A raw file of the Gorgonum Chaos Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona/USGS
So, how do you make videos of the Martian surface? HiRISE collects high-resolution elevation data, Doran explained. He uses Blender, the 3D graphics software, to turn the data into a 3D mesh, which is then optimized given how complex the dataset is. He further processes the textures in Photoshop, where he also enhances the details. He combines and renders everything in 3DS Max software, adds skies in Photoshop, and animates the whole thing using After Effects. Again, it’s not a true photograph of Mars—it required some artistic sensibility (and a lot of work) in order to look this way.
As you’ve probably figured out by know, images of space require processing, and often receive some artistic interpretation. Doran himself processes lots of Jupiter images, creating image files that often look like paintings. If you want to create images of your own, you can usually find the raw files online on the respective experiment’s website. If you just want the finished stuff, Doran shares loads of pictures on his Twitter and Flickr. There’s a whole community of folks who also make and process these images.
The Red Planet offers plethora of source material for those who create this kind of space art. “Mars does make it easy though,” said Doran. “The planet is filled with alien and exotic landscapes.”