Frame images & add mattes.
In seconds. No Photoshop.
Mac BorderTool Pro is the menubar app for photographers – drag in images or entire folders, load a preset, done. With live preview, drop shadows, Instagram formats, and true batch power.
100% local. Offline. One-time purchase.
Drag image to menubar → Select settings → Save. That’s how fast it is.
Finder : Right-click on a file →
“Open with” → BorderTool Pro . Also via drag & drop directly onto the app icon.
Space = Quick Look in full resolution. Share result directly via AirDrop, iMessage or Email . Print with ⌘P – without saving.
More Style. More Speed. More Control.
Updates that actually change your workflow – developed directly based on photographer feedback.
Offset, softness, opacity and angle – all values
percentage-based and therefore completely scaling-stable. Works equally well for web export and print resolutions. No manual recalculation.
Save complete configurations – colors, widths, units, corners, shadows, everything. Load instantly via ⌘1–8.
Hold = save. Perfect for brand workflows.
⌘1
⌘2
⌘3
⌘4
⌘5
⌘6
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⌘8
1:1, 4:5, 9:16, 1.91:1 – the original image is not cropped . The frame fills the difference to the target format. Landscape/portrait switchable. Perfect for series via batch.
Color Picker + HEX input (#RGB / #RRGGBB) + 5 quick slots per frame. Click loads, hold saves. Once configured, always reproducible.
Just drag in iPhone photos in HEIC/HEIF format – no pre-conversion, no detours. The format stays identical. Output format can optionally be switched to JPEG, PNG or TIFF.
Three corner styles to choose from: square ,
chamfered (45° cut) or rounded . Each style can be selected individually – not combined.
The language can be switched directly in the app – no restart needed.
UI you understand instantly.
Large dropzones. Sliders & number fields. Color Picker & HEX. Presets. Quick Look. Everything directly in the menubar popover – without app window.
Space = Quick Look · ⌘1–8 = Preset · X = Swap colors · D = Black/White · ⌘S = Save
How you start – directly from Finder.
BorderTool Pro is deeply integrated into the Mac ecosystem. No opening, no navigating – you work as you’re used to.
Drag files or entire folders directly onto the menubar icon – BorderTool Pro starts immediately with current settings.
Select image in Finder → Right-click →
“Open with” → BorderTool Pro . Also works with multiple selection and entire folders.
Share the finished image directly from the preview – via
AirDrop, iMessage or Email . Print with
⌘P – in full resolution, without detour through Finder.
Full control.
Configure once, always ready.
The settings panel isn’t just cosmetic – this is where the real batch power lives. Once configured, every export runs exactly as you want it.
Always use percentage for frames – never pixels.
A 3% frame looks equally proportional on a 1080px Instagram export as on a print-ready 6000px image. Pixel values, on the other hand, look too heavy on small outputs and barely visible on high-resolution prints. Once set in % – always consistent, regardless of camera or format.
“I shoot with a Fujifilm X-E5 and use the film simulations directly. Since the images come out ‘finished’ from the camera, I don’t want complex post-processing anymore. I used to try creating frames with Affinity, but the learning curve just wasn’t worth it. Mac BorderTool Pro is exactly the quick and uncomplicated solution I was missing. As a music producer, I’ve spent a lot more money on far less efficient plug-ins – with this tool, there’s no need to think twice.”
“Since frames are a fixed part of my workflow, this tool comes at just the right time! I always used Darkroom, but it’s just slow and cumbersome in comparison. Plus, it’s missing the double frame. Even entire folders can be processed incredibly quickly! It’s also great that no additional software is needed to achieve beautiful results. Would buy it again anytime!”
“Follow-up: Only 4 days have passed since my last review, but the app update brought so many new – sorry – awesome features that I have to add more. My request for HEIF support was fulfilled, the presets are super helpful, the drop shadow is elegant. I can’t think of more improvements, the tool is excellently done!”
“I was always too lazy to frame my images. And now I can equip my images with as many frame variations as I want without lifting a finger. Plus, the batch processing from Capture One is simply superbly implemented. I’m completely thrilled and now frame many of my photos in bulk without breaking a sweat.”
“I use Luminar Neo and framing is possible there, but cumbersome and very time-consuming for multiple images. The small BorderTool has always served me well. The now released BorderTool Pro expands functionality even further and is really fun to use thanks to the graphical interface.”
