Sequator is a highly popular, free, and incredibly fast image-stacking software specifically designed for Windows PCs to clean up nightscape and Milky Way photography. Developed by Taiwanese software engineer Yi-Ruei Wu, it solves the massive problem of high-ISO digital noise by mathematically averaging multiple consecutive exposures together. Unlike generic astrophotography tools, Sequator is uniquely tailored for landscape astrophotography because it can automatically isolate a still foreground while aligning the moving stars in the sky. Why Photographers Use Sequator
Extreme Speed: It can align and stack a dozen RAW files in roughly 30 seconds, a process that can take minutes or manual masking layers in Adobe Photoshop.
Noise Reduction: By stacking 10 to 20 identical, short-exposure shots, it averages out random luminance and chrominance (color) noise, mimicking the look of a low-ISO daytime photo.
No Star Tracker Required: It allows you to get sharp, pinpoint star details without expensive tracking hardware.
Lens Distortion Correction: It features complex wide-angle distortion matching, which keeps stars pinpoint sharp even near the corners of your lens. The Core Stacking Workflow
The basic discipline involves capturing 10 to 20 consecutive photos on a steady tripod without changing any camera settings between shots (e.g., 15s, f/2.8, ISO 6400). Once you have your files, follow these core steps in Sequator: Sequator Milky Way Stack Tutorial – 2021 Edition
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