Squash 3.0
Batch resize, filter and convert a range of file formats
Squash has a slick-looking interface that can be set to a light or dark theme
£25 (or £40 with Analog Filter and Analog Border packs)
FROM Realmac Software, realmacsoftware.com NEEDS macOS 10.14 or later
Squash is a batch image processor that has a range of tricks up its sleeve. For starters, it can take any file formats that you throw at it and quickly convert them into easily shareable JPEG files. This is especially useful if you capture images on an iPhone as HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) files or larger DNG (Digital negative) files shot in Apple ProRAW.
While an HEIF file takes up less space (around 1MB) it is not as useful as a JPEG file that can be shared via email or uploaded to social media platforms. DNG files can weigh in at 25MB so are too large to be sent via email. They also need to be converted to JPEG format before they can be viewed online. Fortunately, Squash can take any file format (including Camera RAW files from DSLR cameras) and convert them into the more compatible JPEG format. You can also convert a batch of images into other formats such as PNG or a high quality TIFF.
You can change Squash’s preferences from the default Grid view to Editor. This enables you to swipe across the image to see a before and after version. The Preferences menu also gives you the option to turn on a Zen Track, which provides a series of ambient soundtracks to accompany your batch processing. Squash has a slick-looking interface that can be set to a light or dark theme. We found that the dark version makes the app look more like other image-editing apps, such as Photoshop.
As well as converting files from one format into another, you can batch edit a wide range of properties. Simply drag and drop a collection of files into Squash and then modify a series of panels to process the files. For example, if you plan to share images on Twitter you can use the Resize panel to set them all to a Twitter-friendly width of 1,200 pixels. The Adjustments panel lets you batch sharpen shots and boost their vibrance to give them more impact in your social media feed.
Although you can’t directly adjust image properties such as contrast or exposure, a collection of one-click effect filters enable you to creatively process your shots’ colours and tones to produce eye-catching looks. You can purchase extra filter packs to expand Squash’s creative capabilities, such as adding retro camera ‘light leakage’ effects to your images. You can further enhance the retro filtered look by adding borders, from the traditional white photo frame to a contactsheet style edge.
Protect your assets
Once you share shots online, you can lose control over where they end up. Squash enables you to add a personalised watermark to every image (such as a Twitter handle or a copyright notice). To protect the privacy of people in the shots, you can toggle a switch to remove embedded metadata such as the GPS coordinates of an image’s location. Squash will also batch-rename your files while it creatively processes and resizes them once you click the Export Images button. George Cairns