What does 'progress' look like in your astrophotography post editing skills - 2?

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Over the last three and a half years I have been on a slow 'post editing' learning journey which can be summarised thus: 

DEEPSKYSTACKER - AFFINITY PHOTO - SIRIL vs1.2.4 - SIRIL vs 1.4 

....and anyone who has regularly followed my posts since the start of this blog will know that I have been trying to map out progression ladders in skills, knowledge and understanding relating to

·       using astrophotography equipment,

·       acquiring high quality astrophotography data,

·       and in post-editing skills using a variety of free download astrophotography programs.

I have already done some ‘initial’ thinking about some of the above and you can read these posts here:

https://undersouthwestskies.blogspot.com/2026/02/what-does-progress-look-like-in-your.html 

https://undersouthwestskies.blogspot.com/2026/01/can-we-turn-our-astrophotography.html - progress ladders for capturing astrophotography data and using astrophotography equipment 

https://undersouthwestskies.blogspot.com/2026/01/discussion-is-astrophotography-hard.html 

I’m focusing on this work because I find such ‘progression ladders’ really useful in mapping out what progress I have made in astrophotography, and what further steps I can take to improve further. 

In today’s post I start to explore:

·       What might a structured four‑level progression ladder for learning post‑processing astrophotography skills, using SIRIL v1.4, look like?

The resources below are designed to guide ‘beginner’ and ‘advanced beginner’ astrophotographers through a structured progression of post‑processing skills using Siril v1.4, Siril scripts, Python automation, and enhancement tools such as the Integrated Cosmic Clarity Suite and the Veralux Suite.

I have based it on data captured with lenses such as the Samyang 135mm and/or small refractors like the Zenithstar 61II, both paired with either a DSLR or a dedicated astro‑camera, and using something like a skywatcher star tracker or a mount such as the EQM-35-PRO or equivalent. 

Before we dive into the levels, I think the photographs below exemplify my journey and where I am now on it. Details underneath each one. 

My first image of M45 taken in 2022 with my unmodded Canon 800D and Canon 70 - 200mm kit lens on a SWSA 2i. Stacked in Deepskystacker and edited in Affinity Photo

Later in early 2023 - same camera but this time a Samyang 135 mm F/2.8 lens with the same tracker. Again, using the same photo processing software - Deepskystacker and Affinity Photo

Jump to late 2024 - same equipment as above - but a better understanding of Deepskystacker and Affinity Photo 

Early 2025 and the image above and below neatly illustrate my see-saw progress in data acquisition and post editing processing. Same equipment, same editing software. The image above involved taking calibration frames. The one below - I forgot to do those. 

Now the image abnove and the two below - are new editing of that same data collected in early 2025. However this time I used SIRIL 1.4 to restack the original data and then used my latest SIRIL workflow which I shared in a previous post (Link to it at the top of this post) 

Qualitative differences are beginning to appear - better colour, less noise, improved definition and texture. 

So, with the above photos in mind, lets jump straight into the main subject material for this post: 

Progression Ladder Overview

I have gone for Four Levels of Mastery – briefly described in level descriptors

Beginner — Foundations & first stacks - We learn the basics of calibration, stacking, and simple enhancement. Most of our work uses automated Siril scripts and preset tools.

Intermediate — Controlled processing & selective enhancements - We begin to take manual control: manual stacking, gradient removal, star masks, and parameter tuning in Cosmic Clarity and Veralux.

Advanced — Custom pipelines & data‑driven processing - We build our own Siril scripts, integrate external tools, and use Python to automate parts of our workflow.

Expert — Full automation, multi‑night integration & HDR workflows - We create multi‑night automated pipelines, use advanced colour and PSF modelling, and produce reproducible, observatory‑grade workflows.

Each level proposed hopefully builds on the last, thus ensuring a smooth, confidence‑building journey from first stacks to fully automated pipelines.

Diagrammatically it looks like this: 

NOTES:

Learning NEVER progresses in a straight linear fashion. 

