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 there!
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I am hoping someone can help me find the best way to do this 🙂  I have taken RGB images of the Pleiades (filterless) with both my hyperstar on an 8" edge HD with an asi294 mc pro AND a canon Ra on a sharpstar 61.  I am combining them nicely using this great tutorial: https://www.astropixelprocessor.com/registration-normalization-integration-using-ddc-lnc-mbb/  here.
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I ALSO took some data on the hyperstar with an IDAS NBZ that I would like to add to the mix to create an RGBHOO image. Â I have done this well before JUST using the hyperstar data, but am unsure how to do this now that my RGB will be a VERY different image size (as it is the Ra and hyperstar data mixed) than the Ha-OIII data from the hyperstar.
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SO.... what I am asking is, how can I do this so APP understands how to put the H and OII data in the right place? Â Do I FIRST create an RGB of the RGB material (Ra and hyperstar) and separately extract Ha and Oiii of the IDAS data... will APP know where that fits when I click on the COMBINE RGB tool? Â Do I need to do something else first?
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I hope this makes sense! Â Thank you!
@luckybudd Hi!
You want to process the RGB and IDAS images separately because for the IDAS images you want to select Ha-OIII extract Ha and then Ha-OIII extract OIII.
Once you have the integrated RGB image (combining both focal lengths) and the separate Ha and OIII images, you can load all three as lights (no calibration files), go to tab 5 and normalize them. This will also register the images to each other. Then save the registered images.
The resulting registered images can then be loaded in the Combine RGB tool to create the RGBHOO image.Â
HTH, Wouter
Brilliant! Â Thank you!
So, if I understand correctly:Â
1. Integrate the RGB files. Â Set aside the stacked RGB file.
2. Reopen APP and load the IDAS data, creating both an extracted HA and OIII file.
3. Reopen APP and load ONLY the completed 3 files as LIGHTS (the RGB, HA and OIII) and normalize them (don't integrate). Â Are there any special settings I need to do at this point, or leave everything as default? Â Then save the new register images (is this in tab 4?)
4. go to combine tool and select RGBHOO like normal.
Thank you Wouter! Â Very helpful!
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@luckybudd That's correct but no need to restart APP. In tab 1 you can clear all loaded files and then load the ones you want to integrate.Â
Ahhh! Â Merci!!
