[AZ-Observing] Re: [EVAC] SW to Process and Stack Digital Images

Hi Jim
There is a good amount of information reported from time to time on the 
VideoAstro group:
videoastro@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
This group caters to folks who are interested in doing imaging on the 
cheap, but with more sophisticated equipment than web cams (there is 
another group for that!)

AstroStack is a good program:
http://www.astrostack.com/

Also, Registax seems to be a popular program, as well:
http://aberrator.astronomy.net/registax/

IRIS is a French astro imaging software package developed by Christian 
Buil and the AUDE group (web pages are available in English)
http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/

This page gives some reviews of the popular software packages:
http://www.astroimaging.com/Resources.htm#Process%20Links

For people just starting out, I usually recommend Richard Berry's 
excellent book, "Astronomical Image Processing for Windows" or AIP4WIN, 
which is available from Willmann-Bell. The 660-page text covers the 
subject VERY thoroughly, BUT in Richard's usual readable style. (Richard 
is the former Editor of Astronomy magazine, and Telescope Making 
magazine, and several other books on the Cookbook CCD camera and astro 
image processing.) You don't have to be a Quantum Physicist to read this 
book! Right now it is undergoing major revision, and the update may not 
be available for a little while. And the book comes with companion the 
AIP4WIN software suite,a ful-featured image processing package, which 
includes over 500 images - raw data, darks, and flat fields - to 
experiment with, so you don't even need a CCD cam or telescope to get 
started! For about $80, the text and software is a huge bargain, and 
does stacking (including "stack and track", in which software macros 
re-align your pictures and then stack and process them 
semi-automatically) and other easy-to-learn features, similar to the 
much more expensive Maxim DL (by Douglas George, a fine program), or 
Photoshop or many of the other more specialized packages.

AIP4WIN by Richard Berry and Jim Burnell from Willmann-Bell Books, about 
$80:
http://www.willbell.com/aip/index.htm

Here is the URL for Maxim DL from Diffraction Limited/Cyanogen Productions
http://www.cyanogen.com/

Good luck, I hope you will report on your experiences.
Gene Lucas
Fountain Hills
(17250)

Jim Waters wrote:

> EVAC, AZ-Observing;
>
> I recently got a Canon 5MP digital camera and am looking for SW to 
> process and stack digital images. I don’t want to spend a lot of money 
> for the SW so what are my options? I have looked at RegiStax, 
> ImagesPlus and some others. What’s the best SW for under $100.00.
>
> Jim
>
> EVAC
>

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