Content

1. ASICAP Introduction...................................................................................................................... 2
2. Camera operation............................................................................................................................ 3
2.1 How to turn on and turn off the camera...................................................................... 3
2.2 How to view camera information and change the camera name................................ 3
2.3 Camera control parameter settings.............................................................................. 4
2.4 Camera image parameter settings................................................................................9
2.5 Image display settings................................................................................................. 10
3. Image histogram............................................................................................................................11
4. Image display operation................................................................................................................ 12
4.1 Image Zoom................................................................................................................ 12
4.2 Image Fit Window.......................................................................................................13
4.3 Image 100% display....................................................................................................13
4.4 Image drag and drop view...........................................................................................13
4.5 Enter and exit full screen mode.................................................................................. 13
4.6 Right-click to set the region of interest (ROI)............................................................ 13
4.7 Moving the area of interest (ROI)...............................................................................14
4.8 Restore maximum resolution...................................................................................... 15
4.9 Color and black and white image switching...............................................................15
5. Photo and video capture................................................................................................................ 15
5.1 Set the saving path......................................................................................................15
5.2 Custom capture limits................................................................................................. 16
5.3 Capture images and videos.........................................................................................17
5.4 Auto Run......................................................................................................................17
6. Electric filter wheel....................................................................................................................... 20
6.1 Electric filter wheel settings........................................................................................20
6.2 Control filter wheel rotation....................................................................................... 21
7. ST4 Auto Guide.............................................................................................................................22
7.1 ST4 auto guide setting.................................................................................................22
7.2 ST4 auto guide.............................................................................................................23
8. ADC (Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector) Calibration................................................................ 24
9. Other settings.................................................................................................................................25
9.1 Skin settings.................................................................................................................26
9.2 General settings.......................................................................................................... 27
9.3 Help............................................................................................................................. 28

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1. ASICAP Introduction
ASICAP, a planet-shooting software launched by Suzhou ZWO CO., Ltd (ZWO), aims to make
planetary photography easier and let amateur astronomer focus more on astronomical
photography.

ASICAP Interface overview:

Figure.1 Interface overview

As shown in the figure
Area 1: The title bar displays the name of software__version number (camera
name and real-time status), and the real-time status includes the current
temperature and cooling power (cooled camera only).

Area 2: The main control panel consists of a top toolbar and six sub-panels:
Camera, Image, Histogram, Control, Capture and Display Control. It includes turning
camera on and off, parameter adjustment, image capture, video recording, software
settings, etc.

Area 3: In the image display area, the data acquired from the camera will be
displayed in real-time.

Area 4: In the shortcut toolbar, you can do shortcuts like zoom in, zoom out,
restore, adapt image to windows, debayer, etc. It can also easily display crosshairs,
turn automatic guides on, display ADC correction effects, and rotate filter wheels etc.

Area 5: Full-screen button, click this button to display the image in full screen;

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after entering the full-screen display, click it again to exit the full-screen display.

Area 6: The status bar displays information after turning on the camera, such as
the current frame rate, the total number of frames, and the number of dropped
frames. During shooting, the shooting frame rate, file size, speed, total number of
frames, and other information are displayed.

2. Camera operation

2.1 How to turn on and turn off the camera

In the Camera sub-panel, as shown below:

Figure 2 Camera sub-panel (camera is not turned on)

Click the button to turn on the camera. When the camera is turned on, the

icon changes to . As shown below, click this button to turn the camera off if you
need to.

Figure 3 Camera sub-panel (camera is turned on)

If the connected camera is not displayed in the list after the camera is connected

to the computer, you can click the button to rescan all cameras connected to
the computer.

2.2 How to view camera information and change the camera

name

If you want to check the camera's information, click the button to pop up
the camera information window, as shown below:

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 Figure 4 Camera information display

Click the button , as shown below:

Figure 5 Camera Name modification

After entering the custom name of the camera, click the button to
complete the modification of the camera name.

