This section deals with producing a single image from images captured. See the Planetary Processing section for Video.
Pixinsight
PixInsight is an advanced image processing software platform designed specifically for astrophotography. It covers the entire post process range from stacking, calibration; integration and the most complete suite of image processing functions. Plugins can be used to enhance its capability further. It has developed a reputation for having a steep learning curve. This is slightly unfair as if the user sticks to core functionality it is straightforward to use. YTou dson’t need a stackere like DSS.
Startools
A low cost comprehensive processing system that is easy to use. Menu icons follow a recommended workflow making it straightforward to process an images quickly using defaulkt settings. Startools uses an imasge set from a stacker like DSS (below). StarTools is a new type of image processing application for astrophotography that tracks signal and noise propagation. Stasrtools website provides comprehernsive tutorials and help asrticles so a beginner can produce excellent results quickly.
Deep Sky Stacker (DSS)
A freeware for astrophotographers that simplifies all the pre-processing steps of deep sky pictures.: Registering; Stacking’ calibratiion
“After a shooting night you give all your pictures (light frames, darks frames, offset/bias frames, flat frames) to DeepSkyStacker and you go to bed. The next morning (or is it afternoon?) you can see the result and start post-processing.”
Astro Pixel Processor (“APP”)
A complete Deep Sky Image processing application that includes a stacker. Paid for, runs on Windows, Linux, Mac
Photoshop
If you already own Photoshop and are familiar with it, then it makes sense to use it. There are a variety of specialised plugins to add functionality. Often used at the end of a workflow in other systems to make final enhancements.
Siril
Siril is a free astronomical image processing tool for Linux, Windows & Mac. It is tailored for noise reduction and improving the signal/noise ratio of an image from multiple captures, as required in astronomy. Siril can align automatically or manually, stack and enhance pictures from various file formats, even image sequence files (films and SER files).