CLI

Command line tool for applying Rethings presets and effects on macOS. Requires the Mac app and Rethings Pro for apply and list-presets.

Install

  1. Install the Mac app from the Download for Mac.
  2. Open Rethings and choose Install Command Line Tool… from the app menu.
  3. Confirm the tool is on your PATH: 
    which rethings
rethings help

The installer links /usr/local/bin/rethings to the CLI binary inside the app bundle. Keep Rethings installed so the tool can find its resources.

Synopsis

rethings apply --preset <id> -i <in> -o <out>
rethings apply --effect <id> [--set name=value]… -i <in> -o <out>
rethings list-presets
rethings list-effects
rethings unlock --email <email> --key <key>
rethings status
rethings help

Commands

apply

rethings apply (--preset <id> | --effect <id>) -i <in> -o <out> [options]

Render a preset or effect onto an input image and write the result.

Pass either --preset or --effect. Applying requires Rethings Pro. Progress is printed to stderr; the output path is printed to stdout on success.

Options

--preset <id>
Apply a preset by id. Use list-presets, or copy the id from a preset page.
--effect <id>
Apply a single effect by id. Use list-effects, or copy the id from an effect page.
--set name=value
Set an effect control. Repeat the flag for multiple controls. Values are numbers, or comma-separated numbers for vector controls (for example tint=0.1,0.2).
-i, --input <path>
Input image path.
-o, --output <path>
Output image path. Format is inferred from the extension unless --format is set.
--format png|jpg
Output image format. Default: from the -o extension, otherwise png.
--quality <1-100>
JPEG quality. Default: 100. Ignored for png.
--max-width <px>
Cap output width in pixels. Height scales to keep aspect ratio. Minimum 2.
--gradient a:b
Two-stop gradient for gradient-map style work. Accepts hex (#000:#0036AF) or RGB triples (0,0,0:0,54,175).
--resources <dir>
Path to Contents/Resources inside Rethings.app. Optional if the tool can find the app bundle. You can also set RETHINGS_RESOURCES.
  • Exit status is non-zero on usage errors, missing Pro, or render failures.
  • Source and output files stay on disk. Rendering uses Metal on this Mac.

list-presets

rethings list-presets [--resources <dir>]

Print preset ids and names, tab-separated.

Requires Rethings Pro. One preset per line: <id>\t<name>.

list-effects

rethings list-effects [--resources <dir>]

Print effect ids and names, tab-separated.

One effect per line: <id>\t<name>. Does not require Pro.

unlock

rethings unlock --email <email> --key <key>

Redeem a Pro licence key and store it for this Mac.

Options

--email <email>
Email address tied to the licence.
--key <key>
Licence key (for example RTH-…).
  • You can also unlock from inside the Rethings app.

status

rethings status

Show whether Pro is unlocked on this Mac.

Reports App Store unlock, a stored licence, or locked.

Examples

Apply a preset

rethings apply --preset cyanotype -i photo.jpg -o out.png

Apply an effect with controls

rethings apply --effect film-grain --set grainAmount=0.6 -i photo.jpg -o out.png

JPEG output with quality and width cap

rethings apply --preset sepia -i photo.jpg -o out.jpg --format jpg --quality 90 --max-width 1600

Batch a folder

mkdir -p out
for f in *.jpg; do
  rethings apply --preset sepia -i "$f" -o "out/$f"
done

List ids

rethings list-presets
rethings list-effects

Unlock and check status

rethings unlock --email you@example.com --key RTH-…
rethings status

Notes

  • Pro. apply and list-presets require Rethings Pro. list-effects, unlock, and status do not.
  • Privacy. Effects render locally with Metal. Input and output files are not uploaded.
  • Resources. If the tool cannot find the app bundle, pass --resources /Applications/Rethings.app/Contents/Resources or set RETHINGS_RESOURCES.
  • Platform. macOS only. Windows is not supported yet.
  • Catalogue. Effect and preset pages on this site include ready-made rethings apply examples for each id.