FAQ and troubleshooting
Answers to common Picmal questions — privacy, file size results, format support, license activation, and fixes for typical issues on macOS.
Does Picmal send my files anywhere?
Section titled “Does Picmal send my files anywhere?”No. Everything happens locally on your Mac. No files are uploaded, no internet is required for processing. The only network call is license activation.
Why is my file larger after compression?
Section titled “Why is my file larger after compression?”The file was likely already highly optimized. Re-compressing an already-compressed file can sometimes increase size due to encoding overhead. Try a more aggressive preset, or skip files that are already small.
EPS or AI files aren’t converting?
Section titled “EPS or AI files aren’t converting?”Picmal uses a bundled Ghostscript engine to handle EPS and AI files — no extra software needed. Make sure the file is a valid EPS or AI document. Some AI files saved in PDF-compatible mode work better.
Can I undo a conversion?
Section titled “Can I undo a conversion?”Your original files are never modified. Converted and compressed files are saved as new files alongside the originals (unless you’ve enabled overwrite or delete-originals in watched folder settings).
How do I process files automatically?
Section titled “How do I process files automatically?”Use watched folders. Set up a folder, configure your preferred settings, and any file added to that folder is processed automatically.
For more control, use Shortcuts to build custom automations.
My license isn’t working on a new Mac
Section titled “My license isn’t working on a new Mac”You need to deactivate the license on your old Mac first. Open Settings → License → Deactivate on the old machine, then activate on the new one.
If you no longer have access to the old Mac, you can deactivate it remotely through Lemon Squeezy.
What formats are input-only?
Section titled “What formats are input-only?”RAW camera formats (ARW, CR2, DNG, NEF, RAF) and vector formats (AI, EPS) can be read and converted to other formats, but Picmal cannot write to them. See Supported Formats for the full list.
Can I process multiple files at once?
Section titled “Can I process multiple files at once?”Yes. Drop multiple files or entire folders into Picmal. Batch processing works in both Convert and Compress modes, as well as in Watched Folders.
Does Picmal require Homebrew or other dependencies?
Section titled “Does Picmal require Homebrew or other dependencies?”No. Picmal is fully self-contained. All processing tools are bundled with the app.