Adding Diffraction Spikes to an SCT?

[Matty P]

Is it possible and has anyone attempted to do this?

:thumbsup:

[Gama]

Very easy, just place some fishing line or other string across the front of the tube, and make an + shape, then thats it.
Use tape to hold the string in place.

Theo

[g__day]

Photoshop CS2 using Noel Carboni's plug-in scripts has simple options to do this post capture!

[TrevorW]

Under tip and hints I believe there's an article by Al Sheenan on how to do this in PS by creating a brush. I've also heard that placing plain window glass in front of the main lens will create the effect.

:thumbsup:

[gb_astro]

I don't think SCT users are allowed to do this.

gb.

[Bassnut]

I agree with gb, buy an RC.

[AlexN]

Yeah, If you have an SCT you have to deal with no diffraction spikes... Maybe get a newt if you cant justify a RC...

[Striker]

As Gama said string or fishing line works.

I have done both and also used the photoshop scripts mentioned here.

I got ripped apart for posting images with diff spikes on a SCT a long time ago as they looked fake to most people but I still liked the affect.

I say do what you like there your images and if you like the spikes experiment and enjoy.

[TrevorW]

Diffraction spikes are fake thats just the point they put in to make the image more impressive

[Gama]

Trevor, using your anology, then dont process any images. As they are ALL fake.:P
What is the real colors of the heavens ?, do you have a color chart of the nebulaes and galaxies etc. ?:shrug:.

Plus theres nothing "Fake" about them. The spikes are cause by an object in line with the light path. So wether its a spider (Secondary), or string is irrelavent. It is still inline with the light path and both do exactly what physics and science tells as it will do.
Using software will then be ragarded as fake, as this is artifitially made.

If the images wish to use this method, i see no big deal in it.

Theo

[toyos]

Adding diffraction spikes on purpose is like putting big heavy chrome wheels on your car, they're silly & useless (even make things worse in most cases) but some people like them anyway for show. So it's just a matter of taste.

Image processing improves the colour, contrast and so forth allowing us to see the structures better. In my opinion, you cannot compare that to adding unnecessary diffraction spikes. :)

Just my 2c

[luckyphil]

All that was asked was is it possible. The answer was given in the first couple of posts. Why do so many have so little to say about so much. Must be the weather. If you like them go ahead and enjoy using them. I think they look great.

Good Luck
Luckyphil

[TrevorW]

What I meant by fake was they are not a natural occurence in the true sense but artificial as you explained.

I didn't imply that they couldn't be used to improve the aesthetics of an image but no one was making a big deal of it I was only pointing out the obvious.

[Gama]

I dont think anyone took it as a big deal, and its better to read any posts rather than none.
But there is no "Natural occurance" of diffraction spike. I think you mean its a "Normal" occurance when using a plain spider with a secondary holder.

Anyway, as was said earlier, asked, answered.

Theo.

[monoxide]

ive always thought unless your imaging through something with a spider that makes the spikes it always looks very obvious in the final image, try to avoid adding spikes in software though because in most cases people tend to over do it and it just looks fake/ruins the image.

its all preference though i guess and if you are going to use fishing line id rough it up a bit with some sandpaper and spray it black first, ive noticed that clear fishing line tends to give very long rainbow coloured spikes and this can be distracting too.

either way, its nothing to get upset about or argue over.

[kinetic]

Matty,

I know of an amateur who uses kebab skewers held in place with
blu-tac to get spikes on his SCT photos.

I think he also uses them to get good focus on stars as well.

regards,
Steve B.

[cookie8]

I used rubber bands in front of my 3" refractor for this one & I love the effect. Spikes are only obvious over bright stars.:)

[leon]

Fake or not, I agree we Tony, they are your images, do as you please and if you like em, then that is all that counts.

Leon