Gallery directory. That completes "Layer03 Bright-cyan string cloud" I has not able to get the same translucent pink color to take to this third layer. I'll leave fixing that for later. C. Make the luminous structure layer for the cave interior Layer04 A luminous structure layer for the cave's interior from the OIII image (20100115_cleanedOIII_bit8) Making the luminous structure is done by the same process used to make cyan string cloud layer no. 3. See Shot04_Layer04MakeLuminousStructure.jpg in the Utah Astro Gallery directory. D. Assemble all the layers into a master image. Next an empty master image was made: 2010001222MasterImage Then both the blank master and each of the layer images discussed above were opened. The final component layer is then dragged into the master blank. See screen Shot05_DraggingBuildLayersToMasterImage.JPG in the Utah Astro Gallery directory. The layers are then ordered and adjusted for opacity, level, etc. See screen Shot06_CaveInteriorBuitAfterDrag.JPG in the Utah Astro Gallery directory. E. Extend the string cloud layer outside the cave interior Layer05A Another layer mask was applied to extend the string layer cloud structure outside the cave interior but using a darker color. See layer 5A in master psd file. The final interior cave portion of the image is built with the string cloud extending outside the image. See 2010001222MasterImage.jpg in the Utah Astro Gallery directory. The final result of the inner cave build is also distributed in psd format so others may play with the image. See file 2010001222MasterImage.psd in directory - http://fisherka.csolutionshosting.net/astronote/photos/processing/Faulkes/ps... In the next processing step: 1) the current master image will be builtup by adding more layers of the surrounding outer nebula with the center masked out so the central cave can shine through. 2) hopefully some solution to getting a better translucent pink color to take on the string cloud layer will be found. The string cloud looks to candy-like. The current master image has problems and looks a little cheesy, but it suggests a processing solution. Clear Skies, Kurt