StarStaX
StarStaX is a fast multi-platform image stacking and blending software, which allows to merge a series of photos into a single image using different blending modes. It is developed primarily forStar Trail Photography where the relative motion of the stars in consecutive images creates structures looking like star trails. Besides star trails, it can be of great use in more general image blending tasks, such as light painting, noise reduction, or synthetic exposure enlargement.
StarStaX has advanced features such as interactive gap-filling and can create an image sequence of the blending process which can easily be converted into great looking time-lapse videos. Check out the StarStaX Flickr Group for some great photos created using StarStaX!
StarStaX is available as a download for Mac OS X and Windows. How to adobe photoshop cs6 for mac. It is free to download and free to use for any purpose, including commercial projects.
StarStaX has advanced features such as interactive gap-filling and can create an image sequence of the blending process which can easily be converted into great looking time-lapse videos. Check out the StarStaX Flickr Group for some great photos created using StarStaX!
StarStaX is available as a download for Mac OS X and Windows. How to adobe photoshop cs6 for mac. It is free to download and free to use for any purpose, including commercial projects.
May 23, 2020. StarStaX is available as a download for Mac OS X and Windows. It is free to download and free to use for any purpose, including commercial projects. Installation instructions are given below. 8/10 (96 votes) - Download StarStaX Free. StarStaX is a program designed to create composite photographs that show the movement of heavenly bodies in the sky. Download StarStaX for free on your PC. One of the most spectacular composite photography methodologies is called Star.
Please also review usage, tutorial, support, and license information.
Features
- Blending/stacking modes: Lighten, Darken, Average, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication
- Interactive gap filling mode to automatically close small gaps in star trails (see the StarStaX tutorial)
- Comet mode blending to create comet-like star trails
- Supports a multitude of image formats (JPG, TIFF up to 16-bit/channel, PNG, etc.), Raw images cannot (yet) be developed using StarStaX – there are many better tools for that. For Raw images, use your favorite Raw converter, make your adjustments and export the images as TIFF.
- Cumulative mode: A stacked image can be saved after each frame is processed (to create a cumulative stacking video)
- Averaging and subtraction of dark frames to remove hot pixels and noise
- Smooth zoom, 100% view, different view interpolation modes (anti-aliasing)
- GPU support for fast navigation within images
- Multi-touch / mouse wheel support for scrolling
- Multi-CPU / multi-core and SSE optimized for processing speed
- Multi-language (currently: English, German, French, Italian and Spanish)
- StarStaX is fully 64-bit enabled on all platforms
System Requirements
Mac OS X version
StarStaX requires Mac OS X 10.7 Lion or higher and a 64-bit capable Intel processor (Intel Core 2 Duo or better). To find out if your Intel Mac has a 64-bit CPU, please refer to: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3696
StarStaX requires Mac OS X 10.7 Lion or higher and a 64-bit capable Intel processor (Intel Core 2 Duo or better). To find out if your Intel Mac has a 64-bit CPU, please refer to: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3696
Windows version
StarStaX requires Windows 7 or higher.
StarStaX requires Windows 7 or higher.
Download and Installation
StarStaX is available as a download for Mac OS X and Windows. It is free to download and free to use for any purpose, including commercial projects. Installation instructions are given below.
Before downloading StarStaX, please review the license agreement. By using StarStaX, you are agreeing to be bound to the terms of this license.
Mac OS X 10.7 (OS X Lion) – 10.15 (OS X Catalina)
StarStaX is available as a .dmg file for download from here:
StarStaX-0.71_Mac.dmg
Mirrors: StarStaX-0.71_Mac.dmg or StarStaX-0.71_Mac.dmg
StarStaX-0.71_Mac.dmg
Mirrors: StarStaX-0.71_Mac.dmg or StarStaX-0.71_Mac.dmg
Note to users of Mac OS X 10.15 Catalina:
StarStaX 0.8 with better support for Catalina will be released in Feb/Mar 2020. StarStaX 0.71 works well on Catalina but you might experience some display artifacts. For testing, a beta version of StarStaX 0.81 is available for download.
Feedback is highly appreciated via eMail to [email protected].
StarStaX 0.8 with better support for Catalina will be released in Feb/Mar 2020. StarStaX 0.71 works well on Catalina but you might experience some display artifacts. For testing, a beta version of StarStaX 0.81 is available for download.
Feedback is highly appreciated via eMail to [email protected].
To install StarStaX, please download and mount the disk image and drag StarStaX to your Applications folder. Double-click on the StarStaX application to run StarStaX.
In case of problems when opening StarStaX, please review the FAQs.
In case of problems when opening StarStaX, please review the FAQs.
Windows (32-bit and 64-bit)
StarStaX (64-bit) is available as a .zip file for download from here:
StarStaX-0.71_Win64.zip
Mirrors: StarStaX-0.71_Win64.zip or StarStaX-0.71_Win64.zip
StarStaX-0.71_Win64.zip
Mirrors: StarStaX-0.71_Win64.zip or StarStaX-0.71_Win64.zip
StarStaX (32-bit) is available as a .zip file from here:
StarStaX-0.70_Win32.zip
StarStaX-0.70_Win32.zip
To install StarStaX, extract the .zip archive and double-click on “StarStaX.exe” in the folder StarStaX-0.71. There is no installer. You can manually copy the StarStaX folder to any folder you like and create a link to StarStaX.exe, e.g. on the desktop or in the program menu. To uninstall just remove the StarStaX folder from your harddisk.
