PixInsight is renowned among astrophotographers for its robust, scientifically advanced image processing capabilities. But it’s true power lies in its modular design, allowing users to integrate third-party plugins to expand functionality. In this guide, we’ll explore the top 10 PixInsight plugins, each offering unique enhancements that streamline and improve the workflow. From noise reduction to star removal, these plugins are essential for anyone serious about astrophotography image processing.
Most of these plugins come with a PixInsight installer URL and can be installed by clicking on “Resources -> Updates-> Manage Repositories” and then you can click “Add” and paste in the repo links from the guide and click OK.
Once you have added the Repos then you check for updates by following Resources -> Updates -> Check for Updates and it will install the plugins. You will need to restart PixInsight for them to load.
The URLS provided below are marked Repository URL for Repository URLs to copy into PixInsight or they will be direct downloads to manually install.
1. StarXTerminator
StarXTerminator PixInsight Plugin is a powerful AI-driven plugin that isolates and removes stars from images, preserving the intricate details of nebulae and galaxies without interference from stars.
When to Use: Best applied in the linear stage of your workflow, before stretching the image, for optimal results.
Benefits: By removing stars, it becomes easier to focus on the fine structures in nebulosity or galaxy detail. Starless images can also be reintegrated with stars for smoother overall image control.
PixInsight Repository URL: https://www.rc-astro.com/StarXTerminator/PixInsight
You can check out our guide to getting GPU Acceleration for StarXTerminator, BlurXTerminator and NoiseXTerminator on AMD GPUs to really speed up these process icons. Invaluable when editing full format or 2x drizzled images!
2. BlurXTerminator
BlurXTerminator offers advanced deconvolution techniques to sharpen astrophotography images, compensating for blurring effects caused by atmospheric turbulence or imperfect tracking.
When to Use: Ideal for the linear phase, just after calibration and before color processing, to enhance detail.
Benefits: This plugin improves clarity and detail, which can enhance texture in galaxies and reveal structural features in nebulae that might otherwise appear soft or undefined.
PixInsight Repository URL: https://www.rc-astro.com/BlurXTerminator/PixInsight
3. NoiseXTerminator
This plugin focuses on advanced noise reduction, applying selective algorithms that minimize noise without sacrificing detail.
When to Use: Recommended in the linear stage to target noise before stretching. Can also be applied in the non-linear stage with minor adjustments.
Benefits: NoiseXTerminator effectively reduces graininess, especially in low-signal areas, resulting in cleaner, more visually appealing images.
PixInsight Repository URL: https://www.rc-astro.com/NoiseXTerminator/PixInsight
4. GHS – Generalized Hyperbolic Stretch
The Generalized Hyperbolic Stretch (GHS) script is a sophisticated stretching tool for PixInsight, offering more control and flexibility than traditional histogram stretching. Unlike the standard histogram stretch, which applies uniform intensity adjustments, GHS allows for targeted adjustments to luminance, color saturation, and selective regions, providing nuanced control over the dynamic range. GHS also includes multiple stretch types, full masking support, and a real-time preview to ensure precise adjustments as you work.
Key Features of GHS Version 2:
- Real-time preview for immediate feedback on adjustments
- Independent controls for luminance, saturation, and color stretching
- Multiple stretch types and full masking support for selective edits
- Secure repository with an easy update process
- In-script access to the GHS website for tutorials and documentation
When to Use: GHS is best applied in the linear phase, allowing you to carefully shape the dynamic range before transitioning to non-linear adjustments. It’s especially useful for high-contrast images, as it enables you to enhance faint details without oversaturating bright areas, which can be challenging with standard stretching methods.
Benefits: By going beyond traditional histogram stretching, GHS offers PixInsight users more granular control over image brightness, contrast, and color. The ability to adjust luminance and color separately, along with real-time previewing, makes GHS a powerful tool for bringing out delicate structures and balancing dynamic range, giving astrophotographers more artistic and technical control.
PixInsight Repository URL: https://www.ghsastro.co.uk/updates/
5. Starnet++
Similar to StarXTerminator, Starnet++ provides star removal capabilities but with different processing characteristics and configurations.
When to Use: Use in the linear stage for dedicated starless images or in non-linear for selective enhancements.
Benefits: Starnet++ is widely used for creating smooth, starless images, enabling targeted edits on nebulae and galaxies without star interference.
