Any removed energy, is collected per pixel and re-distributed across the image in a second pass, giving the user intuitive control, via the 'Grain Dispersion' parameter, over a hard upper size limit beyond which grain is no longer smoothed out.
I'm relatively new to image processing and just wanted to say how straight forward and powerful StarTools is.
The 'AutoMask' button launches a popup with access to two quick ways of creating a star mask.
Even the way StarTools displays and scales images, has been created specifically for astrophotography.
AutoDev will keep solving for a global strecth that best shows the detail in your RoI.
You are forgiven if, at first glance, you get the impression StarTools offers only the basics.
You can convert everything you see to a format you find convenient. Give it a try!