Expert rating
Batch processing is the powerful process of applying the same operations to a set of inputs—raw text, images, and so on—as a set that is processed in a loop rather than manually, one at a time. The first batch implementation possibly dates back to 1890, when the first punch card-based processing of US Census data was carried out. This is a constant theme in modern software, especially when dealing with a bunch of similar things, such as images in the same file format and with the same initial settings that need to be converted.
Squash by Realmac Software is a specialized batch image processing application that offers custom compression along with automatic application of image correction, color and monochrome gradation effects, and metadata removal. If you regularly work with a lot of images, it can be a hit due to its combination of simplicity, power and price. Version 3, released in August 2021, is a much more full-featured application than Squash 2, which only compressed images quickly.
I have used batch processing tools in other graphic editors such as Photoshop, Lightroom and Graphic Converter. They require and reward extensive study of their capabilities, but you may not have set out to get a master’s degree in Photoshop batch operations. Squash works with drag and drop, switches and sliders and offers built-in previews. You can import a large number of images and process them all in the same way, or select sets of multiple images to apply individual fixes. (Squash refers to the images when it imports, rather than copying them.)
The strength of many utilities lies in reducing choice, not expanding it. The Squash processing sidebar lists resizing, settings, effects, borders, watermark, compression, metadata, renaming, saving dates, and exporting. That’s all.
The export was almost instant when tested on the M1 Mac mini. I applied resize, effects, adjustment, compression and watermark. Hardly had time to understand that it had begun, as a cheerful sound heralded its completion. Some people online found the Squash sound effects to be too aggressive; I didn’t do this, but you can disable them in Squash > Settings. There’s also a seemingly out of nowhere zen menu that lets you play nice repetitive background sounds and chants.
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If you’re using the core Squash features, you can use the Resize option to choose a maximum width or height, or use a fixed percentage reduction; perform minimal adjustment to enlarge images; and then select the file format in the “Compression” section (JPEG, PNG, TIFF, WebP or AVIF) and compression algorithm or quality settings; and place them in the directory specified in Export.
But there is so much more you can do along the way. The preview window allows you to select an image and preview fixes, effects, compression, watermarks, borders, and other changes. (The company sells effect packs in addition to the few included filters.) You can use the split screen slider to see the original and modified versions side by side, or click and hold on the eye icon or press the space bar to preview the changes. The preview also includes a small diamond showing the source and destination file format, pixel resolution, and file size.
Squash removes the metadata that identifies you by default. You can override this to allow one or both GPS locations (geotagging) or camera model in the metadata panel. The Rename panel is simpler than most high-end image processors, but still allows you to “compress” the name: you can renumber images and make the name easier to use on the web: set it to all lowercase and remove spaces.
The watermark feature deserves special attention, as its name suggests. Squash contains many options for nature (image or text), background, color, opacity, fill and position. You can place an image or text on the image you want to post or send, but not allow anyone to use it without your permission. You can even add some watermarks: you can tag it with a tiny pattern or ID, and put a copyright notice in the corner.
At first, you might think, as I did, that this affordable powerful device is missing an important feature: a way to save your settings as a preset that you can reuse. The presets exist but are hidden. The only way to find them is by clicking the icon in the sidebar (no tooltip) to open the list of presets on the left. Then you can click “+ Add Preset” to save the currently selected combination of options. A little preview of the presets would be welcome for new users.
By selecting a preset, you can view effects and adjustments on a single image or while viewing the entire gallery you have imported. Click on different presets to see different effects.
At the time of writing this review, Squash 3’s documentation was sparse and some parts were out of date, despite the app being released in August 2021. step by step guides and instructional videos. The app is now supported in its non-intuitive parts with enough information to get over the hump.
The use of an orange on a cutting board as an app icon can be confusing for users in North America. Instead of “squash” as in American English for pumpkins, gourds and the like, “squash” in this appendix refers to a concentrated fruit juice popular in the United Kingdom, often laced with citrus.
Squash costs $29 for a perpetual license with one year of updates; $39 includes this license plus a set of effect filters. It is also available on the Setapp subscription service. The trial version includes some features that are available indefinitely without purchase.
I wholeheartedly recommend Squash to anyone who processes images in large quantities with special requirements, especially if you don’t own or don’t want to learn more complex software with a thousand other features.
Macworld reviewed Squash 2 for Mac Gems in 2017. All version 2 offered at the time was compressed: no preview, settings, or other features. Our reviewer wrote, “Squash for Mac is now the fastest, cheapest and most versatile image optimization utility in town.”
Due to the strong resurgence of the Mac in recent years, we want to highlight the tools we use and which readers recommend to get the most out of macOS. Mac Gems highlights great nuggets of Mac software, applications that are highly useful, pay close attention to a limited set of problems that need to be solved, and are usually developed by an individual or a small company. Stay tuned for weekly updates and submit your suggestions to the Mac Gems Twitter feed (@mcgems).