“Michael is really extremely helpful and immediately available when I’m stuck. I’ve never experienced anything like this before – in today’s world, where you often have to deal with an AI first or can’t even make contact at all, this is a real blessing.”
“As an owner of the ‘old’ version, I was already completely enthusiastic and now life is being made even easier. The workflow was fundamentally expanded and at the same time greatly simplified. I didn’t expect that. My expectations were clearly exceeded.”
“There are tools that make a specific use case really simple. BorderTool Pro is one of those tools. A totally simple interface. And a nice contact with the developer who incorporates user ideas. My absolute recommendation from real conviction.”
No Photoshop.
No subscription hassle.
No detours.
If you’re searching for
“add borders to images Mac” or
“passepartout app Mac” – you know what you want. Here it is. Local, fast, one-time payment.
All features at a glance.
Shortcuts you’ll actually use.
Every reach for the mouse costs time. BorderTool Pro is built so you barely lift your hands from the keyboard.
Seamlessly into your workflow.
BorderTool Pro works as a post-export tool. Your workflow stays as it is – the frame is added automatically.
Activate “Overwrite original” – the export lands immediately as finished image, without manual moving.
That way every exported image immediately gets the right look – no manual intermediate step needed.
Always export from Capture One or Lightroom as
TIFF – lossless, without compression. Then convert to
JPEG in BorderTool Pro : This way JPEG compression happens only
once , at final export. Double compression (JPEG → edit → JPEG) visibly costs quality.
“The batch processing from Capture One is simply superbly implemented. I now frame many of my photos in bulk without breaking a sweat.”
The honest table.
Everything important briefly explained.
Yes. Processing via ImageIO. JPEG is saved with high quality (0.95) by default. EXIF data and color profiles are preserved where technically possible.
Yes – including recursively with all subfolders. Even 1000+ images are no problem, processing runs in parallel on ~80% of available CPU cores with progress + ETA.
Only if you actively choose “Replace original”. Default is always a new file. When replacing, it’s moved to trash first – with clear warning.
You select a target aspect ratio (1:1, 4:5, 9:16 or 1.91:1). The original image is not cropped – the frame fills the difference. The result is platform-appropriate without information loss.
JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, HEIC and HEIF as input. Output optionally: Keep original, JPEG, HEIC, PNG or TIFF – with individual quality and compression settings.
Yes. In Capture One under “Open with…” in the process recipe. In Lightroom under “After Export → Open with”. BorderTool Pro then frames automatically with current settings.
You save complete frame configurations: colors, widths, units, corners, shadows – everything. Via ⌘1–8 you load them instantly. Perfect for brand-compliant work and changing series.
No. Mac BorderTool Pro is a one-time purchase. You own the app – no subscription, no monthly costs, no cloud dependency, no connection to the outside.
Photographer & Developer
From real practice.
For real workflows.
Independent photographer for over 18 years, YouTuber and official Fujifilm X-Photographer. In my daily work I create client galleries, series exports and fine art work with hundreds of images. BorderTool was born from a real problem – not from a feature idea.
User feedback flows directly into updates – which you can see in the follow-up reviews: some users write a second review after just 4 days because so many new features came.
What might still make you hesitate.
True – but how long does it take you? With 50 images, after a long shoot, when the upload is already waiting? BorderTool Pro does it in seconds, completely automatically, without opening the editor.
Understandable. Mac BorderTool Pro is
Apple-notarized – macOS checks the app automatically on first launch. No security dialog, no Gatekeeper problem. Just like an app from the App Store.
No. Everything happens
100% locally on your Mac. No servers, no cloud, no account. Your images don’t leave your computer.
By default, the app
always creates a new file . “Overwrite original” is a conscious option – with clear notice and trash fallback. So it only happens if you actively want it.
Very likely yes. Supported: JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, HEIC/HEIF (including iPhone photos directly). If your camera writes a standard format, it works.
Look at the reviews – 5.0 out of 5.0, all uncut. And if you have a question or something doesn’t work: I’m the developer and respond personally. Not an AI, not a support ticket system.
Own instead of rent.
Native Mac app. Menubar workflow. Live preview. Presets. Double frames. Drop shadows. Instagram formats. Batch. 12 languages.
One-time purchase. No subscription. Offline.