2.3 Camera control parameter settings

In the Control sub-panel, as shown below:

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 Figure 6 Control subpanel
In this panel, you can adjust the camera's exposure time and gain value. If
you want to use the auto mode, check the Auto box behind the corresponding
parameter, the camera will automatically set the gain and exposure.

For more camera parameter settings, click the button and the
following window will pop up:

Figure 7 More Control subpanel & Camera settings page

The above picture is the Camera settings page:

USB Traffic: Set the percentage of the bandwidth occupied by the USB port. If
the frame rate (fps) is lowered, the frame rate may be lowered. Check the Auto
box next to it to set the USB bandwidth automatically.

Brightness (offset): The pixel value plus an offset to increase the brightness of
the image. The larger the value, the higher the brightness. Check the following
Auto box to automatically set the brightness.

High Speed: When it is checked, the frame rate (fps) can be increased, but the
image quality is degraded.

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Hardware Bin (need hardware support): In the Image sub-panel, after setting
Bin1, Bin2, Bin3 or Bin4, the software algorithm is used for pixel merging by
default (software Bin). After checking the hardware Bin, use hardware for pixel
merging.

Add Timestamp (valid only in Raw8 format): When checked, this will add a
timestamp in the upper right corner of the image.

Flip: Flip of an image, including Horizon, Vertical, and Both.

Grid Alignment (1600MM camera only): Eliminates the chromatic aberration of

brightness between different pixels which makes the pixel value more accurate.
The default is set to 0 due to the environment and the captured image being
different. There is no specific setting rule, so you can try different values for
comparison.

Over Clock (120S camera only): Increase the frame rate (fps).

Color setting page (color camera only), as shown below:

Figure 8 Color settings page

White Balance: You can set the white balance of the color camera by adjusting
the value of red and blue. You can also check the Auto White Balance to let the
color camera automatically control the white balance. Click Default button to
restore the default white balance of the color camera.

Mono Bin: When checked, it will be the same as a black and white camera by

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selecting the value of the pixel closest to itself and merging with it, therefore
producing a gray image. If not selected, the color camera’s pixel will be merged
according to the Bayer matrix’s color arrangement, which will select the pixels
with the closest distance and the same color for merging.

Temperature (TEMP) settings page, as shown below:

Uncooled camera:

Figure 9 TEMP settings page (uncooled camera)

Cooled camera:

Figure 10 Temperature settings page (Cooled Camera)

Turn on Cooler and Target Temp. (Cooled Camera Only): Check the Turn on
Cooler checkbox to turn on camera cooling. By adjusting the value of the target
temperature (Target Temp.) to set the target temperature for camera cooling.

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 When the camera temperature drops to the target temperature, it will remain at
the target temperature.
Note:The camera's cooling capacity is related to the ambient temperature, and it
is not possible to reduce the temperature indefinitely. It would be best to set the
temperature at 50-70% of the operating power, otherwise the temperature will
rebound after the it drops to the lowest.

Temperature: Displays the current temperature of the camera, displayed in blue

font, in both Celsius (C) and Fahrenheit (F) units. Cooler Power (Cooled Camera
Only) displays the camera's current cooling power percentage, expressed in red.

Temperature and power curve: The bottom show the temperature and cooling
power curve within 5 minutes (Cooled camera only), the X axis represents the
time interval, the left Y axis represents the temperature, and the right Y axis
represents the cooling power. The blue curve is the temperature curve and the
red curve is the cooling power curve.

AutoExp Limit setting page, as shown below:

Figure 11 AutoExp Limit settings page

The parameters on this page only work when the Exposure time and Gain are set to
Auto.
Target Brightness: Depending on the target brightness, the camera will automatically
adjust the exposure and gain to achieve the target brightness.

Quick Select: You can quickly set three (Low, Medium, High) typical values for the
target brightness.

Max Gain Limit: The maximum value of the camera's gain when auto gain is used.

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Max Exposure Limit: The maximum exposure time set by the camera during
automatic exposure.

