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 have an odd case here. After changing my setup, I shot a new set of flats using NINA's flat wizard. My gear:
AT-130 EDT telescope
0.7X focal reducer, resulting in 728mm focal length (f/5.6)
Minicam8 8 mono camera with filter wheel.
I shot the flats and then imaged the Fireworks galaxy, NGC 6946 in RGBHa.
I processed the RGB image first, and it was quite presentable for only 96 minutes total integration.
(FYI, I do the integration in APP and most post processing in PI)
I then went to integrate Ha into the galaxy. I found that the Ha flats were not properly correcting the Ha image, while the RGB flats were. Examples:
Note, these images are linear and have to be stretched to see the issues.
I have gone back and checked the FITS headers and verified that the camera was on identical settings for gain and offset, and that the filters were properly labeled.
Before I go off and shoot another set of Ha flats and try again, does anyone have any suggestions for saving the situation?
Thanks!
