The latest version of the PixInsight Standard core application, 1.0.1.197 Beta 1, is now available for download:
http://pleiades-astrophoto.com/download/STD/index.htmlThis new version includes a large number of improvements, additions and bug fixes. It is entirely based on our customized version of Qt 4.1.1 and PCL 1.0.1.63.
This is a brief summary of the most important changes and improvements that this new version includes:
New Real-Time Preview (RTP) system. RTP works in 16 bits now (LE's RTP is 8-bit), so you can preview virtually
anything with the new PixInsight, including transformations made directly on raw CCD images. Perhaps more importantly, the new RTP is no more a LUT-based previewing system, so it is ready to support real-time previews of virtually all processes in PixInsight; the only limiting factor being the amount of computing work required.
New Screen Transfer Function (STF) functionality. STF is the equivalent to the
screen stretch function in other softwares -
but PixInsight's STF is a different world, including separate RGB and luminance STFs on a per-view basis. Of course, STF works in 16-bit, so it performs superbly with raw CCD images, as intended.
Fully functional HistogramTransform and CurvesTransform processes. Except very minor final tweaks, these processes are now finished. You'll see a lot of changes and improvements. All runs much faster now and is much more accurate. Watch the CurvesTransform interface because it comes with a few surprises that surely all of you will like a lot.
Note that you can apply now high-precision histogram and curves transforms transparently to the five data formats supported by PixInsight Standard. This includes 64-bit floating-point images, which means that you can work now into an effective dynamic range of 10^15 discrete values.
Of course, both HistogramTransform and CurvesTransform work seamlessly with the new Real-Time Preview system.
New DigitalDevelopment process. Note that this new DDP process fully supports real-time preview, including DDP with edge emphasis.
New ExponentialTransform process, implementing the PIP and SMI techniques. As DDP, ExponentialTransform also supports full real-time preview, including smoothing filters of any size.
Full support of multimonitor systems. Improved
View > Full Screen mode, and a new
View > Full Desktop mode. In Full-Screen mode, now PixInsight covers all of the available monitors. The new Full-Desktop mode is similar to full-screen, but the application keeps its main window frame.
New Maximization Limit feature. You'll see an orange, vertical line on PixInsight's workspace. This is the new
Maximization Limit Guide, which you can drag and move horizontally at your will. This guide works as a stopping line for maximized windows. When you maximize a window in PixInsight, it will never surpass the maximization limit guide. In this way, you can reserve a section of the workspace that will always remain free for icons and interfaces. This is extremely useful when working with multiple monitors, e.g. you can reserve the primary monitor at the left for images, and the secondary monitor at the right for interfaces, icons, console, etc. Look at this example with a dual monitor configuration:
http://pleiades-astrophoto.com/tmp/sshot-2.jpgThe NGC 2392 image above was taken by Vicent Peris and José Luis Lamadrid with a modified Canon 300D and a Takahashi Mewlon 180. By the way, it was entirely processed with a working beta of PixInsight, including regularized Richardson-Lucy deconvolution. 8)
New Favorite Processes category, available on the Process Explorer window. Now you can define an arbitrary set of favorite processes for quick access. See the Process Explorer window and its new tool buttons, and you'll know what I mean :wink:
New View Selector control and tool bar. By default, it will appear at the lower left corner of your screen, and will let you access all of the existing views (images and their defined previews) in a sigh.
Thank you, and enjoy it! (and report bugs, too).
The Pleiades Development Team
