@@ -146,6 +146,97 @@ def subplot_imaging_dataset(
 
 
 
+def _intro_panel(array, radius=None, excluded_pixels=None):
+    """Prepare a display-only crop with excluded values missing, not zeroed.
+
+    Preserve the native pixel/coordinate registration; fitting arrays are never
+    mutated. Coordinates, ticks and colour mapping remain the renderer's job.
+    """
+    import numpy as np
+    from autoarray.plot.utils import zoom_array
+
+    if radius is not None and (not np.isfinite(radius) or radius <= 0):
+        raise ValueError("radius must be a finite positive number")
+    if radius is None and excluded_pixels is None:
+        array = zoom_array(array)
+    values = np.array(array.native.array, dtype=float, copy=True)
+    values[np.asarray(array.mask.array, dtype=bool)] = np.nan
+    if excluded_pixels is not None:
+        excluded = np.asarray(excluded_pixels, dtype=bool)
+        if excluded.shape != values.shape:
+            raise ValueError("excluded_pixels must have the dataset image shape")
+        values[excluded] = np.nan
+    xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax = array.geometry.extent
+    if radius is not None:
+        ny, nx = values.shape
+        dx, dy = (xmax - xmin) / nx, (ymax - ymin) / ny
+        x = xmin + (np.arange(nx) + 0.5) * dx
+        y = ymax - (np.arange(ny) + 0.5) * dy
+        rows, cols = np.flatnonzero(abs(y) <= radius), np.flatnonzero(abs(x) <= radius)
+        if not len(rows) or not len(cols):
+            raise ValueError("radius does not include any pixel centres")
+        r0, r1, c0, c1 = rows[0], rows[-1] + 1, cols[0], cols[-1] + 1
+        values = values[r0:r1, c0:c1]
+        xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax = xmin + c0 * dx, xmin + c1 * dx, ymax - r1 * dy, ymax - r0 * dy
+    return values, (xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax)
+
+
+def subplot_imaging_dataset_intro(
+    dataset,
+    output_path: Optional[str] = None,
+    output_filename: str = "dataset_intro",
+    output_format: str = None,
+    colormap=None,
+    stretch: Optional[float] = 0.01,
+    radius: Optional[float] = None,
+    excluded_pixels=None,
+):
+    """Four-panel introduction: Image, Noise map, Signal-to-noise map and PSF.
+
+    Uses the ordinary plot renderer and configured colormap, fonts, titles,
+    arcsecond ticks, colourbars and saving. Unlike the diagnostic 3x3 subplot,
+    it omits duplicate log panels and over-sampling maps. Numerical sampling
+    and the dataset itself are unchanged.
+
+    ``stretch`` is the image's asinh linear-width fraction: smaller values
+    reveal faint structure next to bright light; None selects linear display.
+    The S/N and PSF panels use asinh fractions 0.1 and 0.003, respectively;
+    noise remains linear. All colourbars retain original measurement values.
+    ``colormap=None`` inherits configuration on every panel.
+
+    ``radius`` optionally crops the first three panels about (0, 0), in
+    arcseconds, for display only. None follows the usual mask-zoom convention.
+    ``excluded_pixels`` is a native-shaped boolean array (True = exclude) for
+    deliberately down-weighted neighbours. These pixels, dataset-masked values
+    and non-finite measurements use the colormap's standard bad-value colour;
+    they do not determine the display scale. No clipping or data mutation.
+    """
+    from autoarray.plot.array import plot_array
+    from autoarray.plot.utils import apply_labels
+
+    panels = [
+        (dataset.data, "Image", stretch, None),
+        (dataset.noise_map, "Noise map", None, None),
+        (dataset.signal_to_noise_map, "Signal-to-noise map", 0.1, ""),
+    ]
+    prepared = [(_intro_panel(array, radius, excluded_pixels), title, scale, unit)
+                for array, title, scale, unit in panels]
+    fig, axes = subplots(2, 2, figsize=conf_subplot_figsize(2, 2))
+    for ax, ((values, extent), title, scale, unit) in zip(axes.flat, prepared):
+        plot_array(values, ax=ax, extent=extent, title=title,
+                   colormap=colormap, stretch=scale, cb_unit=unit)
+    if dataset.psf is not None:
+        plot_array(dataset.psf.kernel, ax=axes[1, 1], title="PSF",
+                   colormap=colormap, stretch=0.003, cb_unit="")
+    else:
+        apply_labels(axes[1, 1], title="PSF", is_subplot=True)
+        axes[1, 1].text(0.5, 0.5, "No PSF supplied", ha="center", va="center",
+                        transform=axes[1, 1].transAxes)
+    tight_layout()
+    subplot_save(fig, output_path, output_filename, output_format)
+    return fig
+
+
 def subplot_imaging_dataset_list(
     dataset_list,
     output_path=None,
 
