{
  "date_edt": "2026-10-18 01:59",
  "baseline": "AutoStakkert 4 10% / 1.5x drizzle -> native RegiStax6 Softer10 -> original RGB gains and 24% median pre-Topaz control",
  "original_rgb_gains": [
    0.937248346869365,
    1.0053187668183856,
    1.1692378378716652
  ],
  "original_gains_reapplied": false,
  "oct07_color_reference_note": "Oct 7 Topaz favorite served as qualitative visual reference for neutral, brighter ring highlights. Oct 18 rings are adjusted using their own sampled RGB, not forced to identical pixel intensity.",
  "sampled_ring_median_8bit": [
    129.84820556640625,
    125.96499633789062,
    112.18289947509766
  ],
  "ring_equalization_gains": [
    0.9446824789047241,
    0.9738052487373352,
    1.0934410095214844
  ],
  "processing_technique": "Region-limited RGB equalization + luminance-preserving balance + intensity gated highlight lift. Black sky and Cassini gaps intentionally avoided. No extra global sharpening or unsharp masking.",
  "versions": [
    {
      "id": "RingWhite_RGBBalanced_NoTopaz_v1",
      "description": "Pre-Topaz + calibrated ring channel balance + restrained ring highlight lift; gentle conventional globe smoothing, no AI",
      "ring_gain_amount": 0.85,
      "highlight_lift_max": 0.135,
      "light_topaz_blend": 0,
      "clipped_rgb_channels": 0,
      "bright_reference_rgb_before": [
        132.02099609375,
        126.48500061035156,
        113.33000183105469
      ],
      "bright_reference_rgb_after": [
        141.5229949951172,
        138.82400512695312,
        136.38400268554688
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "RingWhite_RGBBalanced_Topaz20_v1",
      "description": "20% genuine Topaz Clear native result / 80% pre-Topaz, then same channel balance and ring highlighting; AI-influenced",
      "ring_gain_amount": 0.85,
      "highlight_lift_max": 0.135,
      "light_topaz_blend": 0.2,
      "clipped_rgb_channels": 1,
      "bright_reference_rgb_before": [
        132.02099609375,
        126.48500061035156,
        113.33000183105469
      ],
      "bright_reference_rgb_after": [
        141.781005859375,
        138.99899291992188,
        137.09100341796875
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "RingWhite_RGBBalanced_Whiter_v1",
      "description": "Pre-Topaz + stronger channel balance and ring-white lift while protecting Cassini, no Topaz",
      "ring_gain_amount": 1.0,
      "highlight_lift_max": 0.22,
      "light_topaz_blend": 0,
      "clipped_rgb_channels": 57,
      "bright_reference_rgb_before": [
        132.02099609375,
        126.48500061035156,
        113.33000183105469
      ],
      "bright_reference_rgb_after": [
        148.87600708007812,
        146.64999389648438,
        146.2949981689453
      ]
    }
  ],
  "public_files": [
    {
      "id": "October 18 / 1:59 AM / New balanced WHITE rings \u2014 No Topaz",
      "image": "Oct18_0159_RingWhite_RGBBalanced_NoTopaz_v1.png",
      "tiff": "Oct18_0159_RingWhite_RGBBalanced_NoTopaz_v1.tif",
      "type": "No AI \u00b7 improved ring channel balance",
      "description": "Pre-Topaz + calibrated ring channel balance + restrained ring highlight lift; gentle conventional globe smoothing, no AI",
      "capture": "1:59 AM EDT"
    },
    {
      "id": "October 18 / 1:59 AM / New WHITE rings \u2014 20% Topaz blend",
      "image": "Oct18_0159_RingWhite_RGBBalanced_Topaz20_v1.png",
      "tiff": "Oct18_0159_RingWhite_RGBBalanced_Topaz20_v1.tif",
      "type": "AI blend \u00b7 20% genuine Topaz",
      "description": "20% genuine Topaz Clear native result / 80% pre-Topaz, then same channel balance and ring highlighting; AI-influenced",
      "capture": "1:59 AM EDT"
    },
    {
      "id": "October 18 / 1:59 AM / New WHITE rings \u2014 brighter",
      "image": "Oct18_0159_RingWhite_RGBBalanced_Whiter_v1.png",
      "tiff": "Oct18_0159_RingWhite_RGBBalanced_Whiter_v1.tif",
      "type": "No AI \u00b7 stronger white-ring test",
      "description": "Pre-Topaz + stronger channel balance and ring-white lift while protecting Cassini, no Topaz",
      "capture": "1:59 AM EDT"
    }
  ],
  "public_asset_sha256": {
    "Oct18_0159_RingWhite_RGBBalanced_NoTopaz_v1.tif": "f8e2d25584afbe3ec15203e957126a2c0c6ca823a4a8e63caf4fea8c8dce826e",
    "Oct18_0159_RingWhite_RGBBalanced_NoTopaz_v1.png": "2ea8dd6ffeb6a599331cfbf28a7110c7744997ae661428bde39a4738c41831e6",
    "Oct18_0159_RingWhite_RGBBalanced_Topaz20_v1.tif": "c39689fdb7da95c6ca1e20c907a49988aeb76fa5c66eef5df1c7dcdf9bec7041",
    "Oct18_0159_RingWhite_RGBBalanced_Topaz20_v1.png": "41f4da2fa7086f95c7706f98302fcdb4fa7f74c9688c180e8261509407095797",
    "Oct18_0159_RingWhite_RGBBalanced_Whiter_v1.tif": "68da21328a03167d80bd0efaff57ac952f2fe407892aea88de44edb3a626cafb",
    "Oct18_0159_RingWhite_RGBBalanced_Whiter_v1.png": "3122ca1e5b8bb69592a852e5fc05dfc070ee36b315811a9a7e6ff189c53f8e30"
  },
  "original_ser_unchanged": true,
  "original_stacks_unchanged": true
}