PIMagic for PixInsight and Photoshop Users - Forums

Topic starter

Jan 4, 2026

I came across this tool a few days before its launch, which appears to have been in early January 2026.

Intro video:
https://youtu.be/AmfaJXUuuWY?si=lm9TwX99tRnjiISU

More information here:
https://pimagicstudio.com/

PIMagic is essentially a workflow automation tool designed to speed up common post-processing tasks. There is one set of tools for PixInsight and another for Photoshop. The stated aim is to remove some of the repetitive work involved in astrophotography processing, allowing you to spend more time on the creative steps.

I have not purchased it myself, but after watching the intro video it actually inspired me to move part of my processing back into Photoshop. I had forgotten how flexible and non-destructive levels, curves, and colour adjustments can be there when used well.

I thought this might be worth mentioning for anyone who finds PixInsight’s adjustment controls or overall complexity frustrating at times. One thing to note is that PIMagic relies on several other tools from the RC Astro collection, so it is not entirely standalone.

Hopefully useful for anyone considering ways to streamline their workflow.

Well Written Concise

Mikołaj Wadowski

Jan 4, 2026

The Pixinsight part looks like yet another tool that will lead to fried images…

Automatic gradient extraction? Will lead to artifacts, extracted nebulosity/galactic halos. This is something you NEED manual supervision for.

Automatic blurx? Sometimes you might not need blurx at all since your target is very diffuse or faint, and often you need to be careful not to overdo it and turn your galaxy into a bunch of worms. It’s not like there’s a golden setting that will work on any image.

Automatic denoise? Same as blurx. I’m assuming it just blasts the image with denoise at 100% on default? If so, that’s awful, there are enough overdenoised images as is.

Stretching is also something you should do manually but I guess the idea here is to do that in PS after some kind of autostretch. Which btw I believe they use unlinked STF from what I gather from the tooltip… which just defeats the purpose of calibrating the colors in the first place.

The only step I agree can be done automatically is SPCC. The rest is just pointless in my opinion. I see there’s an advanced mode which presumably allows for the exact same controls as the standalone tools, but as I said, most of them would require you to check the result after each step.

The Photoshop part looks actually neat on the other hand, though I can’t really tell how useful it is because I don’t use Photoshop very often. The automatic import looks like a great QoL.

Helpful Insightful Engaging

Ed Defesche

Jan 26, 2026

I agree with you, from stacked data to stretched data, there are many intermediate steps that, in my opinion, shouldn't be automated.

There are so many choices in the (sub)processes with various settings that, when automated, won't be optimal compared to what you normally do to achieve a result you like.

I really don't think over-automating is desirable, but that's just my own opinion on such matters.

Well Written

Rainer Ehlert

Jan 26, 2026

Hi,

I have been watching this video a few times trying to understand it…

Are not mistakes there for getting experience ?

I am by no means an expert in PixInsight, still make a lot of mistakes but once I have made them many times I do not make it again but make new mistakes …

I am 72 and still learning day by day with the help of the input I get from my fellow amateur astronomers in the spanish speaking forum Astroforo…. We are just a handful of amateurs there but we have a good communication and criticism is not misunderstood between us.

At the beginning I struggled with PixInsight but after many trials I have now a workflow and it takes the same time as if I push everything trough WBPP, which BTW has given me worse results then my manual workflow.

The best so far is MAS MultiscaleAdaptiveStretch, which took me away from a lot of headaches about the stretching process.

JOKE: “Soon we will have a software where we just put in everything, even our telescope, mounts, etc. and it will read our mind and Magically we will get an IoD or an APOD 🤣🤣🤣” JUST KIDDING

📷 image.png

Ed Defesche

Jan 26, 2026

I'm also an astrophotographer from the '53 era, and perhaps a bit "old-fashioned," but isn't keeping your brain active just as necessary as moving your body? Especially when you're starting to get older?

I've been hearing the song "in the year 25 25" more and more often these past few years ;-)

Well Written Respectful Engaging

Emmanuel Valin

Jan 26, 2026

’Linked to Pi Magic Studio, I highly recommend this channel:

https://m.youtube.com/@utahdesertremoteobservator8328