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ def plot_array(
     output_path: Optional[str] = None,
     output_filename: str = "array",
     output_format: str = None,
+    stretch: Optional[float] = None,
 ) -> None:
     """
     Plot a 2D array (image) using ``plt.imshow``.
@@ -127,6 +128,10 @@ def plot_array(
         Explicit color scale limits.
     use_log10
         When ``True`` a ``LogNorm`` is applied.
+    stretch
+        Optional positive asinh linear-width fraction of the displayed range,
+        e.g. 0.01 to reveal faint structure beside a bright peak. Only changes
+        the colour mapping; incompatible with ``use_log10=True``.
     origin_imshow
         Passed directly to ``imshow`` (``"upper"`` or ``"lower"``).
     arcsec_after_decimal
@@ -194,7 +199,7 @@ def plot_array(
         fig = ax.get_figure()
 
     # --- colour normalisation --------------------------------------------------
-    norm = norm_from(array=array, use_log10=use_log10, vmin=vmin, vmax=vmax)
+    norm = norm_from(array=array, use_log10=use_log10, vmin=vmin, vmax=vmax, stretch=stretch)
 
     # Compute the axes-box aspect ratio from the data extent so that the
     # physical cell is correctly shaped and tight_layout has no whitespace
 
@@ -255,6 +255,17 @@ def symmetric_cmap_from(array, symmetric_value=None):
         If given, fix the half-range to this value (``vmin=-symmetric_value``,
         ``vmax=+symmetric_value``).
 
+    stretch
+        Optional positive asinh linear-width fraction of the displayed range.
+        Smaller values bring up faint structure; negative values remain defined.
+        Mutually exclusive with ``use_log10``. ``None`` preserves the existing
+        linear/log behavior.
+
+    stretch : float or None
+        Positive asinh linear-width fraction of the displayed value range.
+        Mutually exclusive with ``use_log10``. Non-finite values are ignored
+        when deriving limits. ``None`` retains the existing linear/log scale.
+
     Returns
     -------
     matplotlib.colors.Normalize or None
@@ -272,7 +283,7 @@ def symmetric_cmap_from(array, symmetric_value=None):
     return colors.Normalize(vmin=-abs_max, vmax=abs_max)
 
 
-def norm_from(array=None, use_log10=False, vmin=None, vmax=None):
+def norm_from(array=None, use_log10=False, vmin=None, vmax=None, stretch=None):
     """Build the matplotlib colour norm for *array* from flat arguments.
 
     The single implementation behind every colour scale the plot functions
@@ -307,8 +318,8 @@ def norm_from(array=None, use_log10=False, vmin=None, vmax=None):
     Parameters
     ----------
     array
-        The values being coloured. Only read when *use_log10* is ``True`` and
-        no finite *vmax* is given; ``None`` is accepted and takes the fallback.
+        The values being coloured. Read for log or asinh scaling when limits
+        are omitted; ``None`` is accepted and takes a finite fallback.
     use_log10
         When ``True`` a ``LogNorm`` is returned, floored at the configured
         ``log10_min_value``.
@@ -320,6 +331,22 @@ def norm_from(array=None, use_log10=False, vmin=None, vmax=None):
     -------
     matplotlib.colors.Normalize or None
     """
+    if stretch is not None:
+        if use_log10:
+            raise ValueError("stretch and use_log10 are mutually exclusive")
+        if not np.isfinite(stretch) or stretch <= 0:
+            raise ValueError("stretch must be a finite positive fraction")
+        from matplotlib.colors import AsinhNorm
+
+        values = np.ma.masked_invalid(np.ma.asarray(array, dtype=float)).compressed() if array is not None else np.array([])
+        lo = float(vmin) if vmin is not None else (float(values.min()) if values.size else 0.0)
+        hi = float(vmax) if vmax is not None else (float(values.max()) if values.size else 1.0)
+        if not np.isfinite(lo) or not np.isfinite(hi):
+            raise ValueError("asinh colour limits must be finite")
+        if hi <= lo:
+            hi = lo + max(abs(lo) * 0.01, 1e-6)
+        return AsinhNorm(linear_width=stretch * (hi - lo), vmin=lo, vmax=hi)
+
     if use_log10:
         log10_min = _conf_log10_min_value()
 
@@ -693,8 +720,8 @@ def _colorbar_tick_values(norm) -> Optional[List[float]]:
     import matplotlib.colors as mcolors
 
     lo, hi = float(norm.vmin), float(norm.vmax)
-    if isinstance(norm, mcolors.LogNorm):
-        mid = 10 ** ((np.log10(lo) + np.log10(hi)) / 2.0)
+    if isinstance(norm, (mcolors.LogNorm, mcolors.AsinhNorm)):
+        mid = float(norm.inverse(0.5))
     else:
         mid = (lo + hi) / 2.0
     return [lo, mid, hi]
 