Guide (ST4 Guide) page (requires camera support), as shown below:

Figure 12 ST4 Guide page

The camera is connected to the equatorial mount via the ST4 interface. Click on
the North, South, East, and West buttons to control the equatorial mount to rotate in
the corresponding direction. The rotation time can be set in the middle input box.

2.4 Camera image parameter settings

In the Image sub-panel, as shown below:

Figure 13 Image subpanel

Format usually has two options: RAW8 and RAW16. RAW8 refers to 8-bit raw
data, and RAW16 refers to 16-bit raw data.

Bin usually has four options: Bin1, Bin2, Bin3, and Bin4. The number after Bin
indicates that several pixels are combined into one pixel. For example, Bin2
indicates that 4 pixels are combined into one pixel (2*2=4). Bin3 means that 9
pixels are combined into one pixel (3*3=9), and Bin1 means no pixel
combination.
Note: Under the Binning mode, as binning is increased, the resolution is
decreased but field of view remains the same.

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 Resolution indicates the size of the currently displayed ROI area. In addition to
the preset common resolutions, you can also add customize resolutions. Click
the Custom option in the drop-down box to pop up the window, as shown
below:

Figure 14 Custom ROI

In the Target Resolution area, enter a custom resolution size, then click the
Add New button and click the OK button to add custom resolution successfully.

If you want to quickly recover from a smaller resolution to the maximum

resolution, you can click the button , as shown below:

Figure 15 Restore to maximum resolution

2.5 Image display settings

In the Display Control sub-panel, as shown below:

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 Figure 16 Display Control subpanel
The Display Gamma, Display Contrast, Display Brightness and Display
Saturation parameters of the image can be adjusted.

3. Image histogram
In the histogram sub-panel, as shown below:
Color image:

Figure 17 Histogram subpanel (color image)

Raw8 format:

Figure 18 Histogram subpanel (RAW8 format)

Raw16 format:

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 Figure 19 Histogram subpanel (RAW16 format)
A statistical table of image pixel distributions, the abscissa represents the
value of the image pixels, and the ordinate represents the total number of pixels
in each image of the value, where the Raw8 format pixel value range [0 - 255],
the range of Raw16 format pixel values [ 0-65535].
After checking the Log, the logarithmic transformation will be performed on
the histogram. The purpose is to extend the low gray value part of the image to
show more details of the low gray level part, and compress the high gray value
part to reduce the high gray. The details of the degree portion are used to
achieve the purpose of emphasizing the low gray portion of the image.

4. Image display operation

Figure 20 Quick Operation Panel

4.1 Image Zoom

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 Click the button to enlarge the image, click the button to zoom
out the image, or scroll the mouse wheel in the image display area to quickly
zoom in and out.

4.2 Image Fit Window

Click the button and the image will be displayed at the most
appropriate zoom ratio according to the size of the display area.

4.3 Image 100% display

Click the button and the image will be restored to its original size
without any scaling.

4.4 Image drag and drop view

When the image is larger than the image display area, you can hold down
the left mouse button to drag and view the image, or drag the bottom and right
scroll bars to view the image.

4.5 Enter and exit full screen mode

In the image display area, double-click the left mouse button or press the
Enter key to enter the full screen mode. Double click the left mouse button or
press the Enter key to exit the full screen mode. You can also enter full screen

mode by clicking the button in the upper left corner, click to exit full
screen mode. after enter full screen mode, and press ESC to exit full screen
mode.

4.6 Right-click to set the region of interest (ROI)

In the image display area, hold down the right mouse button and drag, the red
rectangle appears, and the current ROI width and height are displayed in the lower
right corner. Loosen the right mouse button, a dialog box pops up, as shown below:

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 Figure 21 Selecting the ROI with the mouse
Select Yes, that is, set the area covered by the rectangle as ROI, and select
No to cancel the operation.

