Note: use a mouse instead of a trackpad or touchscreen to limit frustration while using Afterglow. 

Click “Next” above to see the step-by-step instructions.

Alternate Format: Video Instructions (Includes Advanced Info)

• Follow along with this tutorial video

Alternate Format: Written Instructions (Level 1 Only)

We are going to make a color image, using three images taken through three different filters. As you know, Skynet only returns black and white images.

1. Note: one or two things may differ from Dr. Reichart’s tutorial.
   • Open the three images you requested in your color request assignment – they will all still be black and white.
2. Align your images
   • Check that you see a number next to RA and Dec when you mouse over a star. This means your image has coordinates. If you don’t, take a longer image so it has more stars in it.
   • 
   • Open Aligner.
   • Choose all three images.
   • Choose any image as “reference” but you might prefer the one with “R” in the filename – the red one.
   • Turn on Crop, Enable Rotation, Enable Scale, and Enable Skew.
   • Choose “WCS” as the Mode
   • Submit
   • 
3. Group your files using the file list on the left
   • Select all three of your images
   • Choose the three dots at the top
   • Choose “Group”
   • 
4. Change the color of each layer
   • You now have a three-layer image, where the layers are added together.
   • Click on the sub-image that has “B” in its filename and right click. Choose “Color Map” and then “Blue.”
   • Click on the sub-image that has “R” in its filename and right click. Choose “Color Map” and then “Red.”
   • Click on the sub-image that has “G” or “V” in its filename and right click. Choose “Color Map” and then “Green.”
   • 
   • 
   • Click on the top image, it should be in color! Adjust the display settings of each of the sub-images until you like the look of the top (full color) image.
   • 
5. Embed your adjusted color image into your assignment.