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 have a few questions about calibration frames and camera orientation. I am learning how to use a new-to-me HEQ5 Pro mount with SynScan. Tonight I did a meridian flip partway through my imaging session. I did not change camera orientation - as I suspect is common (I’m using an OSC).
Does this orientation change have any impact on my calibration frames?
My typical work flow is to finish my lights, put lens cap on telescope, shoot a number of darks while I start breaking down my setup. Obviously, this also changes camera orientation. Does this matter?
Once I’m all broken down, I’ll stop taking darks and usually bring my camera+telescope inside. Sometimes I will take flats and dark flats soon thereafter, but if the outside-inside temps are very different, I’ll wait a while (or next day).
Again, I’m assuming orientation doesn’t matter as long as optical train and focus stays the same.
Final calibration question: I understand that flats require the optical train / focus to remain the same, but I can re-use darks if I change telescopes as long as the OSC, ISO, temp and exposure are all the same, yes?
Furthermore, I can re-use flats and dark flats from a different day as long as the optical train / focus is the same, correct?
Just making sure I understand calibration frame basics.
Thank you!
-Trevor
Does this orientation change have any impact on my calibration frames?
The orientation of the camera doesn't change w.r.t. the telescope, so no, this will not affect the flats.
My typical work flow is to finish my lights, put lens cap on telescope, shoot a number of darks while I start breaking down my setup. Obviously, this also changes camera orientation. Does this matter?
There is no light involved with taking darks, so this doesn't change the orientation.
Again, I’m assuming orientation doesn’t matter as long as optical train and focus stays the same.
That assumption is correct.
I understand that flats require the optical train / focus to remain the same, but I can re-use darks if I change telescopes as long as the OSC, ISO, temp and exposure are all the same, yes?
Yes, the darks only depend on the camera and nothing else.
I can re-use flats and dark flats from a different day as long as the optical train / focus is the same, correct?
Darks yes. Flats depend on the orientation of the camera w.r.t. the telescope and also on dust motes. If no dust is visible and the orientation of the camera doesn't change w.r.t. the telescope then you can reuse the flats. In general, however, it is recommended to take new flats everytime the camera and telescope are disconnected.
About the image orientation in general: what camera are you using? It seems to be a non-cooled camera. If it is a DSLR then please make sure that auto-rotation of the images is switched off in the camera. Otherwise the camera itself will modify the meta-data of the image which APP should deal properly with but better safe than sorry.
About the image orientation in general: what camera are you using? It seems to be a non-cooled camera. If it is a DSLR then please make sure that auto-rotation of the images is switched off in the camera. Otherwise the camera itself will modify the meta-data of the image which APP should deal properly with but better safe than sorry.
Ah - definitely worth checking, thank you. I’m using a Canon EOS RP mirrorless.
Your response also has me re-thinking my use of the word “orientation”. I was thinking about how the camera+telescope is oriented with respect to the ground (e.g. what direction is it pointing, landscape vs portrait, etc.) I now understand that orientation means the orientation of the camera with respect to the telescope. That helps. Thank you.