4.7 Moving the area of interest (ROI)

After setting the ROI, click any of the button upper (↑) down (↓) left (←)
right (→) button on the keyboard, and the window of the moving ROI appears in

the image display area. In addition, click the button on the shortcut toolbar
can also display the mobile ROI window.
As shown below:

Figure 22 Moving ROI area

The blue rectangle represents the maximum resolution of the image. The red
rectangle represents the size and position of the current ROI. Click the upper ( ↑ )
down (↓) left (←) right (→) of the keyboard to move the red rectangle to move ROI.
Alternatively, you can move the ROI by holding down the left mouse button and

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dragging the red rectangle.

4.8 Restore maximum resolution

Click the button in the shortcut bar or the button in the Image panel
to return to the maximum resolution.

4.9 Color and black and white image switching

Click the button in the shortcut bar to switch the image between black and
white and color. This feature is only supported by color cameras.

5. Photo and video capture

5.1 Set the saving path

In the Capture subpanel, as shown below:

Figure 23 Capture subpanel

Path: Click the button to select the path where the file is saved. Click the

button to open the path of the file for easy viewing of saved images and videos.
Limit : Click the Limit drop-down box, as shown below:

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 Figure 24 Limits drop-down box
No Limit means that the capture is unlimited, it will always take images or videos;
s(second) means the duration of shooting; frames indicate the number of frames
taken. When the duration of the shooting or the number of frames reaches the
shooting limit that was preset, shooting will stop automatically.

5.2 Custom capture limits

Click Custom... to bring up the Custom limits window, as shown below:

Figure 25 Custom limits

In the Add New area, select the Seconds or Frames, enter a custom number in
the input box, and click the Add New button to complete the custom capture Limit.

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5.3 Capture images and videos

Raw Data: When the displayed image is a color image and you want to save the
original (black and white) image, please check this box. If it is not checked, it will save
the color image. This can be set only for color cameras and when the data format is
set as Raw8. The black and white camera or when Raw16 format is selected, it can
only save the original data.

Click the button to capture the image, click the

button to record the video, and the captured image and video will
be shot according to the setting of the Limit (Limit). After starting the shooting, as
shown below:

Figure 26 Capture in progress

The status bar at the bottom shows the captured information, the number of
captured frames, times, preview fps, the file size, and the writing rate. As shown
below:

Click the button to stop the current capture.

At the end of the capture, the file saving information is displayed in the bottom
of status bar, as shown below:

Figure 27 File saving information

5.4 Auto Run

Click the button to pop up the Auto Run window, as

shown below:

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 Figure 28 Auto Run panel (with filter wheel)
Filter: When you start capturing, the filter wheel will turn to the slot you want to
set. If the computer is not connected to the ASI motor filter wheel, this column is not
displayed, as shown below:

Figure 29 Auto Run panel (without filter wheel)

Exposure: In milliseconds (ms), set the exposure time of the camera when you
start capturing.
Gain: Set the camera's gain when you start capturing.
Limit: Set the limit for capture when you start capturing.
Between Delay: In seconds (s), the delay between two captures.
Status: Status of a single shot: Wait..., Finished, Progress (%), Stopped, a total of
four states.

Add and Remove:Click the button to add a capture plan, and

clicking the button to remove the last capture plan.

All Capture Plans Progress: Shows the overall progress of all capture plans.
Repeat Rounds: The number of times all capture plans are repeated.

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 Image or Video: Select the type of scheduled capture, grab the image, or record
the video.
Delay First: After checked, the Auto Run starts after the set time.

Click the button to start Auto Run. The Auto Run is as follows:

Figure 30 Auto Run in progress

Click the button to stop the scheduled shooting.

The Auto Run is completed, as shown below:

Figure 31 Auto Run completed

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6. Electric filter wheel

6.1 Electric filter wheel settings

Figure 32 Electric Filter Wheel Settings

After connecting the electric filter wheel, click the button , or click the

button and click the EFW option as shown below:

Figure 33 Electric filter wheel setting panel (filter wheel is not open)

Click the button to turn on the filter wheel, as shown below:

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 Figure 34 Electric filter wheel setting panel (filter wheel is turned on)

Switch EFW: When multiple electric filter wheels are connected, you can select them
in the drop-down box to switch. The first one is turned on by default.
Customize the slot alias: In the input box of the corresponding slot, enter the alias of
the custom slot. The default name is 1, 2, 3.... After the customization is completed,
it will be displayed in the shortcut toolbar.

