Advanced

Local Quality Stacking

The AutoStakkert method - 30-40% more detail possible

Quick Summary

The AutoStakkert method - 30-40% more detail possible Inspired by AutoStakkert's AP (Alignment Points) system. Uses 6x6 grid by default. Each cell selects top N% of frames independently based on local Laplacian variance. Gaussian blending (30px sigma) prevents visible grid artifacts. Can reveal 30-40% more surface detail vs global stacking.

How Local Quality Stacking Works

Divides the image into a 6x6 grid of regions

Each region independently selects its sharpest frames

The left side of Jupiter might use different frames than the right side

Regions blend together with Gaussian smoothing to prevent visible boundaries

Best For

-Maximum planetary detail extraction from good source footage
-Jupiter/Saturn where different regions peak at different moments
-Captures with thousands of high-quality frames
-Experienced imagers who want the absolute best results

Not Recommended For

-Smartphone/compressed footage - compression limits benefit
-Short captures (<1000 frames) - not enough variation
-Poor seeing nights - there may be no good frames for some regions
-Quick processing - takes longer than global methods

Technical Details

Inspired by AutoStakkert's AP (Alignment Points) system. Uses 6x6 grid by default. Each cell selects top N% of frames independently based on local Laplacian variance. Gaussian blending (30px sigma) prevents visible grid artifacts. Can reveal 30-40% more surface detail vs global stacking.