Add software to images in System Image Utility on Mac
There are three ways to include software in an image:
Create a package-only (no OS) installation to install configuration profiles, scripts, and packages.
Add apps and files to a system, then create an image using that system as the source. See Create a disk image in the Disk Utility User Guide.
Add apps and files to an image as it’s created using a System Image Utility image workflow that includes the Customize Package Selection action component in Automator on Mac. See Build a custom workflow.
Open System Image Utility for me
About packages
A package is a single file that has the .pkg extension and can contain items such as apps, folders, or scripts. You use packages to deploy such items to Mac computers using System Image Utility or Apple Remote Desktop.
To add apps or other files during image creation (instead of installing them on the image source volume before creating the image), you must group the apps or files into a package.
Important: You should have all the necessary license agreements to install apps, books, and fonts on multiple Mac computers.
Create packages
To add apps or other files to an image (instead of installing them on the image source volume before creating the image), use productbuild to create packages containing the apps or files. You can also use the developer action Create Package in the Automator app to create packages. You must have Xcode installed to use developer actions.
See the productbuild man page.
Add your packages to your NetBoot or NetInstall image using System Image Utility workflows.
Configure the Customize Package Selection action in Automator on Mac
Use this action to customize the installation of macOS. You can disable, enable, require, or prevent installation of packages or parts of packages in your image.
This action is only valid when creating NetInstall images.
In the Automator app
on your Mac, create a new workflow, select the Customize Package Selection action in the Automator Library, then drag it into position in your workflow.Do one of the following:
Require package installation: Select the checkbox in the Default column and deselect the checkbox in the Visible column. The package is installed, and the user cannot alter the installation.
Allow users to prevent package installation: Select the checkbox in the Default column and deselect the checkbox in the Visible column. The user can choose to install the package from the image during installation.