Thus, it is perfectly acceptable to find yourself getting to grips with different skills in different levels at the same time. It’s a guide, that’s all; not a rigid template. And, I think this is reflected in the photos I used at the top of this post - I drew from both level one and two to post edit the last three photos in the sequence. 

As astrophotography beginners - we are mainly interested in levels 1 and 2 for the moment, and this is what you will find below. 

I am only a modest beginner myself, so my interpretation of what levels three and four might look like, are based on very little understanding or experience of some of the knowledge and skills I have outlined in them.

Consequently, I will add levels three and four at a later date when I have mastered most of the level two intermediate stuff. To try and work out what level three and four would look like based on my existing knowledge – well it would be merely ‘guess work’ on my part – and ethically, for me, just won’t do!

When I eventually master level two intermediate stuff, I will come back and have a better stab at defining levels three and four.  On my current time/progress continuum, that could be towards the end of next year, 2027. 

So, with the above caveats in place, let’s jump in then and explore each of the first two proposed levels in a little more detail.

As you go, why not tick off the skills you have mastered so far on your personal learning journey and/or put them against my photographs above and see if you can work out which criteria I may have achieved during their editing. 

🌌 Progression Ladder for Astrophotography Post‑Editing

Using Siril v1.4, Siril Scripts, Python Automation, Cosmic Clarity Suite & Veralux Tools

 

1. Beginner — “Foundations & First Stacks”

Core Goal: Produce our first clean, calibrated image using mostly automated tools. Become comfortable with the Siril interface, file organisation, basic preprocessing, and simple scripts.

Knowledge

• Understand what calibration and light frames are and why they matter:
• Lights, Darks, Flats, Bias/offsets
• How they relate to DSLR vs astro‑cam workflows
• Basic understanding of:
• Linear and non-linear data
• Light pollution gradients
• Sensor noise
• Bayer patterns (for DSLR RAWs)
• File and folder management basics before entering SIRIL:
• FITS vs RAW
• Organising sessions by target/date
• Copying data from camera/stacking device
• Creating correct folder structures
• /lights/
• /darks/
• /flats/
• /bias/

Siril v1.4 Skills

A.     Siril Interface Basics

• Opening Siril
• Understanding the workspace
• Navigating tabs:
• Image Processing
• Tools
• Scripts
• Python Scripts
• Setting working directory
• Viewing images (zoom, stretch, histogram auto‑stretch)
• Run the One‑Shot Color Preprocessing Script (OSC_Preprocessing.ssf)
• Load and inspect individual subs using the Sequence tab

B.     Image Processing Tab — Beginner Tools

These are the simplest, safest tools for new users:

Image Processing Tab

• Histogram stretch - using the Asinh, Histogram and Curves Transformation tools; and also, the Generalised Hyperbolic Stretch Transformation

• Auto-stretch preview
• Basic cropping

• Background extraction OR Scripts – python scripts – processing – AutoBGE.py
• Colour calibration - basic - Photometric, SPCC, colour calibration

• Star detection preview

C.    Scripts Tab — Beginner Scripts

• OSC_Preprocessing.ssf
• OSC_Preprocessing_NoFlat.ssf
• OSC_Preprocessing_NoBias.ssf
• Mono_Preprocessing.ssf
• Mono_Preprocessing_NoFlat.ssf

These teach the user how Siril automates calibration, registration, and stacking.

 Python Scripts Tab — Beginner

• Running some basic pre‑installed Python scripts e.g. Cosmic Clarity Denoise and Sharpen …. And Veralux Nox, Hypermetric Stretch, Alchemy and Silentium
• Apply beginner‑friendly presets on the above without parameter tuning
• Understanding script output
• Viewing logs

A.     Saving & Exporting

• Saving FITS
• Exporting JPEG/PNG/TIFF
• Understanding linear vs non-linear data

Below is a practical, observable checklist.
If you can confidently tick 80–90% of a level, you’re ready to move up to the next level

 

Beginner → Intermediate Readiness Checklist

You’re ready to move up if you can:

• [ ] Capture and organise lights, darks, flats, and bias/offset frames
• [ ] Run Siril’s OSC preprocessing script without errors
• [ ] Understand linear vs non‑linear data
• [ ] Perform basic background extraction
• [ ] Apply photometric or auto colour calibration
• [ ] Stretch an image using histogram + Asinh tools
• [ ] Use Cosmic Clarity or Veralux presets without needing guidance
• [ ] Export a clean, basic final image (TIFF/PNG)

If most of these are solid, you’re ready for controlled manual processing.