Figure 35 Preview of the electric filter wheels after changing its name
Direction: When the One-Way is checked, the motorized filter wheel will rotate in
one direction.

6.2 Control filter wheel rotation

After putting the mouse on the button in the shortcut bar, it will pop
up the slot of the filter wheel on the left side for selecting, as shown below:

Figure 36 Electric Filter Wheel Control

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 Figure 37 Electric Filter Wheel Control

Indicates the current slot of the EFW, click , and EFW will go to the
corresponding position.

7. ST4 Auto Guide

7.1 ST4 auto guide setting

Figure 38 ST4 automatic guide star setting

Connect the ST4 port of the equatorial mount to the ST4 port of the camera

(requires camera support), click button , or click button , and click the ST4
Auto Guide option, as shown below:

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 Figure 39 ST4 automatic guide star setting panel
Guider cycle time (ms): The frequency at which the target is deviated, i.e. how
often it is detected.
Correction time (ms): Controls the exercise time of the equatorial mount.
Tolerance (pixel): If the number of pixels from the target position is less than the
set value, the correction is considered successful.
Swap direction: Reverse the horizontal direction (Flip X), reverse the vertical
direction (Flip Y). When the star is automatically guided, if the direction of the
equatorial motion is found to be incorrect, the corresponding direction reversal
is required.
Show target cross: Marks the target position of the guide.

7.2 ST4 auto guide

After clicking the button in the shortcut bar, in the upper right corner
of the image display area, the panel of the automatic guide star is displayed, as
shown below:

Figure 40 ST4 automatic guide star shortcut panel (guide star is not turned on)

Click the button in the middle to start the automatic guide, as shown
below:

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 Figure 40 ST4 automatic guide star shortcut panel (guide star is turned on)

Figure 42 ST4 automatic guide crosshair

When the guide is started, a crosshair is marked at the center of the target.
When the target center is offset from the crosshair, the equatorial mount is
controlled and the target center is pulled back to the crosshair. Click the button

to stop the automatic guide. Click the button again to let the auto guide
panel disappear.

8. ADC (Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector)

Calibration

After clicking the button in the shortcut bar, in the upper right corner
of the image display area, the ADC Calibration Assistant Panel is displayed, and
the panel of the red and blue offset is simulated, as shown below:

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 Figure 43 ADC Calibration Assistant Panel

Figure 44 Schematic diagram of ADC calibration

When the red and blue circles coincide or approximately coincide, it means
the calibration of the ADC is already appropriate.
Note: When this button is clicked, the Display Saturation will be set to 70,
and the image should not be overexposed during the calibration process.

9. Other settings

Figure 45 Other settings

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9.1 Skin settings

Click the button , as shown

Currently there are default, dark red, black, sky blue four theme styles, you
can set the skin after clicking, the effect is as follows:

Figure 46 Default theme

Figure 47 Dark red theme

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 Figure 48 Black theme

Figure 49 Sky Blue Theme

9.2 General settings

Click the button to pop up the settings window, click General, as

shown below:

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 Figure 50 General Settings Panel
Automatically connect to camera when ASICAP starts: When it is checked, when
the software starts, if the camera is connected to the camera, the camera will
automatically turn on.
Automatically turn on EFW when connect to PC: When checked, the filter wheel
is automatically turned on when a filter wheel connection is detected.

9.3 Help

Click the button as shown below:

Figure 51 Help menu

Help document: Open the help document.
Feedback: Jump to the ASCAP feedback page and welcome any feedback on
ASICAP.
About…: Information about ASICAP. As shown below:

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Figure 52 About... panel

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