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.
Hi Mabula,
I would like to say that the new version, especially the multi-channel and multi-session processing option, is really really great. It saves a lot of time and the need to sit next to the computer and wait for the next step was decreased. Also the integrate-all option is really cool and as far as I know relatively unique in terms of simple usability. All processing is done much faster and more independently.
Thank you very much,
Stephan
Hi Stephan @schurig,
Thank you very much for your feedback.
I am very happy that the new changes are received very well by everyone. I really like it myself 😉Â
I am also very happy with the new calibration engine including multi-factor dark scaling. Both the new calibration engine and the multi-channel & session features should improve ease of use greatly, like you experience 😉
And Thank You as well Stephan ;-) , since you pointed out several improvements that I could make with APP in your first mails on the forum. Like recognizing the filter data from the fits file headers to make the multi-channel processing more automatic 😉 And all ideas and suggestions are still highly appreciated.
Your ideas about storing analyse star /normalize data will be implemented as well 😉 As will project save/load...
Cheers,
Mabula
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Hi Mabula,
At least for my personal needs the project save/load as well as storing the star analysis data function lowered in priority. Because of the new multi session/channel and integrate all options processing can be done now in one run and there is actually no need to resume from a previous step. But that only applies to me, maybe other users that use e.g. the panorama processing still long for it!
If I had some wishes at the moment, I would say:
1. Please Please enable an checkbox in the config, that the last used working dir can be stored if the user wishes to!
2. Show some statistical values on the pic, either for the whole pic or for an selected area: e.g. you could place another checkbox next to the ones in the top of the UI. When the user checks it, statistical information is shown for the pic (or when the user draws an selection on the pic only for the selected area), the statistical info should consider the view mode (linear, calibrated, etc.) and the configuration on the right (DPP, etc.)
3. Enable the common behaviour in the file list to select files: Ctrl selectes distinct item, shift selectes a range of items.
4. Implement some denoise functionality. I think the sharpen sliders do a very good job. I wish there was also a slider to denoise the sky background to make it somewhat smoother.
Cheers, Stephan
Hi Stephan @schurig,
Your points are all on my ToDo list, so will be done in due time.
Thanks for your feedback 😉
Mabula
