Terms

The browser workflow

Nightscape Stacker is designed for matching, fixed-tripod nightscape sequences. You choose photos, mark the sky manually, align and stack accepted frames, inspect the result, and download a 16-bit RGB TIFF. Use desktop Chrome or Edge for the current beta.

The current inputs are JPEG, 8-bit PNG, and supported single-page, 16-bit RGB TIFF files. TIFF inputs must use a supported sRGB profile; unsupported or conflicting profiles are rejected. Untagged JPEG and PNG files are interpreted as sRGB with a warning. A 16-bit export does not recover precision missing from an 8-bit source.

The interface accepts sequences of 3–30 photos, up to 32 megapixels and 300 MB per photo. Files must have matching dimensions, and at least three frames must pass alignment, including the reference. These limits are input limits, not a guarantee that every device can process a batch. Processing also depends on browser memory and available local storage.

Direct camera RAW import, tracked-sky sequences, panoramas, mixed exposures, and automatic sky segmentation are outside this beta. The reference frame supplies the foreground. Sky stacking uses an average; moving clouds, satellites, and aircraft can remain in the result because this beta does not reject those moving objects automatically. Complex horizons and regions with too few useful stars may require extra care or may fail validation. See the guide for the current workflow and limits.

Your photographs and results

You retain your rights in the photographs you process and the results you create. You may use your results for personal or commercial work, subject to your rights in the original material. Only process and share material you own or have permission to use.

Keep your originals and inspect the output, especially stars near the edges and the sky–foreground boundary. We do not promise successful alignment or a particular improvement for every sequence. The synthetic sample demonstrates the controls and processing path; it is not evidence of performance on your photographs.

Version 1 license and invited payment testing

An invited LIVE test purchase grants a one-time license to export full-resolution results from the browser version 1 product for your own use. It will not be a subscription, a purchase of the source code, or a promise of future major versions, perpetual hosting, or support for every browser and camera format.

The invited LIVE test price is US$19.99 plus applicable tax. The actual total, seller information, and payment terms are displayed by Paddle before you confirm payment. Entering the invitation activates test access only; you must separately choose checkout and confirm payment. Do not pay if the offer shown there is unclear or differs from what you intend to buy.

In the invited payment test, previews remain available and full-resolution export is locked until the server verifies the paid transaction. This lets the test check payment, unlock, recovery, and refund revocation. The free public beta remains a separate evaluation mode. After payment, paid access is enabled only when the server verifies the transaction. A browser completion message alone is not proof that verification has finished. If confirmation is pending, check the existing purchase or contact support rather than paying again.

Purchase access is recognized using an essential browser cookie. Save the private recovery key offered after verification so you can restore access after clearing browser data or using another device. A replacement key invalidates older keys. Never publish or share a key. Contact support with your receipt reference if you cannot restore a legitimate purchase.

A completed full refund revokes the purchase’s paid access, including access restored on another browser. Files you have already downloaded remain on your device. Free evaluation access, when available, is separate from a purchased license. See the refund policy for the full refund process.

Software and third-party components

Third-party components remain subject to their own licenses, including any rights those licenses grant. These terms do not remove those rights. You must not use the service to infringe another person’s rights, disrupt the purchase service, or gain access to someone else’s purchase.

Beta features and future plans may change. Nothing here limits consumer rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.

Contact and privacy

Ask support if you need help deciding whether your sequence fits the workflow or understanding a purchase. For how local processing and purchase data are handled, read Privacy.