In this practical tutorial, renowned astrophotographer Nik Szymanek demonstrates how to blend short and long exposure images of the Orion Nebula (M42) to produce a stunning final result. Using data captured with a one-shot color CMOS camera, Nik walks through the process in Astro Pixel Processor and Affinity Photo, showing how to preserve core detail while revealing the surrounding nebulosity. Learn how to stretch and scale 10s and 120s exposures, align and blend master frames, and fine-tune the image with soft masking and highlight adjustments. This technique offers a powerful, accessible solution for managing M42’s high dynamic range and is ideal for those working with short datasets.