PixInsight 
Linear Image Quality Enhancements

Step 8: Enhancing the Stars Image

 

updated: 2025-10-28


Purpose

In this step, the image containing the stars is stretched and the color saturation and contrast are improved.

  1. Apply a Histogram Stretch process on the image for more contrast. The result is a stretched image.
  2. Apply a Curves Transformation process on the image to enhance the colors

PixInsight Release:

newer than version 1.8.9-2 / build 1604

Input

The Stars image from the previous step

Output

A strechted and color enhanced Star image 

Previous Step

Step 7: Enhancing the DSO (Cloud) Image

Next Steps

Step 9: Combining the DSO and Stars Image


Step

Before the enhancement

After the enhancement

1

Histogram Stretch


“*_STARS” into sub folder "Work"

“*_STARS_HT” into sub folder "Work"

2

Curves Transformation


“*_STARS_HT” into sub folder "Work"


“*_STARS_HT_CT” into sub folder "Work"


If, after this processing, there are still too many stars disturbing the overall impression, a star reduction step can also be performed. This is best done with the EZ Star Reduction Tool from the EZ Processing Suite.

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