Stacking Beta

Stacking Beta is an astronomical software for stacking photos. Simply, if you have a directory with your photos, select one base photo and all photos will be aligned and a result photo or video will be made...

Features

• Align images
• Stack aligned images to produce a result image
• Stack aligned images to produce a gif animation.
• Subtract dark files when dark file provided
• Balance result image by flat files when flat files provided
• Simple use. In fact, only first light file can be drag and dropped to application and the Run button can be launched.

Supported Formats

Most Common

Now, it supports most common formats, like jpeg, png, tiff, bmp. The best suggested format is 48bits tiff (16bits per channel) not to loose precision.

Raw

It supports also NEF and CR2 formats but the dcraw utility must be installed first and the PATH variable must be properly set. In such case Stacking will use it.
Note dcraw is also part of ImageMagic

Fits

Also FITS are supported but the limit is only one image may be present in one fits file.

Please, realize this is a very experimental version of application just being developed.

Downloads

Released 1.13

download linux version
download win version
Note: you must have Java 17 installed

Algorithm

There are several steps to make a result calibrated image.
Note: when missing dark or flat images the appropriate steps are ommited

Dark Frames

When input dark images provided then they are stacked, smoothed and if required also rotated. The result is a master dark image.

Master dark image process

Alignment

Alignment of light images is the heart of whole process. First of all the master dark is subtracted when such exists.
The base image stays untouched (except subtraction) and other images are panned or rotated and maybe a bit stretched or shrinked. As result all objects like stars must be at the same position x, y using image coordinates.

Stacking

Each pixel of all aligned images is summed or averaged to obtain the resulting pixel. The math operation is done separatelly for each color of pixel. For example, for red color sum all red colors of all images on given coordinates x, y and in case of averaging divide by number of images.

Process Flat Images

First of all the master flat image must be prepared. Algorithm is exactly the same like dark images.
Each pixel of stacked image multiply by a gain G. See wiki.
In Staking the formula is simplified (subtracting dark image ommited) as:
G = m / F
where G is a gain (factor), m is an average value of whole master flat image. F is a value of master flat image on concrete coordinates.
For result pixel the formula is:
C = (R - D) * G
where C is the result calibrated value, R is value of light image and D is value of master dark image.
In case the dark frames are missing it's simpliefied as:
C = R * G

Main Process