After capturing stunning images of the cosmos, it’s time to turn them into works of art with post-processing and editing.
When shooting astrophotography, it’s essential to capture your images in RAW format. This format retains all the image data and provides the most flexibility in post-processing. With Adobe Lightroom or Lightroom Classic, you can easily import your RAW files and begin editing.
One of the first steps in post-processing is to correct color issues that may have occurred during capture. Light pollution can create a yellow or orange cast, while moonlight can create a blue cast. Use the White Balance tool in Lightroom or Lightroom Classic to adjust the color temperature and tint of your image.
Astrophotography images often require specialized editing techniques to bring out the detail and color in the cosmos. In Lightroom or Lightroom Classic, adjust the Clarity, Dehaze, and Texture sliders to enhance detail in the stars and nebulae. Use the Vibrance and Saturation sliders to bring out the colors in the image.
For more advanced editing, Adobe Photoshop is the go-to tool for astrophotography. Techniques such as layer masking, blending modes, and luminosity masking can help you create stunning images with precise control.
Sometimes a single image isn’t enough to capture the vastness of the cosmos. With Adobe Photoshop, you can create composite images and panoramas that provide a wider view of the universe. Use the Photomerge tool to stitch together multiple images into a panorama, or create a composite image of star trails by stacking multiple images.
Finally, there are several plugins and other tools that can enhance your astrophotography editing workflow. ProPanel is a plugin for Photoshop that provides a customizable workspace for astrophotography editing. Nik Collection by DxO is a suite of plugins that includes specialized tools for noise reduction, sharpening, and color adjustments.
Here’s links to some plugins for future reference:
- ProPanel – https://www.propanel.io/
- GradientXterminator – https://www.rc-astro.com/resources/software/gradientxterminator/
- Starry Landscape Stacker – https://starrylandscapestacker.com/
- Nik Collection by DxO – https://nikcollection.dxo.com/
- Topaz Labs – https://topazlabs.com/
Note that some of these plugins are paid, while others offer free trials or have limited free versions available. It’s worth exploring and testing out different plugins to see which ones work best for your individual workflow and editing needs.