You may need to install the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package to install the necessary run-time components. To do so run vcredist_x64.exe and follow the installer.
See the “readme_install.txt” file in the .zip archive.
Credits
Many thanks to
- Christian Enzweiler for design and graphics work
- Alfonso Pereira Castro for the Spanish translation of StarStaX
- Rubeluta Valentin for the French translation of StarStaX
- Paolo Cosentini for the Italian translation of StarStaX
- All the StarStaX users for lots of feedback and suggestions
- The girls and guys behind the amazing Qt framework
Being more science than art, in astrophotography, even if you get your camera settings “just right,” you still aren’t exempt from post-processing and editing your shots afterward.
Astrophotography requires many steps before you have the finished piece of artwork. Luckily there is an assortment of tools available on the market (both Free and Paid) that can either automate or at least speed up the process.
This article will list some of the best resources and software for your astrophotography.
Windows Vs Mac: Which One Has More to Offer?
Before going into details with the software, let’s briefly discuss the difference between Windows and Mac environments. If you are on Linux, such as SiriL, the offer is very limited.
Whatever is your operative system of choice for your working or everyday use, it is a fact that when it comes to astrophotography, the largest selection of software is for Windows, particularly if you are looking for freeware software.
How To Install And Use Windows On Your Mac
If you are a Mac user and feel frustrated by the lack of software, particularly freeware software, there are few ways you can run Windows software on your Mac:
- Bootcamp. With Bootcamp, you can install Windows on your Mac on a dedicated partition of your hard drive. Bootcamp is free, but you need a Windows license for this to work.
- VMware ($) / Virtual Box (free). With these virtualization software, you can build a Windows virtual machine to run Windows alongside Mac OS X. This is the most flexible solution, but you need a valid Windows license.
- Wine. Wine is a free windows emulator that allows you to install and execute windows software without the need for Windows. Not all software can be properly emulated, and even if it does, it will be slower than usual. 64-bits support for Wine In Mac OS is yet experimental, and since Mac OS X Catalina does not support 32-bit software anymore, this option may not be viable for you.
Cross-Platform Software
Here is a list of software you can find for both Windows and Mac OS platforms. And, eventually, Linux.
Pre-processing, Post-Processing And Editing Software
In this category, we list all the software you need to pre-process light frames, stack images, and perform the final editing for the different kinds of astrophotography.
Adobe Photoshop CC
General Photography – Commercial – Windows, Mac, IOS, Android
When it comes to astrophotography, Photoshop allows you to do basic pre-processing, such as (manual) stacking, histogram stretching, noise reduction, sharpening, and the usual tweaks to the final image.
One plus with Photoshop is that you can get action sets that are specific to astrophotography, such as ProDigital Astronomy Tools and Photokemi’s Star Tools action packs, helping you to run complex and tedious tasks.
Here you can watch a great video tutorial about processing astrophotography images with Photoshop.
GIMP
General Photography – Freeware – Windows, Mac, Linux
A neat freeware alternative to Adobe Photoshop that is quite capable. Unfortunately, there are no dedicated action packs nor plugins. 2015 honda civic hybrid service manual.
Here is a video about the use of Gimp to edit astrophotography images.
Serif Affinity Photo
General Photography Commercial – Windows, Mac, IOS
Affinity Photo is a fast-growing software and a valid alternative to Photoshop also for professionals. Made initially for Mac OS X only, it is now available also for Windows and iOS devices.
The big differences between Affinity Photo and Photoshop are that Affinity Photo has no subscription, but also no action sets and plugins.
PixInsight
Complete Astrophotography Package – Commercial – Windows, Mac, Linux
PixInsight is the ultimate software for planetary and deep-sky astrophotography, featuring a complete environment to pre-process and post-process astronomic images.
While it has excellent performances, it is rather time-consuming, with a steep learning curve, and it is also quite expensive. But if you are serious about astrophotography, it is highly recommended.
A trial is available, and if you want to test it, you can find many free tutorials from LightVortex Astronomy.
Aries Productions Astro Pixel Processor
Deep Sky Astrophotography Package – Commercial – Windows, Mac, Linux
If you are shooting mostly deep sky images, Astro Pixel Processor is an excellent alternative to PixInsight, being cheaper, easier to use, powerful, and under active development.
From light frame calibration to the final image, everything is just a few clicks away, thanks to the easy interface.
A big plus of using Astro Pixel Processor is that it is very simple to create mosaics.
Video tutorials to illustrate the software capabilities can be found here.
StarTools
Image Processing Software – Commercial – Windows, Mac, Linux
StarTools is an affordable, lightweight, and multiplatform software dedicated to post-process deep sky, lunar, solar, and planetary images that is under active development.
