Tutorial •
How to Compress a PDF on Mac (4 Free Methods)
Reduce PDF size on your Mac without an upload. Preview's Quartz filter, a custom ColorSync filter, an Automator batch action, Ghostscript, and a batch app.
Picmal Blog
Updates, guides, and thoughts about building a media conversion app for Mac
Tutorial •
How to Convert WAV to MP3 on Mac (3 Free Methods)
Turn a WAV into an MP3 on your Mac with the Music app, ffmpeg or Audacity, plus a batch app for a whole folder. No upload, no website. Tested on macOS 27.
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How to Convert HEIC to PDF on Mac (5 Free Ways)
How to convert HEIC to PDF on your Mac, free, using Quick Actions or Preview. Covers making one PDF from a set of photos and one PDF per photo, plus the Terminal command.
Newsletter •
Picmal in August 2026: PDF compression that keeps your text, Slideshow, and one output format
August's Picmal releases: rebuilt PDF compression, the Slideshow tool, a single default output format, working SVG conversion, and a seat-ladder price.
Tutorial •
How to Convert FLAC to ALAC on Mac (4 Free Methods)
Apple Music won't import FLAC. Convert a lossless library to ALAC on your Mac with XLD, the Music app, afconvert, ffmpeg, or a batch app. Tags and album art kept. Tested on macOS 27.
Tutorial •
How to Extract Audio From a Video on Mac (4 Free Methods)
Pull the audio out of an MP4, MOV or MKV on your Mac and save it as MP3, M4A or WAV. QuickTime, a Finder Quick Action, VLC, ffmpeg, and a batch app. Tested on macOS 27.
Guide •
How to Compress Video with HandBrake (The Settings That Actually Matter)
A practical guide to HandBrake's compression settings: what RF really does, which encoder to pick, why your file sometimes gets bigger instead of smaller, and the four controls that change the size.
Tutorial •
How to Convert ARW to JPG on Mac (4 Free Methods)
Four free ways to convert Sony ARW files to JPG on a Mac, no upload needed: Preview, Finder's Quick Action, the built-in sips Terminal command, and Photos. Plus how to batch a whole shoot and what the free methods get wrong.
Guide •
How to Convert Video with VLC on Mac (and Why the Output Looks Bad)
VLC can convert video on a Mac, and it is free. Here is the exact menu path, the one setting that stops the output looking worse than the original, and how to tell when it has finished.
Tutorial •
PNG to Mac Icon: How to Make an .icns File (3 Free Ways)
Turn a PNG into a macOS .icns icon without uploading it anywhere: the built-in sips and iconutil commands, the Get Info paste trick, and Xcode's single-size app icon. Plus which one you actually need.
Tutorial •
QuickTime to GIF on Mac: 3 Free Methods (2026)
Turn a QuickTime .mov screen recording into an animated GIF on a Mac, without uploading it anywhere: the built-in Shortcuts action, ffmpeg with a proper palette, and gifski. Plus why a GIF is often the wrong answer.
Guide •
The Best Video Converter for Mac in 2026 (7 Tools Compared)
The best video converter for Mac in 2026, compared. Picmal, HandBrake, ffWorks, Permute, VLC, QuickTime and Compressor on price, formats, batch conversion and how hard each one is to use.
Newsletter •
Picmal in July 2026: Raycast, Vectorize, Remove Background, and app icons
July's Picmal releases: the Raycast extension, Vectorize and Remove Background, app icon export, audiobook chapters, Combine Videos, and video resolution caps.
Guide •
How to Convert Audio on Mac (M4A, FLAC, WAV, and More)
Convert audio files on your Mac: M4A, FLAC, WAV, AAC, OGG to MP3 and back. Four methods with Picmal, the Music app, VLC, and FFmpeg. Batch a folder, no upload.
Guide •
How to Convert AVI to MP4 on Mac (Free and Paid)
AVI won't play on your Mac? Convert AVI to MP4 with Picmal, HandBrake, VLC, or FFmpeg. Batch a whole folder, keep the quality, no upload. Step-by-step.
Guide •
How to Convert HEVC to MP4 on Mac (2026 Guide)
Convert HEVC (H.265) video to a widely compatible MP4 on your Mac. Four methods compared: Picmal, HandBrake, VLC, and FFmpeg, with quality and batch tips.
Guide •
How to Convert MKV to MP4 on Mac (Keep Subtitles and Audio Tracks)
MKV won't play on your Mac? Convert MKV to MP4 with Picmal, HandBrake, VLC, or FFmpeg. Handle multiple audio and subtitle tracks, batch a folder, no upload.
Guide •
How to Convert MOV to MP4 on Mac: 3 Free Ways (2026)
Convert MOV to MP4 on a Mac for free with iMovie, VLC or ffmpeg, and see why QuickTime can't do it. Often a lossless remux that takes seconds. Tested on macOS 27.
Guide •
How to Convert RAW to JPG on Mac (Every Camera Brand)
Convert camera RAW files (ARW, CR2, CR3, NEF, RAF, ORF, RW2, PEF) to JPG on your Mac. Batch-convert a whole shoot with correct colors, no subscription, no upload.
Guide •
How to Compress a Video on Mac (5 Ways, Free and Paid)
Compress video on your Mac to email or upload it: Picmal, HandBrake, iMovie, QuickTime, and FFmpeg. Shrink MP4, MOV, and MKV by 50-80% without visible quality loss.
Newsletter •
Picmal in June 2026: a new sidebar, PDF tools, and metadata you control
June's Picmal releases: a new sidebar with Images to PDF and Combine PDFs, copyright stamping, a Custom metadata mode, faster video, and 17 new formats.
