The latest version is Fitsplug V0.2SBeta, a Shareware FITS plugin for Windows Photoshop V4 and higher. Contents 1. Installing FITSPLUG 2. Regarding FITS headers 3. Regarding Pixel depth 4. Regarding Data Types 5. Tips 6. Testing 7. Version information 8. Feedback 9. To Come 10. Shareware Information 11. Disclaimer 1. Installing FITSPLUG For Photoshop V5.0 and higher Unzip the FITSPLUG.8BI and copy it into \PROGRAM FILES\ADOBE\PHOTOSHOP X.X\PLUG-INS\FILE FORMATS\ (where x.x is the version you have installed) For Photoshop V4.0 To install the plugin with Photoshop V4.0 or higher, unzip FITSPLUG.8BI and copy it into \PHOTOSHOP\PLUGINS\FORMATS\ directory. For Photoshop V3.0 To install the plugin with Photoshop V3.0, unzip FITSPLUG.8BI and copy it into \PHOTOSHOP\PLUGINS\ directory. When you start Photoshop, the plugin will be loaded automatically, and the relavant FTS and FIT extensions will appear in the filetypes list when you select File/ 'Open', 'Save' or 'Save As'. 2. Regarding FITS headers. Fits headers in general can consist of any number of 2,880 byte blocks of 80-byte records. FitsPlug can store and resave up to 10 header blocks because of an issue addressing memory from withing Photoshop once the plugin has finished loading. Note: V0.20SB no longer has this limitation Some image processing applications (e.g. Registar) store a complete processing history in the header and can create huge headers. Typically, Fits files created by amateur ccd camera control software contain only 1 fits header block. If a Fits file contains more than 10 header blocks, the plugin will ask during load, if you wish to truncate the header and continue loading the file. Be aware that any information past the 10th header block will be lost if the file is resaved as fits. A FITSPLUG identity line will be added if there is room in the header. A new header block will not be created to add the FitsPlug identity line, there has to be room in an existing block. If the file being saved as FITS was not a FITS file originally (i.e. TIFF, JPG, etc) then a new FITS header is created with only image geometry information in it. 3. Regarding Pixel depth FitsPlug will save either 8 or 16-bit FITS files, but it is important to know that Photoshop does not really handle 16-bit files. 16-bit files are loaded as 15-bit files with pixels having the range 0-32767. Fitsplug actually passes 16-bit data to Photoshop intact, but when Photoshop accepts the data it drops the low-order bit and moves the rest over to fill the space of the dropped bit. This has the effect of halving all of the pixel values without actually losing any. When saving 16-bit files, Photoshop converts it's own files (like PSD and TIFF) from 15-bit data back to 16-bit by doubling the data values before saving. This is a bit of trickery really and the deception is given away by the fact that the new file contains only even values. It is necessary though, to double the data before saving, as it will be halved once more if read into Photoshop again. I am told that the internal conversion of 16-bit to 15-bit was done for performance reasons. I leave it you to decide if this was an acceptable solution to the performance problem by Adobe. Fitsplug does what Photoshop does. It converts the 15-bit values back to 16-bit when saving, by doubling them. So if you compare before and after files and find that the averages are out by half a pixel value, don't be alarmed. 8-bit Fits files are saved as is. 4. Regarding Data Types FitsPlug can read signed or unsigned, 8 or 16-bit integer Fits Files, but only saves unsigned files. The reason is for simplicity and also that I cannot see the use in having negative pixel values. I am open to any good reasons for changing this, but they have to be good. If you think you have a good reason, drop me a note and we'll discuss it. Note V0.20SB no longer has this limitation and saves in the native datatype. 5. Tips If there is any sign of instability in Photoshop, remove the plugin from the installation directory. If the image appears black when loaded, try an auto scale on the image after loading into Photoshop, either before or after conversion to 8-bit. Most of Photoshops functions are 8-bit and so will not work on the 16-bit image. Scaling and levelling is functional and with later versions of Photoshop come more 16-bit functionality so it pays to experiment with later versions. I was surprised to find that the clone tool and Unsharp Mask works on 16-bit files from Photoshop V5.0. I recommend using Photoshop for final touchups of the image only. There is some very fine scaling functionality available with Photoshop which I use once the image is more-or-less finished. But it is best to use a REAL Astronomical Image Processing package (such as one mentioned below) to do the real work. Especially when calibrating, registering and processing CCD images. 6. Testing Fitsplug has been tested on a variety of files created by SBIG and Starlight Xpress camera control software and various image processing programs. 