wbrogdo1
member
Reged: 05/21/08
Posts: 55
Loc: Lakeland, FL
|
|
I would like to know what the members here feel would be the best investment for my image processing.
Maxim DL, AstroArt or AIP4Win. The aip4win looks like it comes with a very thorough book that would explain all I needed to know. However the Maxim software may be more useful in the long run as well as astroart.
Just trying to keep from making a purchase on one that I wished I would have gotten another one down the road.
Thanks
--------------------
Canon 450D unmodded
Orion Atlas EQ-G
Orion XT-8 Dobsonian
Orion 6" imaging reflector
Nexstar 5SE (ota)
Meade ETX-60
Meade DSI color
Meade Webcam
---------------------
http://www.brogdon.ws/astronomy
|
DaemonGPF
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 1486
Loc: New Mexico
|
|
MaxIM DL is kinda well rounded for this since you can capture and edit within the same app. However, Paintshop or Photoshop will give you more post processing capability. There's also Registax and some other freebies out there that are fairly potent.
--------------------
-Josh
*Orion Starblast Imaging 150mm OTA
*Orion Starblast Imaging 114mm OTA
*Meade 50mm AR short tube OTA
*Meade DSI Pro IIc
*Orion Starshoot DSCI
*CG5 mount
http://cleardarksky.com/c/AlbuqNMkey.html
My Messier Project Gallery
|
sang33ta
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/08/08
Posts: 539
Loc: UK
|
|
Astrostax (stacking + auto aligning etc.)
Gimp (like a free photoshop for sharpen, contrast, saturation on your final image etc.)
both free.
--------------------
Hioptic 152mm f12.5 Maksutov
Celestron Advanced CG5-GT Mount (Mr Noisy!)
Meade 4000 Super Plossl Set
Casio QV-2900UX
Got fed up of waiting for Meade ETX-150 so put this together for £500/$1000
Edited by sang33ta (08/02/08 07:08 AM)
|
DaemonGPF
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 1486
Loc: New Mexico
|
|
iMerge is another freebie, used for mosaics and stacking.
--------------------
-Josh
*Orion Starblast Imaging 150mm OTA
*Orion Starblast Imaging 114mm OTA
*Meade 50mm AR short tube OTA
*Meade DSI Pro IIc
*Orion Starshoot DSCI
*CG5 mount
http://cleardarksky.com/c/AlbuqNMkey.html
My Messier Project Gallery
|
David Rosenthal
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/23/06
Posts: 1202
Loc: Midland Park, NJ
|
|
I use MAxim DL and Photoshop CS2 and love them both !
--------------------
David Rosenthal | Midland Park, NJ
My Image Gallery
LX90 8" + Feathertouch | Orion ED80 | WO ZS66SD
Orion SVP [SynScan + GPUSB]
Self Modded 400D | DSI Pro | SPC900NC
5000 26mm, Hyperion 17mm, TV 11mm
|
ericjacob613
Photon Hog
Reged: 05/25/07
Posts: 3078
Loc: Santa Barbara CA
|
|
Nebulosity and Photoshop CS.
|
Nils_Lars
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 991
Loc: Santa Cruz Mountains , CA
|
|
DSS , Nebulosity and Photoshop CS2
--------------------
Erik
Orion ED 80
Orion Atlas GOTO mount
Williams Optics reducer
Various eyepieces and other gear
Baytronix 80mm guidescope
Orion Starshoot Autoguider
PHD guide
Canon 400D (unmodded)
Stilleto Focuser
Tamron 75-300mm&28-80mm lenses
NexImage webcam
http://home.comcast.net/~eriknlarsen/site/?/photos/
|
AlanT
sage
Reged: 08/20/07
Posts: 271
Loc: 122º36' W, 47º37' N, WA USA
|
|
I bought the AIP4Win book and software. Mainly because I needed the education the book provided, and for the relatively low cost got software to boot. The software is very capable, but kinda geeky. I still use it to accomplish some tasks on virtually every image. I also use DSS, Nebulosity, PixInsight LE, and PS(E).
I haven't used it but I'm sure Maxim DL is more well rounded, but then there's the $$.
Since you have a Meade DSI, you have the Autostar suite, and Envisage for capture and stacking. If you don't have PS CS yet, my vote would be to first get PS CS. Use DSS if you wish to restack your images. Also, Nebulosity is also a very good capture and basic processing program at low cost.
I may eventually buy a more monolithic package like Maxim DL, but I don't regret getting AIP4Win, or the other software obtained or purchased. I've learned a lot figuring out how to process with the various packages.
Just my 0.02,
al
--------------------
Meade 80mm APO
Celestron C6
CGE, CG-5 GT
DSI Pro, DSI Pro II, ST-2000xcm
|
jay52
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/26/04
Posts: 2280
|
|
In order:
1.) Photoshop
2.) CCDStack
3.) MaxIm (might be higher if you needed acquisition software)
I once was a MaxIm user, but it started giving me too many troubles, so I use CCDSoft now. That, combined with CCDStack, covers the bases much better than MaxIm does alone.
