Deep Sky Stacker won't detect BRIGHT stars!

[virtualpilot45]

After setting the star detection threshold to 6%, I registered the images, but only the faintest stars showed up! The bright ones don't appear at all. There's is a slight amount of red at one side and blue at the other (these shots are afocal, if it makes a difference)

This is in Edit Stars Mode, and it doesn't let me add the bright ones!

[MjrTom]

I suspect that DSS is having trouble as the focus is quite a way off

[virtualpilot45]

Ah crumbs. The pictures are 4 months old and M42s right behind the sun at the moment so I can't re-take them at the moment. Is there a way to force DSS to recognise them?