7. Version info Version 0.20SBeta - 22th May 2004 - Made V0.12b Shareware. An unfortunate necessity due to personal financial reasons that can be directly linked back to the unfortunate events of September 11. - This change incorporates many fixes from Fitsplug V1.70 such as more efficient memory usage, faster 16-bit file loading, no header limit, .fits extension support and proper error handling which does not require restarting Photoshop to reenable the plugin once an exception has occurred. V0.20SB still includes the limitations of V0.12Beta such as 16-bit maximum datasize support, no RGB FITS support and a shareware message displayed with the first image loaded and also every subsequent 10 file operations (Load and/or Save), urging you to purchase the release version. - Added Shareware dialog info boxes. - As with all Shareware, users are asked to purchase the full version if they find the Shareware version useful. Version 0.12beta - 28th April 2002 - Fixed a bug when saving headers padded with nulls (e.g. CCDSoft V5) - Fixed a bug when saving non-fits files as fits had no header written. - Added interactive header truncate for headers > 10 blocks. Files can now still be loaded at the expense of losing header blocks after the 10th block. Version 0.10beta - 18th October 2001 - V0.9a worked with 90% of users, but there was a few where the plugin didn't work. Also the new version plain didn't work with Photoshop 4. So went backwards to sdk 5 compatibility as this worked with all machines. Compiler now gives more warnings, but the plugin is stable with no sdk-related errors reported in the last 12 months. Version 0.9beta - 13th October 2001 - Fixed the version number. Whoever heard of a beta version greater than 0? - Compiled with the Adobe SDK V6.0. Tested with Photoshop versions 4, 5 and 6 - Full header retention now supported for up to 10 header records per file. See note 2 above. - 16-bit FITS saving now works, the Photoshop way! See note 3 above. Version 1.7 - Removed the header overwrite check. Was a pain to verify each file in a batch. Can now batch load. Version V1.5a - Fixed a bug where a fits header with no BSCALE value, made scaling to 0. This was the case FITs files created by QMIPS. - First version compiled with the new Photoshop V5.0 SDK. - Not tested with Photoshop V5.0. Version V1.5 Changes from V1.1 to V1.5 - Fixed a bug whereby images with headers > 2880 bytes displayed skewed. Maximum header size is now 11520 bytes (or 4 x 2880) - Fixed another bug where unsigned integers were being converted to signed integers ane suffering from it. Changes from Beta V1.0 to V1.1 - Compiled using Photoshop V4.0 SDK in an attempt to fix anomalous behaviour under Photoshop V4.0 - Now accepts FTS and FIT extensions from File/Open menu. - Headers now stored in Photoshop Global area. Still only one at a time. 8. Feedback I am interested in your comments or suggestions so don't hesitate to pass them on to me. Good or Bad, at eddiet@astroshed.com 9. To Come. - Colour Fits Support Now available in the release V1.x which can be downloaded ordered from www.fitsplug.com - Unlimited-length headers. Now available in the release V1.x which can be downloaded ordered from www.fitsplug.com 10. Shareware Information Fitsplug has been available for free since 1997 (the last Seven years) and is being used by thousands worldwide. Many request for more features prompted me to upgrade the free version with extra requested functionality but I couldn't do all this work for free and so released the commercial FitsPlug V1.0 in November 2003. However the free Fitsplug was all that most people (ccd imagers/amateur astronomers) needed and so FitsPlug V1.0 sales were slow. But I was prepared to live with this until recent unfortunate personal circumstances forced me to confront my financial needs, and FitsPlug sales have become an issue. Rather than just axe the free version completely, forcing people to buy the latest version I decided to make the latest Beta shareware. However, in the process, the V0.12B that most people are using has become more robust and has many of the advances of V1.0 incorporated. Such as more efficient memory usage, faster 16-bit file loading, no header limit, .fits extension support, repaired 16-bit file saving in native datatype and proper error handling which repairs the issue whereby Photoshop was required to be restarted to reenable the plugin once an exeption has occurred. The downside is (as with most Shareware), a shareware message displayed with the first image loaded and also every subsequent 10 file operations (Load/Save), urging you to purchase the release version. 11. Disclaimer Try it out at your own peril. There is no warranty express or implied and I accept no liability for any consequences which may arise from the use of the plugin. I do however accept praise (with little hesitation) and money with even less hesitation. The Shareware FitsPlug is free for evaluation. Any ongoing use should be pursued through purchase of the release version. Eddie Trimarchi. 1998-2004. eddiet@astroshed.com astroshed.com fitsplug.com