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+"""The intro compositor uses the ordinary renderer, style and configuration."""
+import numpy as np
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+import pytest
+from matplotlib.colors import AsinhNorm
+from autonerves import conf
+import autoarray as aa
+from autoarray.plot.array import plot_array
+from autoarray.plot.utils import norm_from, _colorbar_tick_values
+from autoarray.dataset.plot.imaging_plots import subplot_imaging_dataset_intro, _intro_panel
+
+
+def dataset():
+    values = np.arange(81, dtype=float).reshape(9, 9) - 3
+    return aa.Imaging(
+        data=aa.Array2D.no_mask(values, pixel_scales=0.1),
+        noise_map=aa.Array2D.no_mask(np.ones((9, 9)), pixel_scales=0.1),
+        psf=aa.Convolver(kernel=aa.Array2D.no_mask(np.ones((3, 3)) / 9, pixel_scales=0.1)),
+    )
+
+
+def test_intro_inherits_config_and_standard_style(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    general = conf.instance["visualize"]["general"]
+    monkeypatch.setitem(general, "colormap", "cividis")
+    d = dataset()
+    original = d.data.native.array.copy()
+    fig = subplot_imaging_dataset_intro(d, output_path=tmp_path, output_format="png")
+    panels = [ax for ax in fig.axes if ax.images]
+    assert [ax.get_title() for ax in panels] == ["Image", "Noise map", "Signal-to-noise map", "PSF"]
+    assert all(ax.images[0].get_cmap().name == "cividis" for ax in panels)
+    direct, ax = plt.subplots()
+    values, extent = _intro_panel(d.data)
+    plot_array(values, extent=extent, ax=ax, title="Image", stretch=0.01)
+    assert ax.title.get_fontsize() == panels[0].title.get_fontsize()
+    assert [t.get_text() for t in ax.get_xticklabels()] == [t.get_text() for t in panels[0].get_xticklabels()]
+    assert ax.get_yticklabels()[0].get_rotation() == panels[0].get_yticklabels()[0].get_rotation()
+    assert isinstance(panels[0].images[0].norm, AsinhNorm)
+    np.testing.assert_array_equal(d.data.native.array, original)
+    assert (tmp_path / 'dataset_intro.png').is_file()
+    plt.close(direct)
+
+
+def test_explicit_colormap_and_excluded_noise(tmp_path):
+    d = dataset()
+    excluded = np.zeros((9, 9), dtype=bool)
+    excluded[2, 3] = True
+    noise = np.ones((9, 9))
+    noise[2, 3] = 1e8
+    d = aa.Imaging(data=d.data, noise_map=aa.Array2D.no_mask(noise, pixel_scales=.1), psf=d.psf)
+    fig = subplot_imaging_dataset_intro(d, colormap="magma", radius=0.25,
+                                       excluded_pixels=excluded, output_path=tmp_path, output_format="png")
+    panels = [ax for ax in fig.axes if ax.images]
+    assert all(ax.images[0].get_cmap().name == "magma" for ax in panels)
+    assert panels[1].images[0].norm.vmax < 2
+    assert np.ma.getmaskarray(panels[0].images[0].get_array()).any()
+    assert d.noise_map.native.array[2, 3] == 1e8
+
+
+def test_crop_preserves_pixel_coordinates():
+    d = dataset()
+    values, extent = _intro_panel(d.data, radius=0.25)
+    assert values.shape == (5, 5)
+    np.testing.assert_allclose(extent, [-0.25, 0.25, -0.25, 0.25])
+    assert values[2, 2] == d.data.native.array[4, 4]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('values', [np.zeros((2, 2)), np.full((2, 2), np.nan), np.array([-2., 0., 100.])])
+def test_asinh_range_is_finite_and_invertible(values):
+    norm = norm_from(values, stretch=0.01)
+    assert np.isfinite([norm.vmin, norm.vmax]).all()
+    assert norm.vmax > norm.vmin
+    ticks = _colorbar_tick_values(norm)
+    np.testing.assert_allclose(norm(ticks), [0, 0.5, 1], atol=1e-10)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('stretch', [0, -1, np.nan, np.inf])
+def test_invalid_stretch_rejected(stretch):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match='stretch'):
+        norm_from(np.ones(3), stretch=stretch)
+
+
+def test_asinh_cannot_be_combined_with_log():
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match='mutually exclusive'):
+        norm_from([1, 2], stretch=.01, use_log10=True)
+
+
+def test_ordinary_norm_remains_unchanged():
+    assert norm_from([1, 2]) is None
+    assert not isinstance(norm_from([1, 2], use_log10=True), AsinhNorm)