Starguide - A Practical Guide to Astro-Photography

PixInsight

PixInsight Image Processing Workflow for Stars and Deep Space Objects (DSO)

updated: 2025-10-12

Purpose

Below is my preferred workflow for processing images of stars and deep space objects (DSO), such as nebulae and galaxies, in PixInsight.

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PixInsight Image Processing Workflow

Fast path for image processing in PixInsight

Click to enlarge

file: Astro Image Processing Overview

Fast path for image processing in PixInsight

• Culling - Image Selection (Blink, SubframeSelector)
• FBPP: Image Selection and Integration with Fast Batch Preprocessing)
• CROP: Image Transformation: Crop and rotate the image
• GX: Gradient Correction with GraXpert
• BX: Deconvolution: BlurXTerminator
• NX: Noise Reduction: NoiseXTerminator
• SPCC: Color Calibration with Spectrophotometric Color Calibration
• SX: Starless Image with StarXTerminator (optional)
• HT: De-Linearize with Histogram Stretch
• CT: Add color with Curves Transformation
• PM: PixelMath to combine starless and DSO image
• Export and Documention

Linear Image Processing Workflow

Final Stretch Workflow

Click to enlarge

file: Astro Image Processing Overview

Click to enlarge

file: Astro Image Processing Overview