Maximilian Rodenwaldt –
I shoot with a Fujifilm X-E5 and use the film simulations (Recipes) directly. Since the images come out of the camera already “finished,” I have no desire for complex post-processing. I used to try creating borders with Affinity, but the learning curve was disproportionate to the result. Mac BorderTool Pro is exactly the quick and easy solution I was looking for. The photos instantly look more elegant and sophisticated thanks to the white border and passe-partout. As a music producer, I’ve spent a lot of money on far less effective plugins – with this tool, it’s a no-brainer. The price is excellent, and the time savings are enormous. It was absolutely worth it!
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Manuel Domann –
Since frames are an essential part of my workflow, this tool is a godsend! I’ve always used Darkroom, but it’s simply slow and cumbersome in comparison. Plus, it lacks the double frame option. Initially, when I was testing it, I thought I didn’t need it… but I have to say, it looks fantastic! Even entire folders can be edited incredibly quickly! It’s also great that no additional software is required to achieve such beautiful results. All in all, a nice little tool that does exactly what it’s supposed to! I would buy it again in a heartbeat!
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Paul Godley –
I was very happy with the first version. However, this update is perfect! “Framing” couldn’t be easier. Great work, Michael, I highly recommend it!
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Andreas Jäger –
I’ve been using the old version of BorderTool for years and have always been very happy with it. I often export photos from events in several versions for my clients to choose from. This always includes a “subtly framed” option. I use Luminar Neo, and while framing is possible there, it’s cumbersome and very time-consuming with multiple images. The little BorderTool has always served me well in this regard. The newly released BorderTool Pro expands the functionality enormously and is actually quite enjoyable to use thanks to its graphical interface. The ability to combine an outer and inner frame and the free choice of colors are features enough to justify purchasing the update. The system integration is excellent; it runs quickly and stably. I’m still missing support for HEIF files, but Michael Damböck has hinted that this might be added in a future update. And I’ve always been extremely satisfied with their support!
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Diego Cürten –
Ich habe nun seit einer Woche das Tool im Einsatz. Ich war immer zu träge, meine Bilder zu umrahmen. Und nun kann ich meine Bilder mit so vielen Rahmenvariationen ausstatten wie ich will ohne einen Finger krumm zu machen. Es wertet die Bilder einfach auf. Zudem habe ich eine wunderbare Vorschau auf die Wirkung eines gedruckten Bildes in einem Rahmen. Da kommt es auch sehr gelegen, dass die die Rahmenfarbe auf einen einzelnen Ton im Bild selber anpassen kann. Zudem ist die Batchverarbeitung aus Capture One einfach super gelöst. Um es kurz zu halten, ich bin vollauf begeistert und rahme nun im Akkord viele meiner Fotos ohne ins schwitzen zu kommen.
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René Hartung –
Ich kann mich den Vorrednern nur anschließen, ich bin voll und ganz zufrieden damit. Super einfach einen Rahmen oder 2 zu einem Bild hinzufügen, ohne stundenlang mit Photoshop oder ähnlichem herumbasteln zu müssen. Sehr toll ist auch der farbige Rahmen mit dem eingebauten Color Picker sowie die Batch Verarbeitung.
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Andre Gastreich –
Es gibt so Tools, die einen bestimmten Anwendungsfall richtig einfach machen. Das BorderTool Pro ist so ein Tool. Eine total simple Bedienoberfläche. Und ein netter Kontakt zum Entwickler, der Ideen der Nutzer einfließen lässt. Meine absolute Empfehlung aus wirklicher Überzeugung heraus.
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aj7000 –
Nachtrag: seit meiner letzten Rezension sind erst 4 Tage vergangen, aber in der Zeit hat das Update der BorderTool Pro App so viele neue und – sorry – geile Features bekommen, dass ich nochmal nachlegen muss.
Mein Wunsch nach Unterstützung von HEIF wurde erfüllt, die Presets sind super hilfreich, der Schattenwurf edel.
Mehr Verbesserungen fallen mir nicht ein, das Tool ist hervorragend gelungen!
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Philipp L. –
Das Tool tut genau, was es soll. Es war noch nie so einfach, Rahmen für meine Bilder zu erstellen – intuitiv und in Rekordzeit. Friemlige Rahmen in Photoshop, die bei einer großen Menge an Bildern auch recht zeitraubend sind, gehören damit der Vergangenheit an. Vielen Dank!
