diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index a20b3434..22d78ba9 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 	<groupId>org.mastodon</groupId>
 	<artifactId>mastodon-tomancak</artifactId>
-	<version>0.4.2-SNAPSHOT</version>
+	<version>0.4.2</version>
 
 	<name>Tomancak Lab Mastodon Plugins</name>
 	<description>Various Mastodon plugins for use in Tomancak lab projects</description>
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
 	<scm>
 		<connection>scm:git:https:github.com/mastodon-sc/mastodon-tomancak</connection>
 		<developerConnection>scm:git:git@github.com:mastodon-sc/mastodon-tomancak</developerConnection>
-		<tag>HEAD</tag>
+		<tag>mastodon-tomancak-0.4.2</tag>
 		<url>https://github.com/mastodon-sc/mastodon-tomancak</url>
 	</scm>
 	<issueManagement>
diff --git a/release.properties b/release.properties
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ffafb99e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#release configuration
+#Tue Feb 20 15:38:19 CET 2024
+projectVersionPolicyId=default
+project.scm.org.mastodon\:mastodon-tomancak.connection=scm\:git\:https\:github.com/mastodon-sc/mastodon-tomancak
+scm.branchCommitComment=@{prefix} prepare branch @{releaseLabel}
+project.scm.org.mastodon\:mastodon-tomancak.url=https\://github.com/mastodon-sc/mastodon-tomancak
+pinExternals=false
+projectVersionPolicyConfig=<projectVersionPolicyConfig>${projectVersionPolicyConfig}</projectVersionPolicyConfig>\n
+project.dev.org.mastodon\:mastodon-tomancak=0.4.3-SNAPSHOT
+exec.activateProfiles=deploy-to-scijava
+pushChanges=false
+scm.rollbackCommitComment=@{prefix} rollback the release of @{releaseLabel}
+remoteTagging=true
+releaseStrategyId=default
+scm.commentPrefix=[maven-release-plugin] 
+project.rel.org.mastodon\:mastodon-tomancak=0.4.2
+project.scm.org.mastodon\:mastodon-tomancak.tag=HEAD
+completedPhase=end-release
+scm.url=scm\:git\:https\://github.com/mastodon-sc/mastodon-tomancak
+scm.developmentCommitComment=@{prefix} prepare for next development iteration
+project.scm.org.mastodon\:mastodon-tomancak.developerConnection=scm\:git\:git@github.com\:mastodon-sc/mastodon-tomancak
+exec.additionalArguments=-Dgpg.skip\=true 
+scm.tagNameFormat=@{project.artifactId}-@{project.version}
+scm.tag=mastodon-tomancak-0.4.2
+exec.snapshotReleasePluginAllowed=false
+preparationGoals=clean verify
+scm.releaseCommitComment=@{prefix} prepare release @{releaseLabel}
+exec.pomFileName=pom.xml