Installation: Download Starnet++
6. Colourmask
Description: The ColourMask process brings enhanced color selection and masking capabilities directly to PixInsight, now with real-time preview functionality for seamless workflow integration. Building on the original ColorMask_mod script, this process allows users to target specific colors within an image to create precise masks, ideal for enhancing particular hues or managing color balance with ease. With this updated version, ColourMask is now embedded as a PixInsight process, providing improved accessibility and documentation for easy reference.
When to Use: ColourMask is most beneficial in the non-linear stage, after initial stretches and adjustments, when you want to selectively enhance specific color ranges or apply custom edits to distinct color regions. It is especially useful for enhancing narrowband images or fine-tuning color details without affecting the entire image.
Benefits: By transforming ColourMask into a process with real-time preview, this tool now offers faster, more intuitive color masking with immediate feedback on adjustments. The ability to precisely target and enhance specific colors directly in PixInsight minimizes the need for external software. This process is compatible with PixInsight version 1.8.9-2 and above, allowing users of the latest builds to take full advantage of its capabilities, while earlier versions can still use the original script.
PixInsight Repository URL: https://www.cosmicphotons.com/pi-modules/colourmask/
7. Narrowband Colour Mapper
The Narrowband ColourMapper PixInsight script offers a flexible and visually interactive way to transform grayscale narrowband data into a full-color image. Developed with expert input, this script allows users to assign custom colors to multiple narrowband channels (such as Ha, OIII, SII, or others) and dynamically adjust each layer’s pixel intensity for balanced output. The real-time preview feature enables instant feedback, letting users fine-tune colors and apply background neutralization for smooth, natural-looking composites. Documentation is available within the script, and a video tutorial provides additional guidance for first-time users.
What I absolutely love about this script is that it lets you easily color map your layers and then when you blend or PixelMath them together to make your final image, you don’t have to really go through advanced masks to change and correct colors. You work with the colors you choose as part of the processing workflow. You can also save your preferences to use the palettes over and over in future workflows.
When to Use: Ideal for narrowband imaging workflows, particularly for creating Hubble Palette and other custom color mappings. The script is most effective in the linear stage, after individual channel calibrations and alignments, and before stretching the image.
Benefits: This tool simplifies the process of assigning and blending colors to narrowband data, eliminating the need for complex PixelMath formulas. With real-time previews, users can immediately see how changes impact the final result, making it easier to experiment with various color schemes and achieve visually balanced images. The script is compatible with PixInsight 1.8.9-2, leveraging the optional Colourise process for faster color assignment.
PixInsight Repository URL: https://www.cosmicphotons.com/pi-scripts/nbcolourmapper/
8. Image Blend
The ImageBlend PixInsight script provides a suite of powerful blending options that bring advanced image compositing directly to PixInsight. With a variety of blend modes, users can layer and merge images seamlessly, adjusting pixel intensities and balancing layers for optimal results. Additionally, the script includes options to apply stretch adjustments, blur, high-pass filters, and opacity controls to refine the blend effect. This script replicates much of the blending functionality typically associated with external editing software, making it a valuable addition for users seeking full control within PixInsight. Comprehensive documentation is provided within the script, and a tutorial video offers further insights into its functionality.
When to Use: ImageBlend is versatile and can be used in both linear and non-linear stages, especially when combining multiple versions of an image, layering different processing techniques, or blending narrowband with RGB data. It’s perfect for users who want to blend starless and full versions or experiment with creative layering effects without leaving PixInsight.
Benefits: ImageBlend streamlines the blending process, allowing for in-depth customization without needing external software. The script’s built-in adjustments for intensity, filters, and opacity make it easier to balance and blend layers precisely to achieve desired aesthetic or structural results. It saves time, enhances flexibility, and enables fine-tuned adjustments that bring out unique visual characteristics in astrophotography images.
PixInsight Repository URL: https://www.cosmicphotons.com/pi-scripts/imageblend/
9. PixInsight Toolbox
The PixInsight Toolbox PixInsight Plugin Suite is a versatile collection of scripts that streamline various image processing tasks, saving time and enhancing workflow efficiency. Developed for both newcomers and experienced users, these scripts simplify common processes such as color calibration, HDR blending, image combination, and narrowband integration. They provide intuitive adjustments and real-time previews, which allow users to refine results without complex manual operations.
