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Image Import & Review

Image Import brings existing local image folders into AstroManager and gives you a review step before the files become part of the Image Library.

Open it from AstroManager > Image Import & Review, or open the Images dashboard and select the Import tab.

Note

The import workspace is available on desktop builds where AstroManager can access local folders. Browser-only sessions cannot read arbitrary local directories.

What Import Does

The import workflow scans a folder, reads supported image files, builds review groups, and lets you decide how those files should be added to AstroManager.

It supports local review for:

  • light frames
  • calibration frames
  • master darks and master flats
  • files that already contain useful FITS metadata
  • files that need target, equipment, observatory, or filter cleanup before import

Supported file types include FITS-style files and common processed image containers used by the importer, such as .fit, .fits, .fts, .xisf, .tif, and .tiff.

Start An Import

  1. Open the Import workspace.
  2. Choose a working directory or enter an import directory path.
  3. Expand grading settings if you want review grading to run during import.
  4. Select the review grading set and grading scope.
  5. Start Import.
  6. Wait for the Ready for Review count.

The first import step does not blindly commit everything into the library. It prepares a review set so you can fix assignments and metadata first.

Review Modes

After files are scanned, the Review Imported Images section appears.

Use Grouped review when you want to work target-by-target or frame-type-by-frame-type.

Use Compact review when you want a faster table-style pass across many files.

The review header shows:

  • total pending images
  • selected images
  • warning count
  • selected calibration masters
  • background grading progress when review grading is active

Selection And Keyboard Review

Use normal selection for individual files and batch selection for groups of files.

The review tools are built for fast inspection:

  • use Shift when extending a selection range
  • use Ctrl when toggling individual items
  • select all visible filtered images when you want to apply one decision to the current subset

For image viewer controls, live inspect, the inspect grid, and stars overlay, see Image Library: Image Tab.

For metrics, plate solving, and curvature / 3D field plots, see Image Library: Image Detail Tools.

Grading During Review

Use the review grading settings to choose:

  • the criteria set used as the fallback
  • whether grading should use target-specific criteria or the selected fallback
  • whether background grading should continue while you review

This uses the same grading system described in Image Grading, including the v1.2 grading modes and hard reject behavior.

Metrics, Plate Solving, And Field Shape

The import review workflow uses the same analysis tools documented in the Image Library.

During review you can calculate metrics, inspect detected stars, plate solve through ASTAP, and use curvature / 3D field plots before the images are committed to the library.

Plate solving is useful when FITS metadata is incomplete or when you want to verify that imported data really belongs to the selected scheduled target.

Process Reviewed Images

When the review set is ready, choose Import images.

AstroManager then commits the reviewed files into the library using the current assignments and metadata. Imported light frames become available in Image Library. Calibration masters can be used for local calibration matching and, when uploaded, Cloud Service matching.

Common Fixes

If frames import under the wrong target, select the affected group, choose the correct scheduled target, and apply the target to selected or all images in the group.

If the review set shows warnings, open the warning list before processing. Warnings usually mean missing assignment data, unexpected metadata, or files that need a manual choice.

If calibration matching fails later, return to the master metadata. Most matching problems come from missing filter, gain, offset, temperature, binning, or effective date information.

If plate solving fails, confirm ASTAP is installed and that the image has enough stars and usable field information.