Final Processing in Photoshop

Introduction

After completing the core PixInsight workflow, your image is likely 95% complete. But sometimes, that last 5% — the polish — makes all the difference.

This is where Photoshop and external tools come in, giving you the flexibility to make subtle artistic adjustments while preserving the scientific integrity of your data.

1️⃣ When to Export from PixInsight

• File format: 16-bit TIFF
• Colour profile: sRGB or AdobeRGB
• Bit depth: Keep 16-bit

2️⃣ Preparing the Image

• Open file
• Duplicate layer
• Convert to Smart Object

3️⃣ Camera Raw Filter

• Highlights
• Blacks
• Clarity
• Colour grading

4️⃣ Adjustment Layers

• Curves
• Selective Colour
• Dodging & Burning

5️⃣ Optional Plugins

• Nik Collection
• Topaz
• StarSpikes

6️⃣ Sharpening

• Apply at the end
• Check at 100%

Conclusion

Your image is now fully polished and ready for presentation.