What software do people use?

I think most people are using Deep Sky Stacker for stacking images, though, as a Mac user, I use Nebulosity. I also use StarStaX to create star trail images.

As regards image processing, I'll either use Lightroom (if I just want to make a few minor adjustments, or use the very good timelapse features within the program) or Photoshop for more advanced stuff (like noise removal, levels and curves, etc... though Lightroom does this very well too... I just prefer the Photoshop interface for this stuff).

Personally, I think Lightroom is a great low cost alternative to Photoshop.

I know you're only asking for staking/post processing software but I felt an urge to list software I use for all stages of imaging.

For astroimaging planning:  Stellarium!

For Planetary capture using a Canon DSLR:   EOS Camera Video Record

For Planetary capture using a planetary webcam:   Sharpcap 2

For still image capture of deep space, solar or lunar imaging and timelapse, I use a laptop whenever possible rather than using the camera's LCD viewer for larger clarity in focussing, exposure etc.   For all of this, I use the canon own software for capturing:

Canon EOS utilities

For stacking planetary video captures:  Registax and recently Autostakkert 2

For stacking deep space images:  Deep Space Stacker

For Post processing:  Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Camera Raw

I  intend to use the following:

Winjup which helps to derotate longer video captures of Jupiter (and I think other planets, not sure). Want to try that out.

StarStaX to create star trail images

Thanks, Mike, I'll have a look at that. I think we used a German site - startrails.de for Katie's GCSE star trails project. Simple but effective!

Lightroom is a great low cost alternative to Photoshop

I've got a very old version of Photoshop - v6 if I remember correctly - that I've never really mastered, so Lightroom sounds like a good plan.

I felt an urge to list software I use for all stages of imaging

Tej, you cleverly not only answered the question I asked, you answered the question I should have asked!! Thanks very much! Really helpful.

I think Startrails does pretty much the same thing, but it's only available for Windows, so I haven't used it. StarStaX is available for PC and Mac.

Lightroom is really easy to use, taking you through a standard workflow for each picture.

I agree, Photoshop can be difficult to master, though I've been using it for a while, which is why I prefer the interface for certain scenarios. Certainly, when processing layers, it's very powerful.

However, you don't always need all of this functionality, so Lightroom is great for most purposes.

Well, it may be clear tonight, but it's very windy in Whitstable. Too windy to take any decent pictures. So, just to demonstrate the use of StarStaX, I took a quick (50 image) star trails picture, just to show what can be done.

Star Trails over Whitstable Bay by MikeMey67, on Flickr

Like I've always said: APOTY needs more photos of water hazard warning signs.

Thanks, Mike! I'll try it out!

APOTY needs more photos of water hazard warning signs.

🙂

Only sheltered spot I could find... blowing a gale here this evening, so the tripod wouldn't keep steady for long exposures.

Like I’ve always said: APOTY needs more photos of water hazard warning signs.

hehehe 🙂

BTW I had put a list of software on the Useful stuff section of the forum. Tej, feel free to add some of the ones you use to that thread? Also, Mike, you could add the ones you use for Mac to complete the list?

http://flamsteed.info/forums/topic/astrophoto-software/

BTW I had put a list of software on the Useful stuff section of the forum.

D'oh! Why didn't I think to look there first!!! Thanks, Sumitra!

Aha! This is a very timely post!

I was about to ask the same question as I used Photoshop to stack last night. The result looks a little wishy-washy… Was wondering if this had something to do with the software?

An update… It's all about the software it would seem…

Just re-stacked using StarStaX and it's 100% better. My Photoshop result looked a bit like I'd drawn it on canvas… Was any interesting interpretation of my photos for sure. Now to improve… !

Hi Guys

My software list is as follows

Deep Sky

Stacking - DSS (Deep Sky Stacker) - easy and free

Processing - Photoshop - Within Photoshop I also use actions plug-ins from Pro Digital software like Astronomy Tools.

For anything Deep Sky you basically just need a layer based editor. GIMP is very comprehensive and free. Pixinsight is designed specifically for Astronomy but most imagers I have spoken to about it say there is  nothing in Pixinsight you cannot do in PS.

I also use OnOne's Perfect Suite for some tasks as it supports PS files.

Effects

Startrails - Simple, free and it works

DSLR Control - If you want to control your DSLR from a PC then for Canon users, either BackYard EOS or APT (Astro Photography Tool) are the best. The latter is full blown image capture software for CCD cameras also.

For Nikon users there are now options. I have used DigiCamControl with some success which now has some Astrophotography options.

Planetary / Solar (Software used in this order)

Image Capture - Firecapture is by far the best tool for high frame rate cameras

Pre Processing - PIPP is pre processing software that optimises and converts video files

De-Rotation - If needed WinJUPOS is the way to do this.

Stacking - AutoStakkert is the current best alignment and stacking program

Wavelet Sharpening - Registax 6 or AVI Stack. Registax 6 probably has the edge for wavelet sharpening now. Don't use the rest of it though

Processing - Layer Editor like Photoshop / GIMP / Pixinsight. I also use Photmatrix (for HDR) and OnOne's Perfect Suite