Introduction
Light pollution is a growing problem for astrophotographers. It is caused by artificial lighting in urban areas, and it can interfere with the accurate representation of the night sky. That’s why it’s important to learn how to remove light pollution from your images. Fortunately, PixInsight is an advanced image processing software that is specifically designed for astrophotographers. It has powerful tools that allow you to remove light pollution from your images with ease. In this article, we’ll discuss how to remove light pollution in PixInsight.
How To Remove Light Pollution In PixInsight
The first step to removing light pollution in PixInsight is to open the image you want to work on. Once it is open, you can start to use PixInsight’s powerful tools to remove light pollution. Here are the steps you should take:
Step 1: Subtract the Background
The first step to removing light pollution in PixInsight is to subtract the background. To do this, you will need to use the BackgroundNeutralization tool. This tool will subtract the background from your image, allowing you to focus on the stars and other objects in the night sky. To use this tool, simply click on the “BackgroundNeutralization” tab in the top menu. You will then need to adjust the settings to suit your image. Once you have done this, you can click the “Apply” button to subtract the background from the image.
Step 2: Stretch the Image
The next step is to stretch the image. This will help to bring out the details of the night sky. To stretch an image in PixInsight, you will need to use the HistogramTransformation tool. This tool will allow you to adjust the contrast and brightness of your image. To use this tool, simply click on the “HistogramTransformation” tab in the top menu. Then, adjust the settings to suit your image. Once you have done this, you can click the “Apply” button to stretch the image.
Step 3: Remove Gradients
The next step is to remove gradients. This will help to reduce the amount of light pollution in your image. To remove gradients in PixInsight, you will need to use the GradientMergeMurex tool. This tool will allow you to merge multiple exposures into one image. To use this tool, simply click on the “GradientMergeMurex” tab in the top menu. Then, adjust the settings to suit your image. Once you have done this, you can click the “Apply” button to merge the exposures.
Step 4: Reduce Noise
The next step is to reduce noise. This will help to improve the overall quality of your image. To reduce noise in PixInsight, you will need to use the ACDNR tool. This tool will allow you to reduce noise while preserving the details of your image. To use this tool, simply click on the “ACDNR” tab in the top menu. Then, adjust the settings to suit your image. Once you have done this, you can click the “Apply” button to reduce noise.
Step 5: Sharpen the Image
The final step is to sharpen the image. This will help to bring out the details of the night sky even further. To sharpen an image in PixInsight, you will need to use the MultiscaleLinearTransform tool. This tool will allow you to sharpen the image without introducing artifacts. To use this tool, simply click on the “MultiscaleLinearTransform” tab in the top menu. Then, adjust the settings to suit your image. Once you have done this, you can click the “Apply” button to sharpen the image.
Conclusion
Light pollution can be a major issue for astrophotographers, but luckily there are ways to remove it from your images. PixInsight is an excellent image processing software that has powerful tools that allow you to remove light pollution from your images. In this article, we discussed how to remove light pollution in PixInsight. We discussed the steps you should take, including subtracting the background, stretching the image, removing gradients, reducing noise, and sharpening the image. Following these steps will help you to remove light pollution in PixInsight.