How to Stack Astrophotography Images in Photoshop [Ultimate Guide]

Image stacking is the art of reducing noise in images in order to increase clarity of the image elements. It is the sole way to make sure that the celestial bodies shot appear as clear as possible.

This is a phenomenon used on all types of images. However, it is especially important to make use of image stacking on Photoshop for astrophotography because it is the first thing that needs to be done when you sit down to edit these pictures.

Continue reading if you want to learn how to stack images in astrophotography. By the time you reach the conclusion of this article you will have learned how to stack images in Photoshop. All you have to do is read our step-by-step guide regarding image stacking in Photoshop.

Table of Contents

Step 1: Open Photoshop and Load the Images as Layers
Step 2: Duplicating the Images
Step 3: Image Stacking for Foreground
Step 4: Align all the Images
Step 5: Stack Images and Blend
Video
Conclusion

Step 1: Open Photoshop and Load the Images as Layers

If you frequently do astrophotography then you must know to always shoot after setting your camera to save your captures as RAW. Now if you want to learn to stack images in Photoshop, the first thing you should be informed about is that RAW captures saved in ACR cannot be loaded as layers into Photoshop.

If you want to start using this photo stacking software for astrophotography then you will have to load them in the following way:

File > Scripts > Load Files into Stack

By doing so the dialogue box given below will open up. All you need to do then is choose all the requires captures and press OK.

Step 2: Duplicating the Images

Select all your layers and take them to the icon at the bottom. This should be right near the bin icon on the south side of the Layers panel. Make a group for these layers and label it accordingly by taking them to the folder icon, again towards the south of the Layers panel.

This needs to be done in the astrophotography stacking software so that you have an extra group of captures while photo stacking in Photoshop. These will be used for the background.

Step 3: Image Stacking for Foreground

This is an essential step if you want to learn how to stack images in Photoshop astrophotography. Knowing how to stack photos in Photoshop means knowing how to produce increasingly clean images. When you use astrophotography stacking software to stack images in Photoshop for the foreground the detailing in the captures becomes smoother.

The averaging process makes sure that the bodies in the sky move wit respect to the foreground. This is done in accordance with the sequence of your captures.

In order to know how to layer photos in Photoshop properly, this image stacking is pertinent. So follow the two steps given below in order to do so:

1. Convert all layers to ‘SMART OBJECT’ after selecting them (Layer > Smart Object > Convert to Smart Object)

2. Perform averaging on all images in the stack (Layer > Smart Objects > Stack Mode > Mean)

You can see the before and after of this photo stacking Photoshop step given above.

Step 4: Align all the Images

You might have noticed that in the previous step of image stacking in Photoshop, the sky became smoother but also lost many of its details. You might be wondering why we did that as a part of focus stacking in Photoshop. Well, do not worry because that was just a step on the way.

In this step on how to stack photos in Photoshop, we will align the images. This will teach you further how to layer photos in Photoshop. The lost details will be brought back by using another stack.

The first thing that needs to be done is masking the foreground for the group you created earlier. This will be done using a soft brush. Just simply follow the instructions given below.

Make sure that the first group you created is the visible layer
Add ‘LAYER MASK’ and then select soft brush
Paint the foreground with the black brush
Press Alt+click to be able to see this
Make sure the chosen colour is solid black
Select and copy the mask
Press Alt and drag the mask thumbnail over all the layers

Now you have a choice between auto aligning and manually aligning the layers in this Photoshop stack mode.

How to Auto Align:

Make all the layers visible
Select them all
Layer > Auto-Align Layers
Select Auto Align mode

In case you get an error message, repeat Step 3 but use ‘Median’ instead of ‘Mean’.

How to Manually Align:

Select a layer of reference
Start working with two frames
Fasten the visibility of all the layers in the group (remember to leave out the reference layer)
Choose ‘DIFFERENCE’ from the blending mode
You will see black and white parts on the image now, black parts being aligned
Click on the Transform tool
Deform the layer
Use Warp mode along with the Transform tool for better results
Trim the edges at the end
Confirm transformation
Make the blending mode normal again
Do the same steps for all the layers

Step 5: Stack Images and Blend

This is the last major step you need to follow in this guide regarding how to stack images in Photoshop astrophotography.

After completing this step, the final touches will remain only and you would have learned how to stack images in Photoshop. This is the last of all Photoshop stack modes so you must know how to use photo stacking software for astrophotography by now.

You will now stack the created layers in order to be able to blend them with the foreground. This is how to stack photos:

Reiterate what you did in Step 3 and create a Smart Object
Toggle on the visibility
Make sure the layers are blending perfectly

If you want to learn why it is important to know to stack photos in astrophotography, you can watch the video below. It will tell you why astrophotographers use focus stacking for Photoshop. Now that you know how to stack images in Photoshop astrophotography, you should have this information as well.

Furthermore, if you want to know the relevance of Photoshop stacking software in astrophotography, you can read up here.

On the other hand, you can read this if you want to learn about the technicalities of image stacking in Photoshop.

Conclusion:

Having reached the end of this ultimate guide on how to stack photos in Photoshop, you must have gained ample knowledge to be able to try this out yourself. Now you can be on your way to make your astrophotography photos better than ever.

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Mary Robinette Kowal

Hey! I'm Mary Robinette Kowal, an author, speaker & producer on anything & everything tech and space related. I'm best known for winning the Hugo Award for Best Novel. Writing about space is a huge passion of mine, so here’s a little piece of my mind.

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