Key Scripts in PixInsight Toolbox:
- AutoLinearFit: This script applies a linear fit across all three color channels, then merges them back into the image using a user-selected reference (lowest mean, lowest noise, or a specific color channel). It’s an effective way to achieve balanced colors with minimal effort.
- CreateHDRImage: For high dynamic range (HDR) processing, this script creates a secondary image, runs HDRMultiscaleTransform, and blends it with the original. Users can see results in a preview window and adjust HDR settings to emphasize image depth and structure.
- CombineImages: This tool combines two images using PixelMath without requiring PixelMath expertise. Even for those familiar with PixelMath, it offers a quick, preview-based approach to see the result of the blend instantly.
- ImproveBrilliance: This enhancement tool adjusts contrast, sharpness, and local equalization in selected image areas, bringing out fine details and increasing overall image vibrancy. It’s designed to keep settings within practical ranges, preventing over-processing.
- CreateHubblePaletteFromOSC: Ideal for color cameras, this script extracts H-alpha, OIII, and SII channels from an image to create a Hubble Palette in various combinations (e.g., HOO, HOS). Users can tweak symmetry and stretch for each channel to get balanced, stretched results for stunning narrowband color palettes.
- ContinuumSubtraction: This script refines the H-alpha signal by subtracting the continuum spectrum, reducing artifacts and noise. It’s perfect for targets like M33 where H-alpha enhances details, and allows for clean Ha integration into RGB composites.
- CombineHaWithRGB: After continuum subtraction, this script blends H-alpha into RGB images, with fine control over H-beta contributions and noise reduction in the Ha channel for more vivid results.
When to Use: PixInsight Toolbox scripts fit well into both the linear and non-linear stages, depending on the task. For example, use AutoLinearFit and ContinuumSubtraction early in the linear stage, while ImproveBrilliance and HDR adjustments work best in the non-linear stage for final tuning.
Benefits: PixInsight Toolbox scripts provide practical automation and targeted adjustments that improve workflow efficiency and output quality. With preview-driven adjustments, they save time by simplifying complex processes and enable users to create professional-quality images with minimal trial and error.
PixInsight Repository URL: https://www.skypixels.at/HVB_Repository/
Freehand Adaptive Mask Editor (FAME)
The Freehand Adaptive Mask Editor (FAME) PixInsight Plugin brings intuitive, freehand mask creation to PixInsight, allowing users to draw masks directly onto their images with tools for freehand, elliptical, rectangular shapes, and more. This script is designed to be flexible, with options to move, resize, and rotate drawn shapes, creating masks that are fully adaptable to the image’s needs. FAME includes multiple mask types—binary, lightness, chrominance, and color masks—giving users a diverse set of masking options directly in PixInsight.
When to Use: FAME is highly useful in both linear and non-linear stages for precise and controlled masking. It’s particularly effective when targeting specific image areas for enhancement, such as selective sharpening or color adjustments, without impacting the entire image. For astrophotographers who need precise control over localized edits, FAME simplifies mask creation and adjustment.
Benefits: With FAME, PixInsight users now have an easy, interactive way to craft custom masks without the limitations of multi-point selections. The ability to freehand draw and adjust mask shapes directly in PixInsight reduces dependency on external software and speeds up the workflow. This script provides more freedom to create selective adjustments, especially for complex or irregular structures in astrophotography images.
Installation: Download Individual Scripts here
PixInsight Plugins
These ten plugins represent some of the most powerful and versatile tools available for PixInsight, each offering unique functionality that enhances the astrophotography workflow. From advanced noise reduction and color management to precise mask creation and dynamic image stretching, these plugins make processing more efficient, effective, and enjoyable. While these are the top plugins I rely on, they’re not ranked in any particular order—each serves a different purpose, and their usefulness depends on the specific needs of the project.
Exploring and experimenting with these plugins can unlock new possibilities for your astrophotography, allowing you to fine-tune every aspect of your images. Whether you’re looking to simplify star removal, refine your color maps, or precisely target adjustments with custom masks, these tools are invaluable additions to your PixInsight toolkit. Try them out and see how they enhance your own workflow—you might discover new ways to bring out the best in your data.
What is your favorite PixInsight Plugin?
