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Learn How To Edit Milky Way Photos!

 

In this Master Class I show you how to create stunning Milky Way photos with pinpoint stars and low noise, in focus from the foreground to the stars!

Step by step videos will guide you through the entire editing process, from star stacking, to exposure blending, to creative edits.

The videos use Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, but most techniques will apply to other raw editors and image editing programs.

This Master Class contains over 6 hours of training split into two separate modules.

WATCH THE PREVIEW!

See my ENTIRE editing workflow including:

Star Stacking

Raw Image Prep

Focus Stacking

Exposure Blending

Hot Pixel Removal

Creative Edits

And MORE!

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coast2_1200

TOPICS COVERED

  • Camera settings
  • Workflow basics
  • White balancing a night sky with airglow
  • Dealing with lens distortion corrections
  • Star stacking with Starry Landscape Stacker (Mac) and Sequator (Windows)
  • Contrast with Curves
  • Dodging and burning
  • Preventing blown out stars when adjusting sky contrast
  • Reducing star intensity to bring out the Galactic Core
  • Advanced exposure blending
  • Creating fine tuned masks for complex exposure blends
  • Detailed examples of Select & Mask in Photoshop
  • Combining two masks for a complete horizon mask
  • Creating consistent noise texture across the image
  • Focus stacking with Helicon Focus
  • Removing hot pixels in Photoshop
  • Calculating shutter speeds for the sky and foreground
  • Basic & Advanced Creative Editing Techniques

EDITING WORKFLOW

Another beautiful night on the coast of Maine, with the glow of the Milky Way and Jupiter reflecting in the ocean. Saturn is also visible, to the upper-left of Jupiter. Nikon Z 7, Mount Adapter FTZ, NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8 lens @ 14mm, f/2.8. Sky: Star stack of 20 exposures at ISO 6400 and 10 seconds. Stacked in the new version of Starry Landscape Stacker that supports raw files, making the workflow a bit easier. Foreground: Two exposures each at ISO 1600 and 10 minutes, focus stacked. The foreground raw files were processed in Capture One Pro because Lightroom does not let you disable built-in lens profiles, which most mirrorless cameras have when using OEM lenses. This causes very bad warping artifacts, so the workaround I am now using is to use another raw editor to prep photos when I need to disable built-in lens profiles. Capture One allows you to do this, plus its automatic hot pixel removal is the best I’ve seen in a raw editor, and it even has a “Single Pixel” slider allowing you to remove most of the more stubborn hot pixels. Careful using it on star images, it can eat away at stars, but so far I only use it on my long exposure foregrounds where the sky is blurred and will be replaced anyways. Since I rely on Capture One now for hot pixel removal in foreground shots I don’t bother with Long Exposure Noise Reduction, which cuts the capture time in half. The foreground images and star stacked sky result image were blended in Photoshop to create the final image, with edits applied to bring out colors and details as usual. All shots in the same place on the same night without moving the camera.

The workflow module covers an entire start to finish demonstration with the image to the left. We will cover:

  • Reviewing the raw files.
  • Star stacking with raw files in Starry Landscape Stacker (Mac) and Sequator (Windows).
  • Preparing the stacked image and separate foreground exposures for blending in Lightroom Classic.
  • Using Capture One (optional) for easily removing most hot pixels, allowing you to skip in-camera long exposure noise reduction!
  • Focus stacking in Photoshop.
  • Exposure blending in Photoshop.
  • Creative edits and final touches in Photoshop.

 

This class uses Lightroom Classic and Photoshop (with a little bit of Capture One), but most techniques will be applicable to other raw editors such as ON1 Photo Raw, Skylum Luminar, and Capture One. Most of the Photoshop techniques will work in Affinity Photo except for the advanced exposure blending techniques shown. Affinity Photo does not have the same tools for fine tuning masks.

EXPOSURE BLENDING

Learn how to use advanced masking tools to create seamless blends for complex horizon blends.

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FOCUS STACKING

In this example of a field of lupines you will learn how I used Helicon Focus, a dedicated focus stacking tool, to create an image with the entire field of lupines in focus.

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CREATIVE EDITS

Learn various creative editing techniques in Photoshop to really bring your Milky Way photos to life!

