The result of an observation with Sol’Ex, once the Sun has been fully scanned by the instrument's slit, is a SER-format file. This file contains all the images of the solar spectrum captured at regular intervals during the scan, thus gathering hundreds of frames. At this stage, these data do not yet show a direct image of our star but form the raw material that will make it possible to reveal it.

To transform these data, specialized software is essential: this is precisely the function of the INTI software, developed by Valérie Desnoux for the Sol’Ex project. INTI is a key component, the result of extensive development efforts. Its role is to extract an image of the Sun from the SER file by correcting, in particular, the geometric distortions necessary to restore the familiar roundness of the solar disk.

A critical point in the design requirements was ease of use: in a typical scenario, processing should be achievable with a single click, without requiring specific knowledge of the subject. As soon as the SER file is saved to the computer, INTI enables quick, highly automated processing. Achieving this simplicity was not without challenges, but the result is here: processing becomes an intuitive and direct operation.

The graphical interface of INTI reflects this approach: it is simple, streamlined, and effective, designed to focus on what matters most—quality solar images and ease of use.

Of course, over time, new features have been added to support specific applications, such as using the Zeeman effect to generate images of the Sun’s magnetic field. You can explore these tools in the INTI documentation, in user tutorials, and through YouTube videos. However, none of these additions detract from the software’s original simplicity: you can explore these options at your own pace.

INTI can be downloaded from this site, where you’ll also find the documentation:

http://valerie.desnoux.free.fr/inti

The software is written in Python, and its source code is available.

You may want to try INTI even if you haven’t yet acquired data with Sol’Ex. No problem! Download the compressed SER file available via this link: 12_08_34. Decompress this file into a directory of your choice and process it. This observation dates back to September 5, 2021, and captures the H-alpha line. Sol’Ex was used with a telescope of 65 mm diameter and 420 mm focal length (Telescope Service model), while the camera used was a ZWO ASI178MM in 2x2 binning mode.