The California Nebula (above) and Ghost of Cassiopeia (below) taken in 2025

2. Intermediate — “Controlled Processing & Selective Enhancements”

Core Goal: Move from automated scripts to controlled, intentional processing. Gain control over preprocessing, stacking, gradient removal, colour work, and basic noise reduction.

Knowledge

• Understand:
• Signal‑to‑noise ratio (SNR) and how stacking improves it
• Star colour vs nebula colour
• Gradient sources (LP, moonlight, optics)
• Learn the difference between:
• Linear vs non‑linear data
• Photometric vs manual colour calibration
• Star masks vs object masks

Siril v1.4 Skills

A.      Use manual preprocessing:

• Cosmetic correction
• Manual registration
• Manual stacking with rejection algorithms (Winsorized Sigma, Linear Fit Clipping)

A.      On Image Processing Tab, complete:

• Manual histogram manipulation
• Manual background extraction (multi-point)
• Gradient removal
• Photometric colour calibration
• Star colour calibration
• Green noise removal (SCNR‑style)
• Deconvolution (basic)
• Noise reduction (basic)
• Cosmetic correction
• Star mask creation
• Star removal using Starnet
• PSF tool (basic use)

A.      Scripts Tab — Intermediate Scripts - Cosmic Clarity Suite / Veralux Tools

Learn to adjust parameters rather than relying on presets

• Cosmic Clarity Basic Scripts
• CC_Preprocessing.ssf
• CC_GradientRemoval.ssf
• CC_ColourCalibration.ssf
• Veralux Basic Scripts
• Veralux_Preprocessing.ssf
• Veralux_Colour.ssf
• Veralux Chromatic Noise Suppression
• Veralux Star Tightening
• Veralux Revela
• Veralux Curves 

A.      Python Scripts Tab — Intermediate – begin using Siril’s scripting console

• Running community scripts
• Editing simple parameters
• Understanding script structure

A.      Obtaining Scripts

• Downloading scripts from:
• Siril website
• GitHub repositories
• Cosmic Clarity suite
• Veralux suite
• Installing scripts into:
• ~/.config/siril/scripts/
• Siril scripts folder (Windows/macOS/Linux)
• Verifying script installation
• Updating scripts

A.      Saving & Exporting

• Exporting 16‑bit TIFF for Photoshop/PixInsight
• Exporting stretched vs unstretched versions
• Saving project files

 Intermediate → Advanced Readiness Checklist

You’re ready to move up if you can:

• [ ] Perform manual calibration, registration, and stacking
• [ ] Choose appropriate rejection algorithms (e.g., Winsorized Sigma)
• [ ] Use advanced background extraction with multiple sample points
• [ ] Create and use star masks
• [ ] Perform star reduction and colour calibration intentionally
• [ ] Edit Siril scripts (e.g., change debayering, stacking parameters)
• [ ] Use Veralux and Cosmic Clarity tools with manual parameter tuning
• [ ] Run simple Python utilities (renaming, script generation, batch sorting)

If you’re comfortable building a repeatable workflow, you’re ready for custom pipelines.

If you are a beginner to astrophotography, I hope you can recognise yourself somewhere in these two levels; and more importantly, can find some ‘progress steps’ to work on.

As promised, towards the end of this year I will attempt to define the last two levels as well. 

I cannot guarantee in any way that I have got any of this right, so, as always, I welcome any constructive discussion, tips, advice, comments. Drop me a message in the comment box at the end of the post.

What do you think:

·       I’ve got right?

·       Got wrong?

·       Missed out?

·       Put in the wrong level?

·       Misinterpreted?

·       Been over or under ambitious on?