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Activate, Move, and Release your license

Each license is active on one computer at a time. Activate it once, move it when you change computers, and release it before you retire one.

Activate

1. Open the Chromalith panel and select the Settings tab.
2. Paste your key into License key. Keys use five groups of four letters and numbers: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX.
3. Select Activate.

Chromalith contacts license.chromalith.com to activate, then renews in the background about once a week. A signed authorization is valid for 30 days; if renewal cannot reach the server, an additional seven-day offline grace follows its expiry. The License section shows the relevant date.

Move to a new computer

Install Chromalith on the new computer and enter your key. If the key is active somewhere else, Chromalith offers Move license to this computer. Confirm, and the old computer is released automatically.

The default transfer balance is 3, refilling by 1 every 30 days up to 3. A Move costs one transfer. Settings → License shows the server's current balance, refill rule and next refill date when below the maximum. If no transfers remain, wait for that date or contact support.

In 1.0.0, the refill clock runs from the budget's last refill, not from when you first spend a transfer after reaching the cap. A support reset starts a new refill clock; it does not restore the rolling free same-computer allowance.

Reinstalling on the same computer

Reinstalling or resetting plug-in storage can create a new installation ID. Chromalith recognizes the same computer from operating system name, architecture, processor model, logical core count and memory rounded to the nearest GB. Each license allows one free same-computer re-activation per rolling 30 days. Beyond that allowance, or when the computer details do not match, use the normal Move confirmation and one transfer. Older incomplete computer records may need a support reset.

After reinstalling, enter your existing key and select Activate. If Move is offered, review the remaining transfers and refill date before confirming; do not Release first. If locked out, email support@chromalith.com with your purchase reference, key's last four characters, plug-in version and the displayed message. Never send your full key or secure-storage files.

Release

Select Release license before you sell, wipe, or retire a computer. Releasing frees the server seat and costs one transfer in 1.0.0. You do not need to release before a Move; Move replaces the old server seat for you. Free deactivation is not part of 1.0.0.

What works without a license

Test Mask still works. It builds a downscaled preview no larger than 1,024 pixels on the long edge; a 3600 × 4320 document previews at 853 × 1024. Your original artwork and size settings don't change. Generate Mask Only, Create Final Image, and the Designer Studio generate button need an active license. Until you activate, the action bar shows "Activate a license to generate production output. Test Mask preview is available up to 1,024 pixels."

What the license check sends

The installation ID is random, not derived from your hardware. Details are in the Privacy Policy.

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