2026-10-09 APP 2.0.0-beta48 has been released !
This is mainly a bug fix release for the reported bugs in beta47. In addition it has a significant User Interface performance improvement noticable when you need to process 1000s of images in APP.
2026-10-03 APP 2.0.0-beta47 has been released !
This is a very big release... many code optimizations/rewrites, many parts of APP are much faster and more precise, especially star analysis and registration are much faster ! Big mosaics will go much faster 🙂
And we introduce a new preview filter, which includes the new Adaptive Deep Sky Stretch and a General Levels Stretch, this has been long over due. The old preview filter (the panel on the right side to stretch and preview your data) has not been updated for a couple of years and it is a critical part of any APP session.
Adaptive Deep Sky Stretch or ADSS is a much more intuitive stretch algorithm. It is also color preserving (which is a great new addition in itself ! ) which means that the highlights are no longer bleached, color is maintained from the linear data while stretching. You can simply stretch your data using the sky background level and signal width sliders which work much easier and more intuitive. You no longer need to fiddle with the old complicated sliders with zoom buttons. All the zoom buttons for the sliders are made redundant. And you can enter slider values in the slider value fields yourself. I will make a youtube video in the coming days to explain and fully introduce ADSS. Once the video is ready, it will be highlighted on the forum.
RGB Combine upgrade !. The RGB Combine Tool has been rewritten mostly. The tool is faster and easier to use and most importantly, the Luminance slider to inject a luminance channel or channels into the RGB composite is now working correctly. It no longer bleaches the RGB colors. Combined with the new ADSS preview, you will get much better and easier great composites with great color! I will also explain this in a new youtube video.
RC 6" Canon 550D Canon 550D (T2i) modified FULL SPECTRUM and COOLED, AstronomiK Clip CLS-CCD: 19x300" ISO1600 and 48x180" ISO800. APP+StarTools+Photoshop.
I just bought an RC6 and I’m new to AP and APP. This is a great shot! Could you explain more details on how you achieved this result (#frames, tracking? Dithering?). What do you do in photoshop to finalize the image after app? Thanks!!!!!
Acabo de comprar un RC6 y soy nuevo en AP y APP. ¡Es un gran tiro! ¿Podría explicar más detalles sobre cómo logró este resultado (#frames, seguimiento? ¿Dithering?). ¿Qué haces en photoshop para finalizar la imagen después de la aplicación? ¡¡¡¡¡Gracias!!!!!
Hello: Thanks for your interest, the process is a bit long to expose.
During acquisition if I run "Dithering" every other shot, for the cooled and modified Canon550D camera I use BackYardEos as acquisition software. The monitoring is through the RC-6 "and OAG + QHY5II-L and PHD2 software.
The stacking with APP, possibly the best in this aspect that I have used, the Dark, Flats, DarkFlats, Bias and BabPixel masters also generated by APP and the final processing I usually do with StarTools version RC1 that already has GPU support and finally some adjustments with Photoshop, I use some actions Annie'sAstroActions and AstronomyTools. Health.