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gustav.foerster –
Nach Umstieg von der schon etwas betagten Version mit vorgegeben Rahmengrößen (10 Pixel, 20 Pixel etc.) auf die neue Version, ist das Programm nun auch für kleine Bildgrößen sehr gut nutzbar. Über die Vielzahl der darüber hinaus zur Verfügung stehenden Optionen muss ich mich erst noch schlau machen, sieht aber spannend aus. Und Michael ist wirklich extrem hinfreich und sofort zur Stelle, wenn ich mal auf dem Schlauch stehe. So etwas habe ich bislang noch nicht erlebt und ist in der heutigen Zeit, wo man sich oft erst mit einer KI auseiandersetzen muss, oder gar keinen Kontakt zustande bringt, eine echte Wohltat.
Vielen herzlichen Dank!
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Alfred Schrott –
Vor wenigen Tagen bin ich auf das “Border Tool Pro” aufmerksam geworden und habe es auch gekauft bzw. herunter geladen. Ich bin von der Einfachheit bei der Anwendung begeistert. Es tut was es soll und das in einer überzeugenden Art und Weise. Ich kann den Kauf nur allen (Hobby-) Fotografinnen und Fotografen empfehlen, die auf sehr elegante und einfache Weise ihre Bilder mit einem Rahmen hübscher machen möchten. Gratulation an Michael. Super gemacht.
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jean-baptiste –
Als Besitzer der “alten” Version war ich schon total begeistert und nun wird einem das Leben nochmals einfacher gemacht. Der Ablauf wurde grundlegend erweitert und gleichzeitig stark vereinfacht. Damit hatte ich nicht gerechnet. Die Möglichkeit der Anpassung an die eigenen Wünsche ist hervorragend und meine Erwartungen wurden klar übertroffen.
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Mike Guilbault –
I’m a commercial, portrait and fine art photographer in Ontario, Canada, along the shores of beautiful Georgian Bay. I used the original version of Border Tools but was thrilled when Michael contacted me with the new BorderTools Pro! That’s what I call an UPGRADE! The ability to add two separate borders, corner styles, colours and then save them as presets is a game changer. The time savings alone was worth the upgrade, but it’s also so easy to use and configure to your liking. Highly recommended, and the support from Michael is second to none. I’d give it more stars if I could.
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Friedrich Poyer –
Verwende es seit einigen Tagen sehr intensiv und kann es sehr empfehlen. Spart Zeit und macht seine Sache ausgezeichnet!
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AZ –
I’m a frame/border app connoisseur of sorts — I have bought and tested just about every one out there, especially on iOS. For macOS it really doesn’t get much better than this. I use PS, LR and Capture One, but I have been waiting for a fast purpose-built app like this for a long time. I know I am going to be a patron long-term, and am excited for future updates.
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Karolos Iossif –
A very useful and easy to use tool! Can’t wait for the upcoming update. Well done sir!
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Mario Zitko –
I have used other software to create frames but non come even close to BorderTool its a great product and will get better with upcoming update keep up the good work.
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Lynton Jones –
I’ve spent ages trying to add borders simply and easily. I use Luminar Neo and adding borders with this is a nightmare. So I would export my photos into Pixelmator Pro, which is a little less of a nightmare, but still complicated. And then I discovered BorderTool Pro. It is a dream – just borders ,very simple and intuitive (after I discovered the comprehensive Help menu). This is exactly what an app should be. It does one job easily, simply without any of the complications that full scale photo editing applications drop on you.
First class! Thanks Michael for doing this.
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Per Kinde –
This tool is a must in order to present images in a professionally way. It is easy to use and the double border is a wow! I have used up to now for more than 300 images and the borders really lift my images. It is very easy to set border widths and also very useful to have a preview. Apart from this I must say that the developer is superb in replying to questions and proposals. I can only recommend this for everyone that want borders for his images.
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Peter Dohse –
Eine klasse APP! Sie erleichtert mir erheblich das Hervorheben meiner Bilder durch flexible Rahmungen, die ich auch sehr schnell wieder ändern und anpassen kann. Und die Stapelverarbeitung nicht vergessen, wo man in einem Rutsch bei gleichen Rahmungen seiner Ordner eingibt. Und jetzt kommts noch besser: Die APP wird laufend verbessert, erweitert – danke.
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