Processing tips for moon composite

Adobe Photoshop HDR Processing How-to Moon
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Paul Sanfilippo avatar
Paul Sanfilippo avatar

Hi Guys,

I’ve been playing around with blending each of correctly-exposed (for the ‘light’ side) and over-exposed (for the ‘dark’ side) moon images in an attempt to create a composite in the style of many of the lunar images that appear on AB and also in these YT videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJo46Jik8j0&list=PLFVtYO6sSPEKJuruiOh6ptzkKftcUk58R&index=2&t=84s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isIU_-QVKmc&list=PLFVtYO6sSPEKJuruiOh6ptzkKftcUk58R&index=1&t=493s

I have reasonable working knowledge of Photoshop.

In both videos the main blending technique is to use a gradient mask, but for the life of me I cannot get a reasonably seamless transition (from light to dark) like they seem to do so easily. The attached screenshot shows the kind of blend I end up with.

📷 screenshot_473.pngscreenshot_473.pngI have tried adjusting the gradient length and centre point, as well as trying to adjust the exposure of the bright image down using a luminance mask.

I’m wondering where the issues are? Is it my images - especially the overexposed - is there just too much white clipping and that makes the transition harsh? Should I have exposed for less time? (but then the darker side would be darker still). Or are PS skills just lacking?

Could anyone with good post-processing skills in an image editor give me some advice?

The two images were taken with my Fuji X-T20 attached to a ZWO FF130 (1000 mm focal length). ISO 640 for each. Exposure time - 1/500 sec and 0.8 sec. If you are interested in having a look at the images and seeing what you can come up with (which would be really appreciated - they are located here):

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vPiPyNvrQPjE60uBch61WHl8OcQsspY_?usp=sharing

Thanks,

Paul

Well written Respectful Engaging
Spacey avatar
Spacey avatar

Hi there, that’s a fun problem you have. Let me preface this by saying I am not an advanced PI user and don’t have the experience with the advice I’m about to give but I’m giving it anyway. I would try to integrate a blur effect between the transition, either on a mask, or the images. I have seen this applied on masks in videos to ease transitions and its where i can think to start.

Tony Gondola avatar
Tony Gondola avatar

I’ve done a lot of lunar mosaics and the process is simple. Use a camera with good dynamic range, Use proper lucky imaging techniques, expose for the highlights and let the shadows fall where they may. Use something like Microsoft ICE to make the mosaic and process with the usual lunar/planetary sharping tools.

It seems like you’re making it needlessly complicated.

Well written Concise
Paul Sanfilippo avatar
Paul Sanfilippo avatar

Tony Gondola · Apr 25, 2026 at 03:18 PM

I’ve done a lot of lunar mosaics and the process is simple. Use a camera with good dynamic range, Use proper lucky imaging techniques, expose for the highlights and let the shadows fall where they may. Use something like Microsoft ICE to make the mosaic and process with the usual lunar/planetary sharping tools.

It seems like you’re making it needlessly complicated.

Fair enough. You might be right. I do like the pseudo-HDR look of these types of images and wanted to give it a go. The problem with me is that when I strike difficulty I have trouble giving up 😀

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