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.
Hello. I am trying to combine images taken with an Askar D1 and D2. My results are dreadful. Any tips for the stacking?
Background: I am fairly new to APP; been using it for a couple of years, maybe 15 times. I use an ASI2600MC Pro, a ZWO EFW with the Askar D1 (OIII & Ha) and then the D2 (S-II & OIII), 180sec exposures, 30 frames of D1 then 30 with D2 looping until Astronomical Dawn. The OTA is an Askar SQA55 with ZWO EAF, guided by an ASI174MM-MINI and SvBony 30/120mm guidescope. The Askar doesn't have a set backfocus requirement, but I run at 56mm. I used NINA Smart Exposure. Star shapes great, Tilt is acceptable. Most of this doesn't matter to the stacking workload, but someone always asks.
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Thanks for the help,
Tyler
@monsonmjmgmail-com Hello, I am using a very similar setup, Askar D1/D2, ASI2600MC Air, Askar V telescope and I am 55-56mm of back focus. I am not entirely sure how your images are coming out but this is my basic workflow for APP (most tabs are default). Under 0) Raw-Fits, Pattern is RGGB, select Ha-Oiii Color for algorithm, and check Force Bayer/X-trans. Under 1) Load, check the box for multi-channel/filter process (optionally multi-session if over multiple nights). I keep my D1/D2 lights in separate folders and add master calibration frames to each folder. Then select D1 lights, assign it to a filter (I name it D1), repeat for D2, ensure calibration frames are added to each filter if not already auto-detected. 3), 4), and 5) can basically be run as default (or tweaked based on your preferences). Finally under 6) Integrate - I typically integrate "per channel and all" and then under multi session options I "integrate all." This will give you a D1 master, D2 master and combined D1/D2 master. You can also extract the Ha, Sii, and Oiii, channels in APP or PI to do a SHO workflow. I have had very good results with this filter and workflow.
Thank you! I'll give it a go. Cheers-
Good tip Brannon! Worked much better. Thank you
Good tip Brannon! Worked much better. Thank you
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Ok, I still have problems. The stacked fits looks pretty good in APP, but when I take it to Seti Astro for my first post processing it "shows massive stacking artifacts" according to the Seti developer. Not too sure how to share the fits file, but the jpeg is attached.Â
Thoughts?
@monsonmjmgmail-com Under #6 INTEGRATE and Mode are you using Full or Reference? Reference should minimize stacking artifacts. Even with the stacking artifacts in the picture you provided, they are easy to crop out (see my attachment of your pic). You can crop them after it is integrated under tab TOOLS - Batch Crop. I always crop out a little of the perimeter so the gradient removal does not think it is part of the picture.
