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.
Is there a way to process lights only?
Thanks
Of course, just don't add calibration frames. I often only do lights. With a good sensor, good optics, you can often get by without calibration.
Like @astrogee says, yes totally possible. For a really nice result you would need a near perfect sensor for not using any calibration though, even the most expensive ones do have some amp-glow and such. And you'd need perfect illumination as well without any dust to get away from flats. It's possible, but usually very expensive. And I think using bias will enable you to stretch more.
@vincent-mod Thanks for your replies. Some nights at the end of a session, I want to take a quick look at a target, but not do a full blown session. Just take a handful of lights and process those. Did not know if APP would do that or not. I just got the trial last night.
Like @astrogee says, yes totally possible. For a really nice result you would need a near perfect sensor for not using any calibration though, even the most expensive ones do have some amp-glow and such. And you'd need perfect illumination as well without any dust to get away from flats. It's possible, but usually very expensive. And I think using bias will enable you to stretch more.
I used a modded Pentax K-5II to start, and didn't really know what amp glow was that people were referring to. No bias issues either. Then I bought an ASI294 Pro-cooled - talk about amp glow! Now I have to do darks for sure. The Pentax K-5II sensor (by Sony) is probably one of the best. ZWO now puts it in the ASI071 - $2000 astrocam. I loved it but I could not control the Pentax so I gave it up for an astrocam 😢
