Image stacking is one of the techniques that astrophotographers often use to get better results. But if you’re new to the craft and not sure where to start, we found just the astrophotography tutorial that should help.

In the video above, Trevor Jones of AstroBackyard demonstrates how to use Deep Sky Stacker (DSS) to harness the power of image stacking for astrophotography. DSS is a free Windows-based software trusted by astrophotographers for simplifying the pre-processing of deep sky photos. So, if you want to give this tool a try, Jones shows how easy it is to achieve great results with it, even if you’ve never done image stacking before.

Among its most useful features is the scoring system, which allows you to shortlist the best light frames for stacking out of your selection. Jones also uses the kappa-sigma clipping algorithm in this demonstration to remove star trails, satellite trails, and airplanes from the final image. Once DSS has done its job, the next step is to take the resulting TIFF master file over to Photoshop (or your editing software of choice) for the final post-processing.

Make sure to also check out: Enthusiast’s Guide: Image stacking for astrophotography

Have you tried image stacking using Deep Sky Stacker? Share your results in the comments below!