diff --git a/lcviz/parsers.py b/lcviz/parsers.py
index 6b1799ed..13831092 100644
--- a/lcviz/parsers.py
+++ b/lcviz/parsers.py
@@ -75,6 +75,11 @@ def light_curve_parser(app, file_obj, data_label=None, show_in_viewer=True, **kw
                                    vid='image', name='image')
                 app.add_data_to_viewer('image', new_data_label)
 
+        # set TPF viewer's stretch to custom defaults:
+        plot_options_plugin = app._jdaviz_helper.plugins.get('Plot Options', None)
+        if plot_options_plugin is not None:
+            plot_options_plugin._obj._default_tpf_stretch()
+
     else:
         if show_in_viewer:
             for viewer_id, viewer in app._viewer_store.items():
diff --git a/lcviz/plugins/plot_options/plot_options.py b/lcviz/plugins/plot_options/plot_options.py
index b0dcb028..2fbfe387 100644
--- a/lcviz/plugins/plot_options/plot_options.py
+++ b/lcviz/plugins/plot_options/plot_options.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import numpy as np
+
 from jdaviz.configs.default.plugins import PlotOptions
 from jdaviz.core.registries import tray_registry
 
@@ -31,6 +33,20 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self.docs_link = f"https://lcviz.readthedocs.io/en/{self.vdocs}/plugins.html#plot-options"
 
+    def _default_tpf_stretch(
+            self, vmin_percentile=5, vmax_percentile=99, tpf_viewer_reference='image'
+    ):
+        viewer = self.app.get_viewer(tpf_viewer_reference)
+        image = viewer.layers[0].get_image_data()
+        vmin, vmax = np.nanpercentile(
+            image, [vmin_percentile, vmax_percentile]
+        )
+
+        self.viewer_selected = tpf_viewer_reference
+        self.stretch_function_value = 'log'
+        self.stretch_vmin_value = vmin
+        self.stretch_vmax_value = vmax
+
     @property
     def user_api(self):
         api = super().user_api