Astro Photography

Jun 3, 2016 15:18:25 GMT Inspeqtor said:

I am just getting into Astro Photography and need to re-learn how to use certain details about Photoshop Elements.  I have versions 11 and 13

Charles,

We could use more information. With which techniques do you need help? Increasing contrast? Reducing saturation? Doing B&W conversion using the color channels? There is too much ground to cover. It may be a good idea to address one issue at a time.

Jun 3, 2016 15:18:25 GMT Inspeqtor said:

I also have some of Topaz's products, but they are not installed currently so I would need help with those also:

Adjust, Detail, DeNoise, InFocus, Lens Effect, and ReMask - I also have their B&W Effects, but don't know why I would want that used on star pictures.

What kind of help do you need? Help with installation issues? Troubleshooting? Using these plug-ins? There are lots of tutorials on the Topaz site as well as current and archived Webinars. There is also information on how to use their products posted on their Discussion forum and blog.

BTW, we have an Other Software board. You may want to post your inquiry on the Topaz products in that board so that it will get the attention it deserves.

Charles,

If you haven't used Elements lately and (as you say) you have no clue how to go about editing these images, you will need to get back to the basics of using Elements. Do you have a copy of Barbara Brundage's The Missing Manual? It would be a start.

As far as specific tutorials to work with the kinds of photos you are talking about . . .  you may want to check this.  www.astropix.com/HTML/J_DIGIT/DIGTECHS.HTM

And here is a forum specializing in the processing of astrophotos.  www.astronomyforum.net/astro-imaging-forum/

As to which Topaz plug-ins to use, I can think of more than one which would fit the bill (Adjust, Detail, Denoise, B&W Effects). I really recommend you post in the Topaz Discussion forum. They will be better qualified to advise you.

Jun 3, 2016 15:18:25 GMT Inspeqtor said:

I have a new friend on the internet helping me what I need to learn about Astro Photography.  He has taken one of my photos and enhanced it (using IrfanView) to show me what I really got.

He increased the contrast and adjusted the Gamma, then reduced the saturation to reduce the red. He also reduced the red and increased the blue to get rid of some of the reddish cast due to the light pollution.

Jun 4, 2016 3:09:25 GMT Inspeqtor said:

I have used PSE so little lately I have no clue how to do any of what I mentioned in my first post that my friend did for me.... increasing contrast, adjusting gamma (I don't know what that is), reducing saturation, . . .

Charles,

I looked more into this issue. If you want to do in Elements the kind of editing your friend did in IrfanView, you could try some of these techniques.

Increase contrast:

Use a Levels or Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer.

You could also use Color Curves (Enhance>Adjust Color>Adjust Color Curves). However, this is a rather restricted version of Photoshop's Curves, with a simplified dialog box, a few preset settings, and not as many adjustment points.

As a side note, you can use an add-on to provide Elements with a more substantial Curves tool.  Ex.:  Grant's Tools or Elements+.

Gamma value:

This can be found in the dialog for the Levels adjustment layer. You can use the gray triangle input slider to adjust the midtones (gamma values).  The default gamma value is 1.0.   Drag the triangle to the left to lighten the midtones and drag it to the right to darken them (or just enter a value).

Reduce/increase saturation (Reds and Blues):

You can use a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and target the Reds and the Blues channel by selecting them in the Channel box. 

And for more help with Elements . . .

You may want to check the resources listed in the thread below. Most of the information also applies to Elements 11 and 13 (the versions you have).

www.photoshopelementsandmore.com/thread/1324/photoshop-elements-14-resources

This thread in the Adobe forum contains the links to download the manual/user guides for Elements 11 and 13.

forums.adobe.com/message/4349134