Preferences

Open Preferences from File → Preferences… (or ⌘, / Ctrl+,, or on macOS, Macro Studio → Preferences… in the app menu).

The dialog is small on purpose — Macro Studio aims to be opinionated about defaults rather than buried in settings. There are only a handful of preferences, and each commits immediately when you toggle it (there’s no OK/Apply step).

Checkboxes

Confirm before deleting source images

On by default. When you delete source frames from the filmstrip (right-click → Delete), a confirmation dialog appears warning that the original files will be removed.

Turn this off if you’re confident you won’t fat-finger a delete and want the operation to be one-click.

Run all stacking methods by default

Off by default. When checked, every stack runs both Pyramid and Depth Map methods, producing two results in the history strip per stack action.

Costs about 40% more time per stack (the alignment step is shared, but blending happens twice). The upside: you never have to wonder “would the other method have looked better?” — you can A/B compare every time.

Good for tricky subjects (insects with thin antennae and complex backgrounds). Probably overkill for routine flower/mushroom shots.

Automatically check for updates on launch

On by default. Macro Studio checks once per day at launch for a new version. If one exists, a small dialog offers Download or Later.

• The check is silent — no telemetry, no usage data, no identifying info.
• It only happens once per 24 hours regardless of how many times you launch.
• You can always trigger a manual check from File → Check for Updates….

Turn this off if you want full control over when (and whether) updates land — you can still check manually anytime.

Buttons

Manage Watermarks…

Opens the watermark editor. Watermarks are presets you build once and reuse in the Save dialog:

• Create a watermark from text or an image overlay.
• Set placement (top-left, top-right, top-center, bottom-left, bottom-right, bottom-center, center).
• Adjust opacity, font, color, size, padding.
• Save multiple presets for different uses (subtle archival, bold social, etc.).

The Save dialog then picks from these presets via its Watermark dropdown.

Customize Social Post Tags…

Opens the social tags editor for the Draft Social Post feature.

You can configure:

• A general signature line (your handle, contact, etc.) appended to every draft.
• Generic hashtags that apply to all posts.
• Kingdom-specific hashtags that only appear when the subject is an insect, plant, or mushroom.

Set these up once when you start using Macro Studio’s social features. Every Draft Social Post afterward includes them automatically.

Reset Welcome Tour

Re-enables the Welcome card and tour for first-launch helpers. Useful if:

• You dismissed the welcome card and want to see it again.
• You’re demoing the app to someone else and want a clean first impression.
• A new version added a new tour section you haven’t seen.

Click the button; it shows a brief ✓ Reset confirmation for 1.5 s, then returns to normal. Next time you load a folder, the Welcome card reappears.

Reveal Debug Log in Finder… (or Show in Explorer)

Opens the folder that contains Macro Studio’s debug log files in your OS file manager.

Useful when contacting support — the support team may ask for the latest log. Most of the time, Help → Send Log Files… is the easier path (it bundles and uploads automatically), but this button gives you direct access to the files.

Version footer

At the bottom of the dialog, Macro Studio shows the version number and build identifier in small text. Useful when reporting issues — include this in any support email so we know exactly which build you’re running.

Why so few options?

By design. Macro Studio aims to have one good answer for most decisions rather than burying users in toggles. If you find yourself wishing for a preference that isn’t here, email support — we’d rather hear about real needs than guess at imagined ones.

See also

• Saving — where watermark presets get used.
• Species ID and social posts — where social tags get used.
• Send log files — the support flow.