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Milky Way Editing Tutorial: Astrophotography Workflow

Bob Coates M.Photog.M.Artist.Cr., CPP, EA-ASP

October 13, 2025

Take your astrophotography to the next level with this step-by-step Milky Way post-processing tutorial. In this lesson, Bob Coates walks through how to edit Milky Way images using Photoshop, Adobe Camera Raw, and Starry Landscape Stacker. You’ll learn how to reduce noise with smart object stacking, balance exposures between blue hour foregrounds and night skies, and create seamless composites that look natural yet dramatic. This workflow covers every step of astrophotography editing: preparing RAW files, applying noise reduction, stacking multiple exposures, blending sky and foreground, and enhancing the Galactic Core with color and contrast adjustments. Whether you’re working in Lightroom, Photoshop, or specialized stacking software, you’ll discover how to process your Milky Way captures for clean, detailed, and vibrant results. If you’ve ever struggled with noisy skies, mismatched exposures, or getting your stars to pop, this tutorial shows you how to handle Milky Way post-processing like a pro. Perfect for photographers who want to refine their astro images, eliminate distractions, and achieve stunning night-sky photos ready for print or sharing online.