Re: Zuiko quality (was RE: [APML] Filter Size query)

[Ray Butler <ray.butler@nuigalway.ie>]

Hi Ian,

Since I use multiple OS's, I can comment on this. Featurewise, I think 
that GIMP is just as suitable as Photoshop is...which is to say, that 
really neither is 100% suitable for astrophotography! The one area where 
Photoshop edges out the GIMP is that its astrophotography user base is 
well established, so you'll get plenty of answers to any of your 
questions about using it. And there's Jerry Lodriguss' special 
publication "Photoshop for Astrophotographers", dedicated to this very 
topic.

On the other hand, I and some other contrary individuals here prefer to 
do most or all of our processing, not in software designed for the 
"graphic arts" industry (such as Photoshop & GIMP), but rather in 
software designed for "science & engineering R&D" (such as Matlab, IDL 
and IRAF). Our reasons are various but basically it comes down to having 
extra mathematical functions (Photoshop lacks even some rudimentary 
ones), some very exotic processing functionality, more exact user 
control, reproducibility, batch processing/scripting/programming, the 
ability to set up a CCD-style workflow, a more "scientific" and less 
"cosmetic" approach, a single integrated processing environment 
(everything in one package), and so on. Matlab & IDL are expensive, but 
IRAF is freeware - and lest anyone think that costing nothing must mean 
that IRAF is crap, let me tell you that it was developed by the finest 
astronomical software programmers at America's NOAO & STScI!

But the learning curves for these latter packages are long and steep, so 
unless you've already used one for some other purpose, it would be 
enough to scare off a beginner who just wants to improve their astrophotos.

There now appear to be "hybrid" types of package emerging, which combine 
the better aspects of Photoshop (user friendliness) with the more 
rigorous, purpose-written image processing aspects of the scientific 
software. Although I haven't tried it, it seems that PixInsight 
(frequently used in posts here) falls into this category. This might be 
worth checking out...if there's a MAC version?

Ray "and IRAF runs on that groovy Mac OS X too (:-))" Butler


I.J Jordan wrote:

> Hi Jason
> 
> Nice picture, and it seems I have a lot to look forward to, and the 
> links you sent are both informative and interesting:I working through 
> them
> 
> Another thing I would appreciate the groups thoughts on..... other than 
> I am a heretic for even daring to ask this.
> I understand that Photoshop is the software of choice for fairly 
> obvious reason,but I am wondering if anyone here has any experience 
> astrophotography wise with "GIMP" for manipulating images.I have tried 
> newsgroup archives but they are as always 50% devided between "GIMP" is 
> rubbish and "Photoshop" is the holy grail, and visa versa.But a cursory 
> glance through tutorials for both programmes show more similarities 
> than differences.But would like to know about any major differences 
> when used in practical instances,assuming that "GIMP" is suitable for 
> astrophotography.My reason for asking is I am a "Mac" user and have 
> "GIMP",and intersted in knowing if it is of any use.
> 
> Ian. 
> _______________________________________________
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-- 
Dr. Ray Butler (ray.butler@nuigalway.ie || ray@physics.nuigalway.ie)
Lecturer, Dept. of Physics || Computational Astrophysics Laboratory
National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland.
Tel: +353-91-524411 ext. 3788   FAX: +353-91-525700

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