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 using the latest version of APP in a trial basis on an IMac. I have been through the process several times and have had reasonable success ( for a beginner). For the last week or so I have been trying to use the program but I can't load any files into APP. With the working directory on screen I can the directory down to folders and sub folders but when I open these it shows nothing although the files are definitely there. In the file type box there is no file type showing and nothing on the dropdown. I am probably missing something obvious but has any one any ideas how to correct this please as the program is unusable at the moment.
ThankyouÂ
Hi @chrisby18,
Thank you for your question and welcome to the APP forum.
The application starts with asking you to select a working directory. In this directory, APP will store all results and also temporary files while integrating.
The File Chooser states: select your working directory
So your first step is to just choose a work directory. After having chosen a work directory, you can load frames with the lights, darks, flats, bias buttons and they should show up then 😉
I pressed the light button after having chosen the lights folder as my working directory, now I can see/select an load the frames.
Let me know if this solves it for you 😉
Kind regards,
Mabula
Hi Mabula,
Thank-you for your very prompt reply, I feel a bit of an idiot now, I thought I was doing just as you suggest but realise I was pressing lights and then trying to find the files rather than, as you say pressing and choosing the directory button first.
Thank you once again, APP is the best program of its type, I have tried, and I will be taking out a subscription very soon.
Chris.
