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.
Dear Mabula,
I'm taking binned RGB images for my LRGB composites. In the whole processing chain at which phase do you advice to upscale the binned RGB frames? At the beginning, or at the end, after tweaking the combined RGB image? Which interpolation algorithm would do the best job on an upscale?
Thank yo for your answer.
Joseph
Dear All,
Is there anyone with an answer? I'm quite new to this application and I probably miss something, maybe a feature or just a simple checkbox which gives a simple answer to my question. What you guys do when your RGB frames are binned? What is your workflow?
Thanks,
Joesph
Hi Joseph,
When I have processed binned 2x2 RGB subs with unbinned L subs, I have just loaded all the frames into APP (with appropriate binned and unbinned calibration frames to match) then processed them all in exactly the same way as if they were all unbinned subs.
When you get to 4) Register APP will I think have selected an unbinned frame as the reference image and will correctly align the binned and unbinned subs.
During Integration I assume APP uses drizzle method to upscale the binned subs to match the dimensions of the unbinned.
I've also successfully processed binned and unbinned RGB subs in the same integration - no problem.
https://www.astrobin.com/394914/M/?nc=user
Hope this helps
Mike
Yes, it does, and it makes sense as well. Thank you for your answer.
following ...
May I ask what drizzle parameters are set at the 6) integrate stage?
Thanks
Tim
Hi,
Mabula has written an excellent summary about principles and pros/cons of Drizzle on this forum post:
- What is Drizzle and when can I benefit from it ?
Unless you are experimenting (its always interesting to try things) or have specific reasons to choose otherwise, stick with the defaults.
Mike
PS Above I said 'During Integration I assume APP uses drizzle method to upscale the binned subs to match the dimensions of the unbinned.' On reflection, I think I should more correctly have said 'I believe APP uses an interpolation technique (Lanczos 3) to to upscale the binned subs to match the dimensions of the unbinned subs.'
