The raw image download is the simple process for everybody, and using pictures to practice Photoshop is the integral of amatory photo editing. Different parts of images retouching can give you different practice and skills in it.
- Raw Images Download
- Processing Raw Images
- Download Raw Images For Practice Video
- Download Sample Raw Image
- Raw Image Format
- Converting Raw Images
- Raw Image Files
I have been sitting on this landscape RAW file for quite sometime no not sure if I should post it or no. The reason I chose to post this file now is I think one this is such a strong image and two it will be very interesting to see what direction everyone takes it.
You pretty much have two images in one, one is of the tree that is close up and the second is of the mount scene. Being that it was taken at F22 everything is in focus from the very front to the very back.
Will you focus on just editing for the tree or just the mountain? Or will you try something very extreme to turn this image into something else entirely.
Be sure to CLICK HERE to download this weeks RAW FILE.
Unedited Photo – Click to access the RAW FILE
Presented here are raw files for you to use in practicing and improving your image processing skills.
At the bottom of this page, you can see the results that I came up with for each of the images with the basic image processing that I explain in my book A Beginner's Guide to Astronomical Image Processing. These are the exact same image files used for processing those images.
Please feel free to download the raw files and practice with them even if you have not bought the book. Also, please feel free to post your processing results with my data on your own web page or to various astrophotography web sites and discussion forums. Please include a link back to this page and credit when you do.
The Raw Data
- M31 - Galaxy, 8 x 8-minute light frames (181 mb)
- M42 - Emission and Reflection Nebulae, 8 x 8-minute light frames (182 mb)
- M45 - Reflection Nebula and Cluster, 8 x 8-minute light frames (179 mb)
- M46 & M47 - Open Clusters, 7 x 6-minute light frames (165 mb)
- M13 - Globular Cluster, 6 x 5-minute exposures (129 mb)
- Darks 5 x 8-minute exposures at 44F (95 mb)
- Bias 9 x 1/4000th second exposures at 37F (167 mb)
These files are hosted on Google Drive. Use the following steps to download the files:
- Click on a link above to go to the Google Drive page hosting the file.
- Click on the download icon at the far upper right of the page.
- You will get a message that says 'Google Drive can't scan this file for viruses because it exceeds the maximum size that Google can scan. Would you still like to download this file?'
- Click the 'Download Anyway' button.
Note, these files are all Canon Raw CR2 files. There are no executable files to hide a virus, but please scan them with your anti-virus program if you don't feel safe.
Also note, these are big files and may take a long time to download.
Raw Images Download
All of the image sets are zip compressed. After you download them, you must unzip the zip file to access the raw files. You can usually do this by right clicking on the zip file after it has completely downloaded and selecting 'Extract All'.
Technical Data about the Images
- All are Canon CR2 raw files shot with an unmodified Canon 700D (T5i).
- All lights were shot with an AT65Q at f/6.5 at 420mm focal length.
- All lights, darks and bias frames were shot at ISO 800.
- All darks are 8-minute exposures at 44F.
- All lights were shot at an observing site with average SQM readings from about 20.5 to 20.8. This is a reasonably dark site where you can see Milky Way overhead, but with a significant amount of light pollution in the northwest from Philadelphia and in the northeast from Atlantic City as well as other towns all around the horizon.
- There is some variation in temperature between the darks and the lights, but not enough to worry about. If it bothers you, you can scale the darks using the bias frames.
- One frame (IMG_0731.CR2) in the M45 lights has a satellite trail. You should not include this frame in the stack unless you want to practice using different combination methods, such as Kappa Sigma Median, to try to remove it.
Before and After Images
Images below compare the calibrated and stacked raw linear file to the final processed image as described in BGAIP.
I've included beginner's all time favorites - M31, The Andromeda Galaxy, M42, The Orion Nebula, M45, The Pleiades, M13, The Hercules Cluster, as well as open clusters M47 & M47.
Astrophotography How-To Books by Jerry Lodriguss
If you like the information you have read here, I have several books that you may find of interest.
If you think there is a lot of information here on these web pages, just wait until you see how much more there is in these books!
Beginner's Guide to DSLR Astrophotography
This book on CD-ROM for beginning astrophotographers explains how to take beautiful images with your digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera using simple step-by-step techniques that anyone can learn.
You will see how easy it is to take great pictures with very modest equipment and basic methods that are within everyone's ability.
With this book you will learn how to take amazing images of the night sky with your DSLR camera.
Get Started in DSLR Astrophotography Today!
Beginner's Guide to Astronomical Image Processing
This book written in HTML5 is a digital download. It is for beginning astrophotographers and explains in step-by-step detail how to stack your images in DeepSkyStacker and then process them in Photoshop.
You will learn how to improve the brightness, contrast and color of your deep-sky images to produce beautiful results.
The book also includes 25 video tutorials on each step of image processing.
Get started in Astronomical image processing today!
Advanced Guide to DSLR Astrophotography
This book on CD-ROM is for more advanced imagers. It explains how digital cameras work in more technical detail and gives step-by-step directions for more advanced imaging techniques.
It also tells you on how to process your images in Photoshop, with step-by-step directions that will produce beautiful results.
The CD-ROM also includes more than 100 minutes of video tutorials on image processing.
Take your astrophotography to the next level!
A Guide to DSLR Planetary Imaging
This book on CD-ROM will show you how to take planetary images with your Live-View equipped DSLR. It explains the basics of high-resolution planetary imaging and gives step-by-step directions on how to shoot exciting pictures the Sun and Moon and fascinating planets like Jupiter, Saturn and Mars.
It also tells you on how to process your images in programs like RegiStax and AutoStakkert!, with step-by-step directions that will produce beautiful results.
The CD-ROM also includes more than 100 minutes of video tutorials on image processing.
Get started with planetary photography with your DSLR today!
Astrophotographer's Guide to the Deep Sky
This book on CD-ROM is will help you answer the question 'what should I shoot tonight?'
It will provide you with detailed information and examples of the many beautiful objects in the deep sky that you can photograph with your own equipment.
A master list of objects includes 500 of the best and most photogenic galaxies, nebulae, supernovae remnants, stars, star clusters and constellations. This list can be sorted by object name, object type, catalog number, constellation, right ascension and focal length.
Images of more than 275 select objects visible from the northern hemisphere are displayed on individual pages with photographic information and details about these objects.
Processing Raw Images
All-sky constellation charts are clickable with links to individual constellation images. These, in turn, have objects plotted on them that link to object pages.
A local sidereal time calculator will tell you when objects are on the meridian where they are highest in the sky and best placed for photography.
Discover the many fantastic targets in the deep sky!
Download Raw Images For Practice Video
Photoshop for Film Astrophotographers
Download Sample Raw Image
This HTML book is a guide to basic digital correction and advanced enhancement techniques for film astrophotos in Adobe Photoshop image-processing software.
Raw Image Format
Whether you are a beginning amateur astrophotographer, or a seasoned veteran, you will learn new and exciting techniques.
Use Photoshop to produce visually stunning images!
These books will help you to avoid those bad practices that lead to poor images. I made just about every mistake you could make when I was first starting out and did not know what I was doing. You don't have to make these same mistakes. You too can learn the secrets of deep-sky astrophotography!
Converting Raw Images
Don't waste your long and hard efforts at astrophotography - find out how thousands of others just like you have gotten excellent results by using these books.
Raw Image Files
You can do it too! What are you waiting for?