The basic method of color imaging is to shoot exposures through red, green, and blue filters.  These images are then combined to create a color picture.  This technique is called RGB imaging.  More advanced color imaging methods are described in the Advanced Imaging with MaxIm DL section.

Select the Expose tab in the MaxIm CCD window.

Begin by choosing the Red filter from the pull-down menu.  Select an exposure time as you would for a simple black-and-white image, but keep in mind that less light comes through color filters so the object will appear dimmer.

Above:  A single red-filtered exposure of M83.  Compare this to the clear-filtered image on the last page.  Both images have identical exposure times.

Next, green and blue images are taken.  Again, more exposures are better so be sure to take several of each.  The next section describes a simple way to take multiple images in either color of black-and-white.  When the red, green, and blue images are combined, the result is a full-color image.

Above:  RGB image of M83.  Note the noise in the image and compare to the LRGB image described in the Advanced Imaging with MaxIm DL section.

Next, Advanced Imaging Techniques....

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