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.
Hi,
After more than 2 years using APP, I think it's time for me to share my little feedback.
First, I really like to thank Mabula for this great software and for the improvements over the years, listening users.
Thanx also Vincent and Wouter for there help and following all the topics !
Â
What I really like in APP :
- it's easy to use, and it's very efficient and robust. From calibration to integration, results are high level, has good or even better than those obtained with other softwares.
- The gradient removal tool is amazing. I especially like the iterative way it works.
- And of course, the mosaic function, that made me know APP. Such an easy way to make seamless mosaic. What a great work here.
Â
What I like less :
- As a MacOS user, when the screen saver or sleep mode starts, APP stops until the computer wakes up.
- The crop function isn't very friendly to use, nether the color calibration (for me at least).
Â
My suggestions for improvements :
1 - Gradient removal tool :
 - the ability to manually remove placed boxes
 - the ability to apply gradient removal to several images that have been previously registered : it would be useful to remove gradient for Color, Ha and OIII extracted for example, or for different integration results, or to remove gradient before stacking.
2 - Mosaic :
A preview for mosaic projection would be great, working with panel thumbnails for example, before working with full panels.
Â
I haven't tried the comet registration yet, but it's a nice addition.
The coming star reduction tool seems to be great.
Â
Thanx again for this amazing work that makes astrophotography processing more easy.
I can't wait to try the next release !
Â
CS,
David
Â
Â
Â
