Saturn — native processing review

New: Four-night Champagne v2 comparison (Oct 18 / Oct 27 / Nov 3 / Nov 5). This page now starts with the Champagne benchmark vs a sharper non-Topaz October 27 result. Topaz versions remain selectable.

Matched processing from native 16-bit AutoStakkert! 4 stacks with matching RegiStax 6 controls (archived 35/22/10 and gentler Test A −20%), matched RGB balance, and genuine Topaz DeNoise AI variants. Select any two profiles to compare through a draggable split. Only web preview PNGs are shared here; the original SERs and 16-bit masters remain local.

October 18, 11:01 PM vs October 27: exact RegiStax match

The default left image is October 18 at 11:01 PM EDT; the right image is October 27 at 11:23 PM EDT. Both use native AutoStakkert! P10 stacks, genuine RegiStax Test A -20% wavelets and the same fixed RGB balance, with no Topaz. The Oct 18 crop (480 x 300) is centered in a 636 x 300 black canvas without rescaling; differences in actual capture magnification can remain. Your permanent Oct 18 Full-Topaz favorite is also in the selectors, clearly marked as an artistic reference, not a matched-process baseline.

Draggable apples-to-apples comparison

Profile A — shown on right

Profile B — shown on left

A | B

Move the split to compare identical wavelets and RGB; capture magnification may differ

Swap A / BCenter splitOpen A PNGOpen B PNG16-bit TIFF masters preserved locally on T: drive.

Four-capture RegiStax comparison: October 18 vs October 27

These four images share identical Test A -20% wavelets, 10% stacking, and RGB gains. They are shown at native output-pixel scale, not physically calibrated angular scale. Open the full image to compare ring detail and globe texture.

Oct 18 permanent artistic benchmark: see the archived permanent sharpness baseline.

Top three native Saturn captures

#1 · 11:23 PM EDTBest overall native stacked detail

#2 · 11:20 PM EDTStrong nearby capture

#3 · 11:03 PM EDTBest earlier capture

New for 11:20 PM: Profile 10 (warmer gold globe, subtly whiter rings) and profile 07 (whiter rings, softer globe) are now available in both comparison selectors. These are additional existing processing variants, not new stacks or Topaz operations.

Ten curated profiles per capture

11:23 PM EDT

11:20 PM EDT

11:03 PM EDT

Original SERs, FireCapture metadata, AutoStakkert! TIFFs, genuine RegiStax masters, and the original pre-Topaz inputs are preserved. Full Topaz can exaggerate ring microtexture; the 20% blend is a gentler option. Historical Gold v2 finishing reproduces its color stage, not the October 18 seeing or native sharpness. This work-area preview is published for review; no permanent-gallery posting or source-file deletion has been performed. All raw recordings, sidecars, 16-bit TIFF masters, and the full processing manifest remain in the local archive.