Anyways To Process Galaxy Images Without Photoshop?

Siril is free, has everything you need, and easy to use

okay, I have some idea:

1. Autostretch

2. ColorCalibration, select a small area with few stars, press "use current selection", then, press "background neutralization"

3a. Background Extraction, just put some sample boxes around the object(s), not on them, and also try to avoid putting them on stars; you'll need to experiment with the settings to get the right results for your specific image; and I usually never would use Division, but that's only me.

3b. just in case, I would do another ColorCalibration after that, but this is optional

4. go back to Linear

4b. from here, you can either stretch the image, crop out the edges, maybe add some saturation, and call it finished, or you can go further with the next step

5. go to Image Processing –> Star Processing –> StarNet Star Removal, check the "Pre-stretch linear image" box and the "Generate star mask" box; press Execute; this will separate the stars from the deep sky object(s)

make sure you know your working directory (the blue icon at the top left, with the house; this will be the place your files will go)

6. you'll be left with a Starless image; proceed with stretching as much as you think fit (you can find the stretching processes in the Image Processing menu, at the top)

6b. increase/decrease saturation if you want

7. save that image as 16 bit TIFF

8. go to Image Processing –> Star Processing –> Star Recomposition; for the section labeled "Background Stretch Parameters" open your starless image, and for the section labeled "Star Stretch Parameters", use your Stars image; now, you'll see a Starless image show up with a few stars; if you want, you could increase the Black Point of the Starless a little, but now you need to stretch the stars; stretch the stars carefully; you'll see the stars pop out now; now press Apply on both sections

10. close Star Recomposition, and crop edges if necessary; save completed image as Jpeg, or whatever you want

this should be it


plz understand that my Siril workflow is basic and my memory is rusty; I haven't used Siril in months

Nebula photos on YouTube has a great beginner tutorial just using siril.
Great results in 15 minutes

Tony Gondola:
RANT ALERT!!!!

I really wish that a lot of these tutorials wouldn't be so software specific. Most processes can be described in general terms. That way you can apply the principals in whatever software you are using be it GIMP, Photoshop, Affinity Photo etc...

MESSAGE ENDS

What I would prefer is that Photoshop doesn't need to be purchased. Cause, for me, it is the only software that has everything I need, and I don't have to go over other software to another one to process that or process this. It's so frustrating and a waste of time.

There's no need to rent Photoshop at all, period.

I think a lot of people feel as I do because there are alternatives that are much cheaper or free. $120 might not seem like much but it does add up. I also think it's a bad direction for software marketing in general. It just rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

Affinity is a layer based editor just like Photoshop, and you buy it once and no subscription.

my version of Affinity cost me $50 in the sale, and has cost me absolutely nothing since.

the James Ritson Astrophotography Macros, are designed by Affinity Product experts, and are available for free download.

 anyone who is familiar with PS can easily transition to Affinity, because the functionality is very very similar.

I say all this because I feel that Affinity was the best $50 I ever spent, on anything to do with AP.

I've never used photoshop to process my astro images.  PixInsight is much better, especially if you learn to use it and not the myriad of scripts being pushed..  Good luck.  This hiobby isn't for everyone as it's not free or cheap .

Monty Chandler:
I've never used photoshop to process my astro images.  PixInsight is much better, especially if you learn to use it and not the myriad of scripts being pushed..  Good luck.  This hiobby isn't for everyone as it's not free or cheap .

It's not free or cheap but it doesn't have to be inordinately expensive either....