How to make a solar mosaic with CS2

[seeker372011]

I have seen tutorials on how to make a solar mosaic using Photoshop CS5, but I only have CS2

Is there some technique that I can use?

I have multiple frames with heaps of overlap and can't seem to get rid of the joints

Thanks in advance format suggestions

Narayan

[multiweb]

I'd be interested to see that as well. I know how to do it for DSOs so I will try with solar. If it works I'll upload a how-to for everybody to check. :thumbsup:

[Paul Haese]

I am not sure but I have CS3 so you might have the same thing in CS2

Once you get all your panels overlaid using difference and the nudge function then highlight all panels except for the background panel and then go edit/autoblend layers. That will get you started. For panel adjustment try making all the panels as close to the same illumination via levels.

For a more invisible seam then each panel needs to have the edge erased with the rubber tool and use a blur brush.

If you do all this it might come out right.

[seeker372011]

Thanks Paul
I'll give it a go

[seeker372011]

Nope

CS2 doesnt have that autoblend function :(

[Paul Haese]

Sorry about that. Any chance of being able to upgrade?:question:

[markuslebt]

hello there...

i took sunspot images with my webcam today first time, and decided to make a sun mosaic. u can see it in my latest thread (i only have 5 posts so far at this forum). if u are proficient with gimp or photoshop all you need is single pictures, make a huge canvas like 3333x3333pixel. then add all your single images as separate layers.then create a ring mask and paint out the ringmask with the brush or pen tool about 10pixel thick. now you can align all your images in a ringlike fashion. u will quickly get a catch of it. in the end zoom in 300x and snugly fit all edges to one another. DONE. dont forget to save as TIFF. compression free data !! :hi:

[Meru]

If there's no autoblend, a simple trick can be to set the top layer you are trying to blend to 50% opacity and select 'difference' in the layering method. As soon as your stars line up, they'll go black, and reveal where else they are out of alignment (This will only occur if your photos have field rotation from poor polar alignment).

Once you've done this make a masking layer and selecting the brush tool, set the hardness to like 30% and slowly blend the two images together. I've personally struggled with getting proper panoramas even in CS5 simply because of vignetting and creates uneven gradients in the final image where you blend.

Good luck!

[seeker372011]

I am going to get my daughter who is in Uni to get a student version of CS5..will wait till CS6 is released, the prove of CS5 should come down a bit

[seeker372011]

No stars in a solar image. I have the frames perfectly aligned though...it's the join marks that are my problem...and yes the brightness is ridiculous in how much it varies given the imaging camera setting never changed through the session


I'll try your technique and see if it helps. Thanks

[Paul Haese]

I have CS6 now. Must have been released recently as I upgraded from CS3 to CS6. Looks pretty good so far.