The free trial version allows you to test all functionality for as long as you want, but you cannot save the results.
SiriL
Complete Astrophotography Package – Freeware – Windows, Mac, Linux
SiriL falls in the same category of Astro Pixel Processor and Pixinsight, offering a complete astrophotography environment, from image calibration to the creation of the final image.
While not as powerful as its competitors, it is free and under active development, and they have their own YouTube Channel.
StarStax
Star Trails – Freeware – Windows, Mac
StarStax is a neat little software to stack images to create star trails. Simple to use, it comes with some interesting features such as a filling gap mode, to create continuous trails, and video for the stacking process.
Easier and faster than Photoshop, but requires TIFF or JPEG images.
Software For Electronic Assisted Astrophotography
If you use an astro camera instead of a DSLR, you need to connect it to a computer. Here what you can use to control your camera and guide your mount.
FireCapture
Image Capture – Freeware – Windows, Mac, Linux
Image Capture Software that is easy to use and supports many different cameras. It is most indicated for planetary and lunar imaging.
ZWO ASI Studio
Image Capture – Freeware – Windows, Mac, Linux
Image capture software from ZWO for their astro cameras. To control your camera via iOS and Android devices, you need the ASI Air unit.
PHD2 Guiding
Guiding Software – Freeware – Windows, Mac, Linux
PHD2 is a widely used software used to guide equatorial mounts to improve tracking and correct periodic error.
oaCapture
Image Capture – Freeware – Mac, Linux
Another image capture software for electronically assisted astrophotography with Mac. It is most suitable for planetary images, and it can support a selection of astro cameras and filter wheels.
Planning
Stellarium
Planetarium – Freeware – Windows, Mac, Linux, IOS, Android
Stellarium is a great software to explore the night sky and get to know what it is visible, where, and when.
The computer version can also be used to simulate the field of view of your gear to help you choose the right imaging equipment for your target.
PhotoPills
Astronomy Planner – Commercial – IOS, Android
Similar to Stellarium, this app will benefit from augmented reality and handy calculators to help you create star trails and photograph the night sky without a tracker.
Windows Software
Pre-processing, Post-Processing And Editing Software
Deep Sky Stacker
Image Stacker – Freeware
DSS is one of the most widely used software by deep-sky astrophotographers around the world. It is designed to calibrate and stack your light frames to produce a stacked image.
It is free, easy to use, fast and powerful enough, and comes with some advanced features, such as drizzle and comet stacking mode. It is limited to deep-sky astrophotography.
Highly recommended.
Sequator
Image Stacker – Freeware
Sequator is another free and easy to use image stacker. While it is not as powerful as Deep Sky Stacker, it gives good results on deep-sky astrophotography, and it can be used to stack starry landscapes too, where the foreground is visible.
Planetary Imaging PreProcessor
Image Pre Processor – Freeware
This is a must-have software to prepare your lunar and planetary images and video for stacking. Among the many functions, it has a planetary detection and can center the target on the frames, crop, and resize the frame and score them based on their quality.
Autostakkert!
Image Stacker – Freeware
Free image stacker for lunar and planetary work. Fast, easy to use, and reliable is best used in combination with Planetary Imaging PreProcessor. It is not really suitable for deep sky astrophotography nor for starry landscapes.
Astra Image
Image Post Processor – Commercial
Astra Image offers a set of advanced tools to improve image quality, such as wavelet sharpening, deconvolution, noise reduction, etc. Its use is not limited to astrophotography images.
Starstax For Mac
Image Capture Software
SharpCap
Image Capture – Freeware, Pro Version Commercial
SharpCap is arguably the most commonly used image capture software for lunar, planetary, and deep-sky astrophotography with dedicated astro cameras.
Easy to use, it exists a commercial Pro version with added functionalities such as electronically assisted polar alignment.
BackyardEOS and BackyardNIKON
Image Capture – Commercial
BackyardEOS and BackyardNIKON let you enjoy the wonders of electronically assisted astrophotography with your DSLR Canon EOS or Nikon camera.
Mac OS X Software
Pre-processing, Post-Processing And Editing Software
Starry Landscape Stacker
Image Stacker – Commercial
If you are a starry landscape photographer and a Mac user, this little software is a must-have. Extremely simple to use, it allows us to properly stack the sky and the foreground independently to create a compelling starry landscape.
Starry Sky Stacker
Image Stacker – Commercial
Starry Sky Stacker is dedicated to deep-sky astrophotography. From the same author of Starry Landscape Stacker, it shares with it the same easy to use experience and quality results, even if not as sophisticated as Deep Sky Stacker, Astro Pixel Processor or PixInsight.
Conclusion
Whether you are an amateur or seasoned astrophotographer, whether you are after a starry landscape, the Moon, or a distant nebula, you cannot get away without editing your images.
As you saw from this guide, a plethora of software is available, from the likes of Photoshop to dedicated astro programs.
Starstax For Mac Free Download
All depending on the kind of astrophotography you do and the different steps you are considering.
Starstax Mac ダウンロード
Choose wisely, don’t be afraid to experiment, keep practicing, and your astrophotography will continuously improve and get better and better.