You won't get much from AIP4win...just too dated and clunky.
Haven't used Astroart, so I can't speak to that.
--------------------
jay
www.allaboutastro.com
|
RandallK
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/10/06
Posts: 730
Loc: Nanaimo, B. C. Canada
|
|
Unless you have lots of spare cash, or a corporate "in", PhotoShop is close to the price of an 8" SCT OTA!. I purchased Corel's PaintShopPro PhotoX2 for $99 CDN. It's a little vague on instructions but if you search Amazon or Chapters, you'll find some companion tutorial books to help you out if you get stuck. I now find I can do layering and masking, create colour images from R, G, & B subframes as well. PhotoShop provides RGB "channels" in Corel, you have to manually create the channels.
--------------------
Scopes: Meade SC-8AT w UHTC
SkyWatcher 5" F/5 Reflector
SkyWatcher 127mm MAK
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Cameras: Orion Starshoot DS Colour Imager V.1
Imaging Source Webcam DMK21AU04.AS
Palm TX PDA w Astromist and Bluetooth wireles control.
|
Grouptele
super member
Reged: 08/11/07
Posts: 178
Loc: Qcy, IL
|
|
Quote:
I purchased Corel's PaintShopPro PhotoX2 for $99 CDN. It's a little vague on instructions but if you search Amazon or Chapters, you'll find some companion tutorial books to help you out if you get stuck.
Same here.
A fellow gazer recommended it, on the web, as a "poor man's Photoshop". I am not familiar with Photoshop, but I can say that the image adjustments possible with PSP-X improved my images greatly! About the only weakness I noticed was that it does not process .FIT files - unless later versions do so now.
For a total novice at image post-processing (e.g., that was me 2 years ago), it was a struggle to learn which PSP-X features were suitable for my CCD images, but third party tutorials and experimentation help along the way. Layers were particularly criptic to grasp, but have become a prime tool when squeezing those darned, faint DSO image details!
It has worked well for me.
Victor.
--------------------
C8-XLT, G5, AT66
EQ-G
Starshoot color CCD
Canon XS, unmod
SPC900NC webcam
|
DaemonGPF
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 1486
Loc: New Mexico
|
|
Paintshop is a great alternative, I've used it for years. Nowhere near as potent as Photoshop, but it can do all the basics just fine.
--------------------
-Josh
*Orion Starblast Imaging 150mm OTA
*Orion Starblast Imaging 114mm OTA
*Meade 50mm AR short tube OTA
*Meade DSI Pro IIc
*Orion Starshoot DSCI
*CG5 mount
http://cleardarksky.com/c/AlbuqNMkey.html
My Messier Project Gallery
|
wbrogdo1
member
Reged: 05/21/08
Posts: 55
Loc: Lakeland, FL
|
|
Thanks for all the input!!!
I was leaning toward the aip4win because of the book mainly.
It looked as though it would answer any questions I might have about imaging.
I know absolutely nothing about imaging and didn't want to buy something that I would outgrow after a few months. I would definately use the gimp and iris and such, but I need to learn what I need to do to the images before I can research how to do it.
--------------------
Canon 450D unmodded
Orion Atlas EQ-G
Orion XT-8 Dobsonian
Orion 6" imaging reflector
Nexstar 5SE (ota)
Meade ETX-60
Meade DSI color
Meade Webcam
---------------------
http://www.brogdon.ws/astronomy
|
killerwolf
sage
Reged: 01/10/08
Posts: 286
Loc: British Columbia, Canada
|
|
Quote:
Paintshop is a great alternative, I've used it for years. Nowhere near as potent as Photoshop, but it can do all the basics just fine.
i beg to differ no that one the new x2 seems to run faster and more efficiant on our window systems then photoshop which was made for macs originally. sure Photoshop has some features that the X2 doesnt but for the money diffrence and preformance id say X2 is a better peice of software. Another note is that the noise reducing algro is better on the X2 then CS3. ill see if i can find the article i have on it and scan it in.
now of course i dont have the cs3 pro version that runs for 600 bucks i have the student ed. for 200 i think it was when it first came out. And i use X2 now more then PS.
Point being if you dont have cs3 and the 800 X2 is a Awsome program as most here have pointed out. just wanted to let you know my option also so to help you make a more informed purchase.
--------------------
Skywatcher syncscan HEQ5 200mm 1000mm/f
Skywatcher 80mm/400mm short tube
Orion EON 72mm
DSI pro, and Olympus 330
|
SanDiegoPaul
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/22/05
Posts: 625
Loc: San Diego
|
|
Quote:
Thanks for all the input!!!
I was leaning toward the aip4win because of the book mainly.
