Moon Imaging Processing

Moon unprocessed image

Moon processed image

Below are the typical Moon imaging processing techniques that I use on 2048 x 1536 Nikion 990 Moon images as of December 2003.

Software Used

JASC Inc. Paint Shop Pro Version 8.10, to quickly select best image
Cor Berrevoets RegiStax Version 2.1.14.0 beta, Wavelet process the image
Adobe Potoshop Version CS, unsharp mask, levels, curves, color balance, resize, crop and convert to JPG

Setup directories and select best Moon image

RegiStax Wavelet Procssing

Load the Nikon Moon JPG file into RegiStax.
Wavelet procssing the image with dyadic. Watch out for over doing the Moon's edge. Typical settings are 2.4,2.4, 1.7, 1.1, 1.1, 1 and gamma of 0.8.
Save as BMP file
Save Project file

Potoshop CS Procssing

Load the RegiStax Moon BMP in to Potoshop CS.
Zoon to 100%
Convert to LAB (Mode Lab Color)
Select Lightness in Channels
Filter, Sharpen, Unsharp Mask... Lightness Channel: Typical settings are Amount: 150%, Radius: 0.3 pixels, Threshold: 3 levels
Zoom to fit on screen
Image Rotate Canvas for North at top of image
Image Mode RGB Color
Layers, Levels... adjust white point and mid range (typical mid range settings are 0.90 to 0.80)
Save work in progress as a PSD file
Flatten Image
Layers, Curves... fix point at 128, and adjust 64 for S curve shape on Curves graph to bring out the contrast in the Moon Maria. Watch the white as you are doing this adjustment.
Save work in progress as a PSD file
Flatten Image
Layers, Color Balance... Adjust the Color Balance to remove any color cast in the image
Save work in progress as a PSD file
Flatten Image
Resize image by 50%
Crop image
Convert to LAB (Mode Lab Color)
Select Lightness in Channels
Filter, Sharpen, Unsharp Mask... Lightness Channel: Typical settings are Amount: 50%, Radius: 0.6 pixels, Threshold: 0 levels
Check for any color shift to the green after sharpening, correct with Color Balance if necessary
Image Mode RGB Color
Save work as a PSD, TIF and JPG files
Save all files on CD-R

Create Moon Image Web Page

Use Notepad to create web page
Use Home Planet for Windows Release 3.1 for age of Moon and Moon phase information.