Quick Start

Everything you need to know to get started with ALS.
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Introduction

By the end of this chapter, you will have:

  • Configured the only required settings for a quick start
  • Started your first stacking session and obtained your first results.

Initial configuration

On the first start, ALS introduces the configuration steps required to get started:

ALS needs to know the paths of two critical folders:

  • The Scan folder: The folder where ALS monitors the arrival of new subs.
  • The Work folder: The folder where ALS saves the produced images.
ALS welcome screen with setup options

ALS welcome screen with setup options

You have two options:

Default configuration

  • 🖱️ Click the left button to let ALS create the 2 folders on your desktop then start the application

Custom configuration

  • 🖱️ Click the right button to choose custom folders
ALS custom folder setup screen

ALS custom folder setup screen

  • 🖱️ Click both buttons to select the Scan folder and the Work folder ALS will use

ALS also monitors subfolders, so if your acquisition system organizes subs into folders by date, target name, frame type, or similar criteria, select their common parent folder as ALS’s Scan folder.

You can select or create any folder on your system, but we recommend using folders on a fast drive

  • 🖱️ Once both folders are set, click GO ! to start the application

Your Very First Session

ALS main window showing a software interface for stacking astronomical images in real-time. The interface includes sections for main controls (start, pause, stop), stack settings (align, minimum matches), image server (start, stop), image saver (save current, save every frame), workers (queue size, status), processing (histogram, auto stretch, levels, RGB balance), and session log.

ALS ready to start its very first session

Starting the Session

ALS main controls section with the Session subsection, showing the START, PAUSE, and STOP buttons. The START button is highlighted with a red arrow pointing to it. Below, indicators for Stack size (0) and Stack exposure (n/a) are displayed. The status reads 'stopped'.

The session start button

🖱️ Click START in the session section at the top left

ALS confirms the successful session start:

ALS main controls section with the Session subsection, showing the START, PAUSE, and STOP buttons. Below these buttons, indicators for Stack size (0) and Stack exposure (n/a) are displayed. The status reads 'running' with a red arrow pointing to it.

The session control buttons and session status are updated

Session log showing informational messages with timestamps. The entries include 'Starting new session,' 'Input scanner started,' and 'Session running in mode mean with alignment True.' Buttons labeled Acknowledge, issues only, follow. Statusbar item reads : session running

The session log displays the latest events and the status bar is updated

🎛️ Before starting your acquisitions, make sure that new subs will be saved in the Scan folder configured in ALS, or any of its subfolders.

🎛️ Now start the acquisitions with your usual system. ALS detects and processes each new sub.

As an example, we will illustrate the following sections with a session on Messier 27: ZWO ASI224MC camera, 200 x 4 sec. subs

ALS main window after processing the first sub, displaying an initial, slightly noisy image of Messier 27 nebula with scattered stars. The session log shows successful processing messages. The processing panel on the right provides histogram and level adjustments, RGB balance, and auto stretch settings.

ALS after processing the 1st sub

All new subs are first aligned to this reference and then stacked by averaging with all previously processed subs.

ALS main window after processing the 15th sub, displaying a less noisy and more detailed image of Messier 27 nebula with scattered stars. The session log shows successful processing messages. The processing panel on the right provides histogram and level adjustments, RGB balance, and auto stretch settings.

ALS after processing the 15th image. Contrast and noise improve

After each alignment and stacking of a new sub, ALS automatically adjusts the brightness and color balance before displaying the result in the central area.

As you stack more subs, you will see the result gain in contrast and detail. The grainy appearance of the sky background will gradually fade away.

Explore

Let ALS work on the subs that keep coming in and lose yourself a bit in the central area:

  • 🖱️ Zoom in and out using your mouse wheel
  • 🖱️ Navigate the image by dragging it, like with any other viewing software
  • 🖱️ Reset the zoom by right-clicking in the image

The image in the central area is instantly updated after each sub is processed, with no impact on navigation.

The Astro Live Stacker (ALS) main window after processing the 200th sub, displaying a smooth, detailed, and high-contrast image of the Messier 27 nebula with numerous stars. The session log at the bottom shows successful processing messages and the image saver panel on the left indicates that the images have been saved successfully. The right panel includes processing options such as histogram adjustments, auto stretch, levels, and RGB balance.

ALS after processing the 200th image. A beautiful, detailed, and smoothed image

This quick start guide does not cover the other features and settings of ALS. However, ALS has been designed to be very intuitive. Feel free to explore and experiment with the various controls located on the right side of the screen in the Processing section.

Stopping the Session

Our express guided tour is coming to an end, stop the current session.

Main controls section in ALS software interface, specifically the Session area showing START, PAUSE, and STOP buttons. The STOP button is highlighted with a red arrow pointing to it. Below the buttons are Stack size (200) and Stack exposure (0:13:20). The status shows 'running'.

The session stop button

🖱️ Click STOP in the session section at the top left. A confirmation window appears…

Dialog box titled 'Session stop,' asking for confirmation to stop the current session with a message: 'Stopping the current session will reset the stack and all image enhancements. Are you sure you want to stop the current session?' Below the message are a checkbox labeled 'Save result before stop' and two buttons labeled 'No' and 'Yes.' The 'No' button is highlighted in red, and the 'Yes' button is highlighted in green.

Session stop confirmation window

🖱️ Click Yes

You will find the final result of this session in the file named stack_image.jpg saved in the work folder

Conclusion

ALS is now properly configured and ready to process your subs with its default settings.

You have just completed your first stacking session and obtained your first result.

Next step: diving in our user guide

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