Transform your astrophotos using image processing

Much of the work on an astro image takes place after it’s been captured, Charlotte Daniels introduces the software, techniques and adjustments for beginners

Introducing the best software tips and techniques for beginners

Astrophotography is a steep learning curve for everyone, with lots of questions to consider. What kind of images do you want to capture? What kind of equipment do you have (and what sort do you need)? What are the best camera settings to use? Then there’s the late nights to consider, the time required and of course the weather. Yet astrophotography is a labour of love and when it goes right, it can be extremely rewarding.

While the logistics of imaging are one set of challenges, knowing what to do with the data in the morning is another. This is where image processing

– enhancing a digital image to improve its visual appeal with computer programs like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP – comes in. It’s a major part of an astrophotographer’s skill set, and here we’re going to take a beginner’s look at the software needed and what to do with it to achieve great results on nightscapes, planetary photography and deep-sky images.

Astro makeover: get to grips with processing techniques and give your night sky images an uplift

Charlotte Daniels is an amateur astronomer, astrophotographer and journalist