> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/squash/quick-guide/nodes.md).
# Image Settings
Image-processing and export settings in the Squash 4 sidebar
The sidebar controls what happens to your images when you compress and export them. These sections were called nodes in Squash 3.
Settings apply to the current batch and can be saved in [Presets](/squash/quick-guide/presets.md). Each section applies when its settings would change the image. For example, Resize is off while its mode is **None**, and Watermark applies only once you add an image.
When any setting in a section differs from its default, the section's title and icon turn orange, so you can see at a glance what will change your images.
### Turning a section off for a moment
While a section is changing your images, a switch appears in its header. Click it to turn the section off without losing its settings, for example to compare the result with and without a crop. Click it again to turn the section back on. A section that's turned off is dimmed, and changing one of its settings turns it back on.
* **Option-click** a switch to keep that section on and turn off every other section that's changing your images. Option-click again to put them back.
* You can also right-click a section and choose **Turn Off** or **Turn On** followed by its name, or press **D** while that menu is open.
Format and Location don't have a switch.
### Arranging the sidebar
* **Expand or collapse a section:** click its title or its disclosure arrow.
* **Expand or collapse every section:** right-click the sidebar and choose **Expand All Sections** or **Collapse All Sections**.
* **Reorder sections:** drag a section card to a new place in the sidebar.
* **Reset one section:** right-click it and choose **Reset** followed by the section's name, such as **Reset Watermark**. Only that section's settings return to their defaults.
* **Reset every section:** right-click the sidebar and choose **Reset All Sections…**. Every section returns to its defaults, except **Location**: your **Save To** folder, subfolder and **Replace existing files** stay as they are. This can't be undone.
* **Hide a section:** right-click the sidebar and clear the section's tick. A hidden section is switched off: its settings return to their defaults and stay off, even if a preset would turn them on. **Format**, **Location** and **Rename** can't be hidden.
* **Restore the original layout:** right-click the sidebar and choose **Reset Section Order**. This also shows any hidden sections again.
Squash remembers the order, hidden sections and which sections are expanded the next time you launch the app. These are not saved in presets, and choosing a preset does not change them.
| Section | What it does |
| ---------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Format](/squash/quick-guide/nodes/format.md) | Choose the output format, quality and compression options. |
| [Location and Export](/squash/quick-guide/nodes/export.md) | Choose where files are saved and whether existing files can be replaced. |
| [Rotate](/squash/quick-guide/nodes/rotate.md) | Turn sideways and upside-down photos upright, automatically or by hand. |
| [Crop](/squash/quick-guide/nodes/crop.md) | Crop to an aspect ratio or a social media size, keeping the subject in frame. |
| [Resize](/squash/quick-guide/nodes/resize.md) | Change pixel dimensions or scale images by a percentage. |
| [Adjustments](/squash/quick-guide/nodes/adjustments.md) | Change brightness, contrast, colour and sharpness. |
| [Effects](/squash/quick-guide/nodes/effects.md) | Apply a filter and adjust its intensity. |
| [Borders](/squash/quick-guide/nodes/borders.md) | Add a decorative border from an enabled border pack. |
| [Watermark](/squash/quick-guide/nodes/watermark.md) | Add up to five image or text watermarks. |
| [Metadata](/squash/quick-guide/nodes/metadata.md) | Remove location, camera, date, author and other metadata, or write your own title, description, credits and keywords. |
| [Rename](/squash/quick-guide/nodes/rename.md) | Build output filenames from text and reusable tokens. |
Effects and Borders appear when their packs are enabled in [Settings → Effects](/squash/quick-guide/preferences.md#effects).
Use the [preview pane](/squash/quick-guide/editor.md) to review visual changes. Compression results in the image list are calculated automatically, unless you turn off **Automatically compress images** in Settings and run **Squash** yourself.
Squash 3 reference screenshots
These screenshots show the earlier Squash 3 interface.
---
# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.
## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters:
```
GET https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/squash/quick-guide/nodes.md?ask=&goal=
```
`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.