diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 4b03e7d..19f7e9b 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 	<groupId>ch.unibas.biozentrum.imcf</groupId>
 	<artifactId>python-imcflibs</artifactId>
-	<version>1.4.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+	<version>1.4.0</version>
 
 	<name>python-imcflibs</name>
 	<description>
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@
 	<scm>
 		<connection>scm:git:git://github.com/imcf/python-imcflibs</connection>
 		<developerConnection>scm:git:git@github.com:imcf/python-imcflibs</developerConnection>
-		<tag>HEAD</tag>
+		<tag>python-imcflibs-1.4.0</tag>
 		<url>https://github.com/imcf/python-imcflibs</url>
 	</scm>
 	<issueManagement>
diff --git a/release.properties b/release.properties
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7573ca0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#release configuration
+#Fri Apr 28 13:39:22 CEST 2023
+projectVersionPolicyId=default
+scm.branchCommitComment=@{prefix} prepare branch @{releaseLabel}
+pinExternals=false
+project.rel.ch.unibas.biozentrum.imcf\:python-imcflibs=1.4.0
+project.dev.ch.unibas.biozentrum.imcf\:python-imcflibs=1.4.1-SNAPSHOT
+exec.activateProfiles=deploy-to-scijava
+pushChanges=false
+project.scm.ch.unibas.biozentrum.imcf\:python-imcflibs.tag=HEAD
+scm.rollbackCommitComment=@{prefix} rollback the release of @{releaseLabel}
+remoteTagging=true
+scm.commentPrefix=[maven-release-plugin] 
+releaseStrategyId=default
+project.scm.ch.unibas.biozentrum.imcf\:python-imcflibs.url=https\://github.com/imcf/python-imcflibs
+completedPhase=end-release
+scm.url=scm\:git\:https\://github.com/imcf/python-imcflibs
+scm.developmentCommitComment=@{prefix} prepare for next development iteration
+project.scm.ch.unibas.biozentrum.imcf\:python-imcflibs.developerConnection=scm\:git\:git@github.com\:imcf/python-imcflibs
+exec.additionalArguments=-Dgpg.skip\=true -Dgpg.skip\=true
+scm.tagNameFormat=@{project.artifactId}-@{project.version}
+scm.tag=python-imcflibs-1.4.0
+exec.snapshotReleasePluginAllowed=false
+project.scm.ch.unibas.biozentrum.imcf\:python-imcflibs.connection=scm\:git\:git\://github.com/imcf/python-imcflibs
+preparationGoals=clean verify
+scm.releaseCommitComment=@{prefix} prepare release @{releaseLabel}
+exec.pomFileName=pom.xml