Processing Software

mick pinner · #1 24-10-2009, 09:48 PM

l would like some recommendations on the best astro imaging software for deep space photos please. thanks.

Bassnut (Fred) · #2 24-10-2009, 09:58 PM

For DSLRs, Images Plus, hands down.
For CCDs, CCD stack, hands down.

Free stuff, I dont know, but you get what you pay for.

mick pinner · #3 24-10-2009, 10:16 PM

thanks Fred, does anyone in Aus sell it.

h0ughy (David) · #4 24-10-2009, 10:35 PM

mick it depends - I am really warming to pixinsight, i have images plus and astroart 4. there is nebulousity 2 and maxim - depends on what camera you are using and what you want to do.....

Bassnut (Fred) · #5 24-10-2009, 10:37 PM

No, IP is sent via post, but cheaply and fairly quick. CCD stack can be downloaded over the net with a free trial.

Astrobserver99 (Rob) · #6 26-10-2009, 02:11 AM

For free stuff, I like EOS Utilities Remote Capture/Live View and Deep Sky Stacker for processing. General image editing software, such as PS or Corel completes the package.

Commercial - I also like Images Plus, AstroArt or MaximDL

Octane (Humayun) · #7 26-10-2009, 02:34 AM

IRIS is free and does everything. If you enjoy typing commands, rather than clicking on buttons, IRIS is it.

Regards,
Humayun

bojan · #8 04-11-2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Free stuff, I dont know, but you get what you pay for.

That is not true.
Iris, DSS etc are the proof.

Bassnut (Fred) · #9 04-11-2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bojan

That is not true.
Iris, DSS etc are the proof.

OK, well, Mike Sidonio uses Iris I think, seems to do the trick, I may well be wrong, I havent tried it.

h0ughy (David) · #10 04-11-2009, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassnut

OK, well, Mike Sidonio uses Iris I think, seems to do the trick, I may well be wrong, I havent tried it.

i think he uses astroart

Terry B · #11 04-11-2009, 01:15 PM

Thers are processed with iris
http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/gallery/index1.htm
Not too bad really.

bojan · #12 04-11-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry B

Thers are processed with iris
http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/gallery/index1.htm
Not too bad really.

Not at all :-)

The only thing I was missing at the beginning (and I still do as a matter of fact, but less and less as I am using it more often) is a library of most commonly used scripts... with them, Iris would easily eclipse any other software (with button-oriented MMI)
Otherwise, it is an awesome piece of software.

Octane (Humayun) · #13 04-11-2009, 04:55 PM

IRIS for life.

I can't believe it's free. For instance, there's no need to pay $200 for Registar.

Regards,
Humayun

bojan · #14 04-11-2009, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

IRIS for life.

I can't believe it's free. For instance, there's no need to pay $200 for Registar.

Regards,
Humayun

Amateurs for amateurs principle

At it's best

Bassnut (Fred) · #15 05-11-2009, 07:37 PM

Registar is whole different kettle of fish apparently. I heard from Marc last night, it can align anything, different FLs, rotation etc, and unlike other apps, can not only move, rotate, and scale, but "warp" subs to fit.

AlexN · #16 05-11-2009, 07:48 PM

The warp is the kicker there too Fred.. I have two images that MaximDL can't align despite the fact that they were taken at the same focal length and resolution.. This is because the object was framed fairly differently in the two shots, and as a result, there is a very slight element of field curvature in the OSC data, but not in the Ha data. This does MaximDL's head in...

As for the question at hand...

I use:

MaximDL or CCDSoft (depending on the day) : for Capture, Guiding, Stacking, Calibration and pre-processing (DDP, Deconvolution)

Photoshop CS4 : for post processing (stretching, sharpening, contrast enhancements and the like.. Oh, and for removing those pesky stars from images...)

Octane (Humayun) · #17 05-11-2009, 08:05 PM

IRIS does all this.

Regards,
Humayun

AlexN · #18 05-11-2009, 08:14 PM

Just looked at IRIS, Yeeeaaahh.. Reminds me of my Linux days.... Rather not..

Octane (Humayun) · #19 05-11-2009, 11:11 PM

Don't judge a book by its cover.

Everything you can do from the command line can be done from the menus.

Anyway, it produces the results. And, doesn't cost a cent.

Even if Christian decided to charge money for it, I'd buy it. It is simply the most powerful all-in-one application I know of.

Regards,
Humayun

jase (Jason) · #20 06-11-2009, 05:15 AM

There is no one size fits all.

I often find myself pushing data in and out of different processing applications to obtain the desired result. What is important here is that regardless of the chosen application, you need to have a solid understanding of what its doing to your data. Understanding what tool, when to use it and what its doing is half the battle in the processing work flow.

Stick with one or two applications and get to know them inside out.