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.
I am glad to see you are open to changing the pricing model based on the feedback given. I agree with the comments given that the current model is off-putting (as it was to me) since within a couple years the snowballing price just to even open the software goes well beyond other programs like PI or SGP (although that is for capture, but still related). I have a slew of programs for the calibration and integration ranging in prices, and while I am always looking to make my images better and find a better process for that, the inability to even open the program after the expiration date does not seem like a good plan.
A one-time purchase at a similar or slightly higher amount as currently offered that allows full access to the program indefinitely but after the 1-yr period is not eligible for upgrades without an upgrade fee seems like a better way to go. However, if you do want to do a subscription (although Adobe made this a thing, I think it is still not necessarily a well-regarded option by the consumers) then the initial cost should be the same as the renewal cost. This gives a much longer period for new users to spend time with the program before the price alone makes them go to another program and, by then, they will hopefully see it as an invaluable, well-tested, tool so that they are willing to continue subscribing.
Just my 2 cents, but as you said you wanted to hear from more astrophotographers before going to a new model I wanted to share it.
Thanks!
-Annie
www.eprisephoto.com
Hi Annie,
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and concerns, it's highly appreciated 😉
I'll make the changes public within several days now... (more or less like you and others have proposed...).
Kind regards,
Mabula
Hi Mabula
Annual fee is not a good idea for astronomy processing software. I own several ones (not free, like PixInsight, Startools... ) and I will try your software. If 150€ fee is acceptable, I would say it should be valid for major version (from 1.0 to 1.x )
Than, if you release v2.0, so it is normal you can propose a upgrade price, like 50€ for example.
But 150€ then need to pay 50€ every year to use the software is not very nice. More if the software is blocked if licence is not renewed.
In this case, I'm not sure I will purchase your software, even if it has very nice features.
Please think about a fair solution.
Best regards
Philippe
Hi Phillipe,
Thank you for sharing your opinion about this.
I will definitely chance the license model and I will make this public soon..
Kind regards,
Mabula
