Which image processing software?

[Gasman]

Hi guys
Been looking at some image processing tutorials and one microscopy guy was saying how good Photoimpact was and I was wondering which software others use?. In my other life as an astronomer I occasionally use Pixinsight but not sure how microscopic images would process with this as I'm no expert with Pixinsight which does have quite a learning curve.
Regards
Steve

[billben74]

What sort of image processing do you want to do?
I use zerine stacker for stacking (it costs about $75) , Image composite editor for stitching (free) and GIMP 2.8 (free) for "photoshopping".

I know that forum members use a variety of software tools.
There are threads on stacking
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2500

and stitching
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2664

[Gasman]

I suppose software that would bring out the fine detail. I have apps for stacking etc . The microscopy version of Imagej ' Fiji' I think its called gets good recommendations too.
Steve

[JimT]

I use a Canon DSLR, take the images in RAW format, do the initial processing in Coral After Shot Pro, and the final processing in Photoshop. If I do any stacking (I should say when I do stacking since it is almost all the time) I use Combine ZP which is free and which I am most familiar with.

I did a comparison between Combine ZP and Picolay (Also free and also very good) several months ago. I would recommend either one for stacking.

JimT

[Gasman]

Thanks for that Jim. Aftershot pro2 seems to get a lot of excellent reviews, think I'll give the trial a test!
Regards
Steve

[KurtM]

I'm a big fan of open source software that's FREE. I love Light Zone as an open source version of the gold standard among photography pros and advanced amateurs, Light Room, and do most of my photo editing in it. When I need other capabilities such as Photoshop offers, I use Paint.Net or GIMP as powerful, but FREE, alternatives. Mind you, I don't mind paying for what I get, and often donate to the creators of open source software that I like and use, and encourage others to do likewise.

Pro Tip: Look for tutorial videos on Youtube for the programs you want/need to learn.

Light Zone: http://lightzoneproject.org/

Paint.Net: http://www.getpaint.net/index.html

GIMP: https://www.gimp.org/

I don't do much stacking, so will let others talk about that.

[Gasman]

Thanks for those links Kurt, pretty impressed with Lightzone, just trying it now
Steve

[Johann]

I use a Canon DSLR, take the images in RAW format, do the initial processing in Coral After Shot Pro, and the final processing in Photoshop. If I do any stacking (I should say when I do stacking since it is almost all the time) I use Combine ZP which is free and which I am most familiar with.

Hi JimT, have u done any focus stacking using Photoshop? Just wanted to find out if Combine ZP does a better job than Photoshop?

[johan]

I use a Canon DSLR, take the images in RAW format, do the initial processing in Coral After Shot Pro, and the final processing in Photoshop. If I do any stacking (I should say when I do stacking since it is almost all the time) I use Combine ZP which is free and which I am most familiar with.

Hi JimT, have u done any focus stacking using Photoshop? Just wanted to find out if Combine ZP does a better job than Photoshop?

Hi Johann - a Johan here . Almost anything does a better job of stacking than Photoshop. I prefer Zerene myself, but Helicon also has its plus points.