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.
Sorry for a a double entry in one day but I have these strange artifacts around Alnitak in SII and OIII. It appears that they are there in the single subs as well. Just very faint. Is there a way to perhaps get rid of this or address it in some way or another? Any suggestion will be appreciated.
Also checked Ha and it is there as well but not as bad
Hi Johan @lanties,
I think you mean the strange squarish diffraction pattern in Alnitak ?
This is, unfortunately, a known problem of the ZWO asi 1600 camera. This occurs due to the specific sensor glass in front of the sensor that is used, it causes reflections. I have the camera myself and I have this as well. I see it on bright stars with long exposures clearly 😐
Besides that, the data looks great 😋
Mabula
Hi Mabula @mabula-haverkamp-administrator,
Thank you for the info and for the compliment on my data.
I already had to throw a full set of ZWO filters away due to terrible halo's and replaced those with Astrodon filters. The expensive learning curve of being very new in this hobby. At least the problem is only with very bright stars.
Regards
Johan
Hi Johan @lanties ,
Yes, this can be a nasty hobby in that sense 😉 ...
Unfortunately the asi1600mm has no good coatings on the mentioned glass in front of the sensor, giving you the square diffraction patterns. I have the first version of the as1600, you too? I don't know if this issue is fixed in the latest asi1600 version. (the PRO one).
Cheers,
Mabula
I Mabula, @mabula-haverkamp-administrator,
I received mine and less than a month later they released the pro version. No offer to swap out or upgrade even at a fee. You can understand there is a bit of frustration here.
The pro version, as far as I know, does not address this problem. A good friend of mine, here in Cape Town, also have the MM as well as the MC 1600 pro and he has the same diffraction patters with both cameras. His new ZWO filters seems to be better than the ones I had. The diffraction is however more prominent using the ZWO filters than the Astrodon filters. There seems to be no halos with the new ZWO filters.
I Mabula, @mabula-haverkamp-administrator,
I received mine and less than a month later they released the pro version. No offer to swap out or upgrade even at a fee. You can understand there is a bit of frustration here.
The pro version, as far as I know, does not address this problem. A good friend of mine, here in Cape Town, also have the MM as well as the MC 1600 pro and he has the same diffraction patters with both cameras. His new ZWO filters seems to be better than the ones I had. The diffraction is however more prominent using the ZWO filters than the Astrodon filters. There seems to be no halos with the new ZWO filters.
Hi @lanties,
Okay, thank you for that information. I was a bit frustrated as well ;-( . I bought the asi-1600 and was a bit disappointed I must admit. The camera is great on everything but bright stars is my conclusion.
Filter can have a big influence as well, that's clear. I was using Baader LRGB filters with the camera, perhaps they were a bad match as well...
Mabula
