ChimpStackr vs ForgePix

ChimpStackr is a free, open-source application for focus stacking, with graphical and headless command-line interfaces. It offers Laplacian Pyramid, Weighted Average, Depth Map, and Exposure Fusion methods. Automatic alignment supports translation, Euclidean rotation, similarity rotation and scale, and affine correction. Its 16-bit pipeline preserves bit depth from RAW input to output, and automatic cropping removes black edges caused by alignment shifts. Users can drag image files or folders into the app, compare input and output with a slider, and pause, resume, or cancel long-running stacks. Auto-tuning detects parameters from image resolution. Downloads are listed for Windows as a ZIP, macOS as a DMG, and Linux x86-64 as an AppImage; TIFF and PNG are listed output formats, and RAW files are supported. The project uses the GPL-3.0 license. Exposure Fusion is described for images with varying exposure or lighting, rather than focus stacking. Building from source requires Python 3.9–3.13, and builds can only be made for the current platform.

ForgePix is beta software for automatic focus stacking and computational photography, with workflows for macro, astrophotography, and long-exposure image series. Its Macro, Astro, Hybrid, and Long Exposure modules include a one-click Automatic mode that selects usable frames, aligns and merges them, then applies gentle sharpening. Focus merges can use Laplacian pyramid, depth map, weighted average, à-trous wavelet, or halo fix methods. Astro tools cover calibration-frame detection, star alignment, rejection methods, drizzle, multi-session stacking, and FITS export. Editing and output features include RAW support, a Camera-Raw editor, retouch brush, batch processing, watch folder, and export presets for JPG, TIFF, layered Photoshop TIFF, and FITS. ForgePix says processing is fully local and does not require AI, a server, or external astronomy software. Optional language assistants and external tools are available. Assistant setup sends preview frames, sharpness profile, basic EXIF data, and the user's wish, but not original files or location data. Experimental local AI image models are not enabled by default and may alter faint structures, flux, or star shapes. ForgePix is free under the MIT license, with downloads for Linux, macOS, and Windows.