It looked as though it would answer any questions I might have about imaging.
I know absolutely nothing about imaging and didn't want to buy something that I would outgrow after a few months. I would definately use the gimp and iris and such, but I need to learn what I need to do to the images before I can research how to do it.
WARNING! Unless you really enjoy HIGHLY TECHNICAL education, that book is tough. Sines, cosines, tangents and long algebraic equations are in every chapter.
And yes, the software is clunky & dated. If you use Vista it can be more of a challenge.
Functional? Sure. The best, no.
Images Plus! has a great following and is easier to use in my opine. It has a great stacking algorithm and can do enhancements many other programs dont/wont/cant. Not to mention an online Yahoo! Groups forum that provides almost instant answers to your questions.
Photoshop however is a must. Sure, you can use Gimp, PaintShop Pro or any number of free entries in the list. But all are lacking or imitating something that Adobe has done for years with Phototoshop. My recommendation is this:
Choose your stacking & basic editing software wisely. But don't waste much money on a final photo editing program. Just save up for Photoshop and you'll see why all other image editors fall short.
--------------------
Meade 10" Lx200-R with Moonlight SCT Focuser
Mitty Evolution Wedge
AT-80 Guide Scope
SBIG ST402ME CCD Imager
Canon Digital Rebel DSLR
Meade DSI-c CCD for Guiding
Please visit my gallery!
http://www.pbase.com/sandiegopaul/
|
DaemonGPF
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 1486
Loc: New Mexico
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
Paintshop is a great alternative, I've used it for years. Nowhere near as potent as Photoshop, but it can do all the basics just fine.
i beg to differ no that one the new x2 seems to run faster and more efficiant on our window systems then photoshop which was made for macs originally. sure Photoshop has some features that the X2 doesnt but for the money diffrence and preformance id say X2 is a better peice of software. Another note is that the noise reducing algro is better on the X2 then CS3. ill see if i can find the article i have on it and scan it in.
now of course i dont have the cs3 pro version that runs for 600 bucks i have the student ed. for 200 i think it was when it first came out. And i use X2 now more then PS.
Point being if you dont have cs3 and the 800 X2 is a Awsome program as most here have pointed out. just wanted to let you know my option also so to help you make a more informed purchase.
You're right, I didn't think about CS3 or X2, was just thinking plain basic PaintShop. And there's nothing wrong with it either, I use it more than any other IP application myself. Stretching and all of the sharpening and noise reduction features are very easy to use and potent. I find that dealing with histograms and other things, however, seem to be easier to do in other apps. But that is just personal opinion.
--------------------
-Josh
*Orion Starblast Imaging 150mm OTA
*Orion Starblast Imaging 114mm OTA
*Meade 50mm AR short tube OTA
*Meade DSI Pro IIc
*Orion Starshoot DSCI
*CG5 mount
http://cleardarksky.com/c/AlbuqNMkey.html
My Messier Project Gallery
|
cnstarz
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/22/07
Posts: 538
Loc: Kentucky, USA
|
|
Don't forget to investigate what you've got with the Autostar Image Processing, It's basic but usable.
--------------------
Matt
Apogee 50mm BB scope
ETX-60 BB
Meade 70-az
5" DIY Newt (wip)
C6-N on CG-4 GEM
Gallery
|
jay52
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/26/04
Posts: 2280
|
|
Inevitably, people eventually purchase Photoshop. They start out with something else, in order save money, but then always crack down and end up buying the "real thing."
Rightfully so...it's great software, and it's worth the money. In fact, it's more valuable then a lot of the hardware we think we need.
My advice has always been, that if you can't afford a recent version of Photoshop, then purchase an older, used version. You can find version 7 on eBay quite cheap, and it'll be all you really need until you get to a certain point, likely years away. But the advantage is that you'll be learning PS early on, so any upgrades in the future will be without the big learning curve.
Similiarly, much of how we communicate image processing in this type of imaging is done through PS, using various screen shots and terminologies. So, after a while, you can utilize the software more practically, with a ready set of tutorials and processes (like Noel Carboni's Astronomy Tools Actions), ready for your experimentation.
--------------------
jay
www.allaboutastro.com
|
karlpenney
member
Reged: 01/04/07
Posts: 92
Loc: Halifax, NS
|
|
I think levels and curves in PS 7 operate in 16-bit mode. But are there things we might want to do that are limited to 8-bit in PS 7?
--------------------
Karl
Antares 8" DOB
SV NHNG 80mm
Celestron C8
Vixen GP-DX
Canon 350D
|
jay52
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/26/04
Posts: 2280
|
|
Well, until CS, that was the main issue. You had to do most everything in 8-bit. But really, as a beginner, that's no big deal. I'm sure many people would love to be able to call the 8-bit JPEGS on my website their own.
It's takes a LONG time to be good enough where something like that matters.
--------------------
jay
www.allaboutastro.com
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: 