Emanuele
Lord of the Ring
Reged: 11/19/03
Posts: 4967
Loc: almost Colorado
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Anybody has the Zone System for Astro Imaging?
Just wanted to know some opinions!
Thank you!
E.
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http://www.backyardskies.com
TEC140 #393 --- Vixen VC200L w/FeatherTouch --- Takahashi EM400
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dlock
member
Reged: 07/26/08
Posts: 77
Loc: Tucson, AZ, USA
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Interesting question, Emanuele.
I've thought that Ansel Adam's zone system became outdated with the development of the histogram and the refinement of digital photography - especially live histograms on the camera (not so much for astrophotography), and during postprocessing (development) on the computer. The histograme is a practically a continuous measure of a zone continuum.
Such comments seem to anger some people, unfortunately. Perhaps they also betray my ignorance?
I'd love to hear opinions, too. Though, I suspect that any zone system for astrophotography would almost necessarily be done postprocess.
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jilldwr
super member
Reged: 02/17/06
Posts: 151
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Hi Emanuele,
Yes, I have "the zone system" by Ron Wodaski. It's a very good book with an accompanying CD with all the pictures for you to practice along with the book. A friend in our local club purchased the book but didn't get the CD with it. apparently there are supply issues with the CD. After much complaining, he was sent a home burn of the CD.
That being said, I found the book to offer a complete strategy to astro image processing regardless of the type of target. I now know what to do and in what order to do it in. I had purchased "Photoshop Astronomy" previous to this and was less impressed with this book. It showed you the tools and how to use them but offered no complete strategy on how to process , what order to process etc. After reading the Zone System, Photoshop Astronomy made much more sense.
If I had to buy just one book for Astro Image Processing, it would be the Zone System.
JM2CW
DW
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Celestron C8/ 90mm Flourite Triplet/6"F5 Newt-Astrograph/WO66
Losmandy GM100/ Custom Designed GEM
Orion Autoguider/ Canon 350T DSLR/ Stiletto Focuser
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Emanuele
Lord of the Ring
Reged: 11/19/03
Posts: 4967
Loc: almost Colorado
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Thanks Dw!
Appreciate your opinion!
I have A guide to Astrophotography with a Digital SLR camera, but it does not focus much on how to post-process the images! It has a section on it, but also talks about how to image, the setup, and so forth!
I just need something focused on photoshop processing!
Thanks!
E.
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http://www.backyardskies.com
TEC140 #393 --- Vixen VC200L w/FeatherTouch --- Takahashi EM400
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Yedgy
sage
Reged: 07/22/08
Posts: 457
Loc: Phoenix, AZ, USA
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Thanks for bringing this up, Emanuele. I've been reading the same DSLR book and am hungry for more info on the finer points of IP beyond curves & levels. I initially held off on buying it because I read several reports of the CD not being available. Why don't they just bind the CD into the back of the book like so many computer books do?
Edit: By "IP" I mean image processing, not Images Plus.
Tony
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The Universe is an awesome place. I'm glad I live here.- Takahashi FS-60CB
- HyperTuned Atlas EQ-G
- Mountain Instruments MI-8P pier
- Spectrum-Enhanced Canon EOS 450D
Edited by Yedgy (12/10/08 07:04 PM)
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MartyT
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/28/07
Posts: 682
Loc: Kansas City
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I've had Wodaski's Zone Sytem book since it first came out early this year and it's become essentially my image processing "bible".
If you use Photoshop for image processing, the book is definitely worth the money.
http://www.newastro.com/zone/
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Celestron CGE / C-11 (CGE-1100)
Megrez 90 FD APO / 0.8x FR/FF vIII
QHY8, 350D, DSI Pro, SPC900NC
KWIQ Guider (QHY5)
ETX-125AT
12" Lightbridge
My Astrophoto Gallery
Astronomical Society of Kansas City
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Paul Romero
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/05/05
Posts: 757
Loc: Reno, NV
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Hi guys,
The DSLR's section on Images Plus pre-processing is a powerful chapter. In 30 minutes or less, you get 90% of your processing done almost automatically. The Zone system is more for gourmet types, where the artistry of using Photoshop to perfect the photos is used.
clear skies,
Paul
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Good As New MI-250 Refurb
'nough said
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Elliott108
member
Reged: 11/11/05
Posts: 31
Loc: Netherlands
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Hi all,
Just a word of support for Photoshop Astronomy. I had absolutely no background in PS, and it took me a while, but now I have the same feeling about post-proc as jilldwr.
I'm not saying anything at all neg about Zone, because I haven't read it, so I can't comment on that. But I do know that I have a repeatable procedure for post-processing that I thought would never come. I've learned a tremendous amount from it. And now I can relax about the post-processing. It's something I can be creative with. So I want to say how much I appreciate that book. Again, nothing neg about Zone, just my own experience with PS Astron.
good luck,
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regards,
Elliott
TMB 100mm f/8
A&M 80mm f/7.5
Mount = 10Micron GM2000
Canon 40D
SBIG ST-402
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Elliott108
member
Reged: 11/11/05
Posts: 31
Loc: Netherlands
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PS - Emanuele, your shots look very nice and detailed. I'm not sure what more help you need. With the images you get, why do you need more instruction?
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regards,
Elliott
TMB 100mm f/8
A&M 80mm f/7.5
Mount = 10Micron GM2000
Canon 40D
SBIG ST-402
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Emanuele
Lord of the Ring
Reged: 11/19/03
Posts: 4967
Loc: almost Colorado
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Thanks all!
Well, I cannot use Images PLus because I'm not a Mac. I wish there was a OSX port for it!
Elliot: I'm not sure, but I feel that I need some more directions! Thank you for your kind comments on my images though! Maybe I don't need instructions but I'm at a perfectionist at this, already, and I'd like to know everything I can!
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http://www.backyardskies.com
TEC140 #393 --- Vixen VC200L w/FeatherTouch --- Takahashi EM400
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rdaskins
member
Reged: 07/28/07
Posts: 23
Loc: Warsaw, KY USA
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Emanuele, you say you cannot use Images Plus because you are not a Mac. IP is designed for Windows operating systems. See www.mlunsold.com
Bob
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Emanuele
Lord of the Ring
Reged: 11/19/03
Posts: 4967
Loc: almost Colorado
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oh shoot!  I meant to say that I am on a Mac! 
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http://www.backyardskies.com
TEC140 #393 --- Vixen VC200L w/FeatherTouch --- Takahashi EM400
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