Is there a plugin to add Star diffraction spikes in photoshop (on a Mac) - Forums

It probably has come up already in the forum, but I cannot seem to find it. Is there a plugin for photoshop that can add the star spikes on a Macbook and preferably is customisable?

And no, I dont want to tape wires to the scope

I think star spikes can sometimes make the image "sparkle" but don't like it always. I tried to use Seti Astro's Star Spike Tool in PI but can't seem to get it right - it looks like it gives me new stars in the Generated Stars and not diffracting all bright stars… (Maybe I am using it incorrectly)

Thanks!
Niels.

I'd jump on Seti Astro's discord and ask how to use his tool if you are having problems.

Yes, there is one. StarSpikes Pro 2

There's the astronomy tools action pack otherwise. https://www.prodigitalsoftware.com/AstronomyToolsActions.html

Rather than hang wires, why not make a removable cover with them?

I would recommend astronomy tools actions, as has been posted above. You use it with Photoshop CS2 (free). However, I'd suggest not use artificial spikes. Once you get used to stars without them, you'll like them a lot better.

Brandon Boss:
There's the astronomy tools action pack otherwise.

Do you have experience with this?

Brandon Boss:
There's the astronomy tools action pack otherwise.

Do you have experience with this?

Yeah. I used it back before I bought pixinsight. I never tried the diffraction spike tool though.

If you have access to a 3D printer you can print a diffraction spike mask. Might take some tinkering to fit your scope but it works.

print a diffraction spike mask

Thanks! I will do this later. I would just like to try to see how my image looks with some diffraction spikes, so I'm keeping to the software for now.

Yes, there is one. StarSpikes Pro 2

Not for Mac

With Newtoniano Skywatcher Quattro 250P you don't need software...

M44

To m'y knowledge there is no option for Mac. StarSpikes Pro 4 for Windows…

Nicola Beltraminelli:
To m'y knowledge there is no option for Mac. StarSpikes Pro 4 for Windows...

As stated above, and you can try it before you buy it to see if it will work for you. Windows only.

StarSpikes Pro 4 Plug-in by ProDigital Software

Nicola Beltraminelli:
To m'y knowledge there is no option for Mac.

That's what I was afraid of. Perhaps I need to install SAS as a final touch.

Brandon Boss:
There's the astronomy tools action pack otherwise.

Do you have experience with this?

The actions can be quite useful for someone who relies on Photoshop for processing. A lot can be done better, easier, in a program like PixInsight, for example. But it's a great action pack.

The star spikes aren’t good, though. But maybe that’s just my brain thinking of them relative to what real diffraction spikes look like.

Jonathan Paul:
If you have access to a 3D printer you can print a diffraction spike mask. Might take some tinkering to fit your scope but it works.

I did for fun this thing and it works very very fine.
Here the results:
https://app.astrobin.com/i/w5k465

https://cdn.astrobin.com/thumbs/fzdKrmog1P8I_2560x0_n1wMX-gx.jpg

And here my design: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5844733

"it looks like it gives me new stars in the Generated Stars and not diffracting all bright stars… " My experience as well. A lot of fake stars appeared!

Jeff Parke:
My experience as well. A lot of fake stars appeared!

Does anyone have experience with the SAS version the SST?

Michele Campini:
I did for fun this thing and it works very very fine.

Maybe a really stupid question, but I suppose SXT will remove the diffraction spikes along with the stars?

Michele Campini:
I did for fun this thing and it works very very fine.

Maybe a really stupid question, but I suppose SXT will remove the diffraction spikes along with the stars?

yes, it works fine.

Carboni's Tools have star spikes.

Yes, there is one. StarSpikes Pro 2

I use this too sometimes and it works great

I used the Carboni tools for Photoshop for a few years before I learned PixInsight. Windows & Mac compatible, and affordable: https://www.prodigitalsoftware.com/AstronomyToolsActions.html

Definitely make the spikes a layer that you blend with the original image -- they can come on a bit strong, but by blending with the original, they can look quite natural.

two very thin lengths of sewing thread held on by tiny strips of scotch tape.
Why go artificial when you can go au natural

https://www.astrobin.com/5gxm7j/