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VIDEO CHAPTERS

Editing Workflow Chapters

  1. Overview of Star Stacking and Foreground Exposure Techniques
  2. Software and Display Considerations
  3. Workflow Overview
  4. Disabling Lens Distortion Corrections
  5. Raw Files Overview
  6. Star Stacking in Starry Landscape Stacker
  7. Star Stacking in Sequator
  8. Pre-Blend Prep of Stacked Image
  9. Pre-Blend Prep of Foreground Exposures in Lightroom
  10. Pre-Blend Prep of Foreground Exposures in Capture One
  11. Exposure Blending
  12. Noise Reduction
  13. Removing Hot Pixels
  14. Contrast with Curves
  15. Color Balance with Curves
  16. Adobe Camera Raw as a Smart Filter
  17. Protecting Stars
  18. Star Reduction
  19. Final Touches
  20. Additional Creative Edits Example
  21. Noise Matching Example
  22. Star Stacking Lighthouse Example
  23. Star Stacking Reflection Example
  24. More With Curves

Exposure Blending Chapters

  1. Review of some basic Photoshop techniques
  2. Example 1 - Basic blend and pond reflection
  3. Example 2 - Introducing Select & Mask
  4. Example 3 - Advanced Select & Mask
  5. Example 4 - Controlling manual blends with selections
  6. Example 5 - Bright ambient foreground at a Lighthouse
  7. Example 6 - Complex focus stacking a field of lupines with Helicon Focus

WATCH A SAMPLE CHAPTER!

EXAMPLE FILES INCLUDED

Raw files are included for the primary photo used in the workflow module, and downscaled TIFF files are included for all other images.

DOWNLOAD INFORMATION

  • This is a download purchase, not a streaming class. Once downloaded you can keep them forever and copy them to as many of your own devices as you want!
  • No internet connection required after download.
  • Purchasing gives you a link to download the videos in a ZIP file.
  • 1080p HD (1920x1080 resolution)
  • MP4 format compatible with most video players.
  • Total size is 2.4 GB
  • Runtime: Over 6 HOURS of training!
  • The video is narrated in English (no subtitles).
  • As this is a digital download, refunds are not available.

"This tutorial is far superior to any I have seen."

"Many blending tutorials present a one-size-fits-all model. But anyone who has attempted blending more than twice knows that is not true. Adam’s tutorial shows characteristics of blending challenges, then provides the proper tools for making a blend work perfectly. This tutorial is far superior to any I have seen."

Bruce Blaylock
Salem, VA

"The videos are perfect for every skill level"

"Adam's video tutorials are extremely clear, concise & covers techniques necessary to make your astrophotography images stand out. The videos are perfect for every skill level due to the excellent easy to follow instruction and demonstration."

Kathy C
Eagle, CO

 

"Adam’s tutorials were by far the best and easiest to learn from."

"When jumping into astrophotography for the first time it was somewhat intimidating and frustrating. I quickly realized that learning, understanding and sticking with a solid foundation for this type of art was a MUST. I searched many resources, but found Adam’s tutorials were by far the best and easiest to learn from."

Todd Walker
Sauquoit, NY

"Adam’s videos are comprehensive and easy to follow."

"Adam’s videos are comprehensive and easy to follow. They’ve helped me improve my milky way processing to a level I never expected to achieve."

Genevieve Arseneau
Orlando, FL

"Adam's video tutorials have helped advance my Milky Way processing from flat and basically vanilla to well blended images with greater color, texture, and depth."

"The techniques for capturing the Milky Way are not terribly difficult to master. However, a novice astrophotographer quickly learns that the secret sauce is in the editing techniques. Adam's video tutorials have helped advance my Milky Way processing from flat and basically vanilla to well blended images with greater color, texture, and depth. The cost/benefit ratio of Adam's tutorials is outstanding."

Rick Williams
Southington, CT

Milky Way Master Class

Milky Way Master Class

$197.00

This is a digital download, you will not receive anything in the mail. After paying you will be sent to a webpage where you can immediately download the videos in a zip file, and you will be sent an email with the same download links.

NOTE to Existing Owners of the Previous 2020 (and prior) Milky Way Master Class

This is an UPDATED Master Class, containing an entirely new Editing Workflow module that includes new topics: star stacking with raw files, avoiding lens distortion issues, using Capture One (optional), and updated creative editing techniques. The Exposure Blending module has not changed (and is still included). If you purchased my Master Class on or before December 5th, 2020, you own the PREVIOUS MASTER CLASS.