Newsletter •
Picmal in May 2026: scheduled batches, custom presets, and space saved
May's Picmal releases: schedule a batch for later, save your own compression presets, per-file priority, output subfolders, embedded album art, and ALAC output.
Newsletter •
Picmal in April 2026: subtitles, watermarks, and EXIF filenames
April's Picmal releases: burn-in subtitles and playback speed for video, watermark presets, EXIF-based filename patterns, audio resampling, and a redesigned Settings.
Guide •
Permute vs Picmal: Which Mac Media Converter Is Better?
Comparing Permute 3 and Picmal for image, video, and audio conversion on Mac. Features, pricing, format support, and which one fits your workflow.
Tutorial •
How to Convert Images to WebP on Mac (3 Methods)
Convert JPEG, PNG, and other images to WebP on your Mac. Reduce file sizes by 25-50% for faster websites without visible quality loss.
Tutorial •
How to Convert HEIC to PNG on Mac (4 Methods)
Convert HEIC photos to PNG on your Mac when you need lossless quality or transparency. Covers Preview, Terminal, and batch conversion.
Tutorial •
How to Convert Images on Mac Without Uploading Them Online
Every way to convert images offline on your Mac, with no uploads and no third-party servers. Covers Preview, Quick Actions, Automator, and the command line.
Tutorial •
How to Free Up Storage in Your Mac's Photos Library (I Freed 46GB)
Your Photos library is eating your disk. How to get the space back on a Mac: the Duplicates album, iCloud Optimize Mac Storage, converting to HEIC, and archiving to an external drive. 74GB down to 28GB.
Tutorial •
How to Resize an Image on Mac (and Bulk Resize a Whole Folder)
Resize one image on your Mac in about ten seconds with Preview, or resize a whole folder at once with Automator, sips, or a batch resizer. Step by step for each, no upload needed.
Tutorial •
Convert AVIF to JPG on Mac: 3 Ways, No Upload
Three offline ways to convert AVIF to JPG on your Mac. AVIF is the new web format most apps still can't open. Turn it into a JPG that works anywhere.
Tutorial •
How to Convert WebP to PNG on Mac (4 Methods)
Convert WebP images to PNG on your Mac using Preview, Terminal, online tools, or a batch converter. Keep transparency and sharp edges intact.
Tutorial •
Convert SVG to PNG on Mac: 4 Free Ways, No Upload
Four free offline ways to turn SVG into PNG on your Mac: Preview, the qlmanage Terminal command, your browser, and rsvg-convert. Plus batching a folder.
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How to Reduce Image File Size on Mac: 5 Free Ways
How to reduce image file size on a Mac and make a photo or picture smaller: resize, compress, convert to WebP or AVIF, or strip metadata. Free built-in tools first.
Tutorial •
How to Convert TIFF to JPG on Mac (4 Methods)
Convert TIFF files to JPG on your Mac using Preview, Terminal, or a batch converter. Step-by-step instructions for single files and entire folders.
Tutorial •
How to Convert WEBP to JPG on Mac (5 Free Methods)
Convert WEBP to JPG on Mac with Finder Quick Actions, Preview, or Terminal. Free built-in methods plus batch conversion for whole folders.
Guide •
Best Media Converter Apps for Mac in 2026 (8 Tools Compared)
Compare the 8 best media converter apps for Mac in 2026. I review Picmal, HandBrake, Permute, ffWorks, XnConvert, Kompressor, Compresto, and How To Convert across images, video, and audio.
Guide •
Everything I found while researching license managers for my Mac app
A practical comparison of license management tools for indie Mac developers: Stripe, Creem, Polar, LicenseSeat, Amore, and Keygen. Includes the key distinction between purchase-linked and standalone licenses.
Guide •
7 ImageOptim Alternatives for Mac, Tested in 2026
ImageOptim skips WebP, AVIF and HEIC, can't convert or resize, and has barely changed since 2016. Seven alternatives for Apple silicon, compared on price.
Tutorial •
How to Enable Picmal's Finder Extensions
Learn how to activate Picmal's Services to add Convert and Compress options directly to your right-click context menu on Mac.
Tutorial •
How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac: 6 Free Ways (2026)
How to convert (or change) a HEIC to JPG on your Mac or MacBook in seconds, free, using Quick Actions or Preview. Six methods compared, how to keep your EXIF data, and what to do with a whole folder.
Guide •
Top 5 Batch Image Converter Software for Mac
Compare top batch image converter software for Mac. Review Picmal, BatchPhoto, XnConvert, Adapter and Kompressor to find the right tool for quickly and easily converting images privately.
Tutorial •
Publish your macOS App outside the App Store
A practical guide to publishing your macOS app outside the App Store: notarization, code signing, Sparkle auto-updates, licensing, and distribution lessons from building Picmal.
Guide •
How to Organize Digital Photos Like a Pro
Tired of digital chaos? Learn how to organize digital photos with this practical guide on building a system that lasts, from folders to secure backups.
Guide •
What is Image File Format? Essential Guide Explained
Learn what is image file format, including types like JPEG & PNG, and how to choose the right one for your needs. Discover key details in this guide.
Guide •
Best Image Formats for the Web: All 7 Compared (2026)
The best image extension for the web is WebP for photos and SVG for logos. Here's why, plus JPEG, PNG, AVIF and GIF compared on size, quality and speed.
Tutorial •
How to Batch Convert HEIC Photos on Mac (Without Uploading Them)
The fastest ways to batch convert hundreds of HEIC photos on your Mac, offline and with no file size limits. Covers Preview, Automator, the sips command line, and when an app is worth it.
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