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.
Hey,
just found a comparison of the most widely used stacking softwares.
just some random youtuber but still interesting to watch.
as far as my opinion goes i can say that i always liked the final images out of app the most.
App is just great software. At the same time i think there are a few things that could get better.
things like a photometric color calibration or scnr would be great to have. I also would absolutely love to see a better ui (completely new designed) and a focus on opening the software for third party developers.
things like starnet or noise x terminator are just so good that it makes little to no sense to invest dev time in own star removal tools and similar like app did. Just my opinion of course.
Hmmm, the random YouToober as you call him, is Nico Carver from Nebula Photos and he is well respected in the Astrophotography world and he is promoting/supporting this hobby quite successful.
I do like APP myself with all its corkiness, especially for mosaic work. I agree with your points that it could be improved and implementing third party tools is actually a great suggestion. The post integration part of software is confusing with its sliders at the best.
CS, Georg
I wonder what settings he used when comparing the data.
Also how good his subs are.
For instance, APP is choosing the stacking algoritm by itself (auto) while ASTAP use average. DSS has standard options but can suggest changes.
Ah, a classic comparison. The issue with most of these is that it's extremely important you know the ins and outs of every program. Settings will differ between them etc and those have to be explained well. Didn't watch the video yet, but if he is popular I do hope he knows how to use everything well (and looking at some comments about both APP, but also Affinity, he apparently doesn't). Doesn't mean it's bad to compare or anything, but you always should look at more than 1 reviewer.
Ah, a classic comparison. The issue with most of these is that it's extremely important you know the ins and outs of every program. Settings will differ between them etc and those have to be explained well. Didn't watch the video yet, but if he is popular I do hope he knows how to use everything well (and looking at some comments about both APP, but also Affinity, he apparently doesn't). Doesn't mean it's bad to compare or anything, but you always should look at more than 1 reviewer.
You are absolutely right. Guess he just needed an idea for a video. Still interesting to watch.
