diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index a729ee323b..53c28595ac 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -423,8 +423,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build sasview installer dmg file (OSX)
         if: ${{ startsWith(matrix.os, 'macos') }}
         run: |
-          cd installers/dist
-          hdiutil create $MACOS_DMG_NAME -srcfolder SasView6.app -ov -format UDZO
+          uv pip install dmgbuild
+          installers/macos/create_dmg.sh "$MACOS_DMG_NAME"
 
       - name: Build sasview installer tarball (Linux)
         if: ${{ startsWith(matrix.os, 'ubuntu') }}
@@ -450,7 +450,8 @@ jobs:
           python ../../build_tools/fix_qt_folder_names_for_codesign.py SasView6.app
           python  ../../build_tools/code_sign_osx.py
           codesign --verify --options=runtime --entitlements ../../build_tools/entitlements.plist --timestamp --deep --verbose=4 --force --sign "Developer ID Application: The International Scattering Alliance (8CX8K63BQM)" SasView6.app
-          hdiutil create $MACOS_DMG_NAME -srcfolder SasView6.app -ov -format UDZO
+          uv pip install dmgbuild
+          ../../installers/macos/create_dmg.sh "$MACOS_DMG_NAME"
           codesign -s "Developer ID Application: The International Scattering Alliance (8CX8K63BQM)" $MACOS_DMG_NAME
 
       - name: Notarize Release Build (OSX)
diff --git a/installers/macos/create_dmg.sh b/installers/macos/create_dmg.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..293c2edab5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/installers/macos/create_dmg.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Build a drag-to-Applications DMG for SasView on macOS.
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+REPO_ROOT="$(cd "${SCRIPT_DIR}/../.." && pwd)"
+DIST_DIR="${REPO_ROOT}/installers/dist"
+STAGING_DIR="${DIST_DIR}/dmg-staging"
+APP_NAME="SasView6.app"
+DMG_NAME="${1:-SasView6.dmg}"
+VOLUME_NAME="SasView6"
+BACKGROUND="${SCRIPT_DIR}/dmg_background.png"
+BACKGROUND_2X="${SCRIPT_DIR}/dmg_background@2x.png"
+
+if [[ "$(uname -s)" != "Darwin" ]]; then
+    echo "create_dmg.sh must be run on macOS." >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+if [[ ! -d "${DIST_DIR}/${APP_NAME}" ]]; then
+    echo "Expected ${DIST_DIR}/${APP_NAME} to exist. Build the app bundle first." >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+if [[ ! -f "${BACKGROUND}" ]]; then
+    echo "Missing ${BACKGROUND}." >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+if [[ ! -f "${BACKGROUND_2X}" ]]; then
+    echo "Missing ${BACKGROUND_2X} (HiDPI companion for dmg_background.png)." >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+if ! command -v dmgbuild >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "dmgbuild is required. Install with: pip install dmgbuild" >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+rm -rf "${STAGING_DIR}"
+mkdir -p "${STAGING_DIR}"
+cp -R "${DIST_DIR}/${APP_NAME}" "${STAGING_DIR}/"
+
+rm -f "${DIST_DIR}/${DMG_NAME}"
+
+# Eject any previously mounted copy so Finder does not reuse a cached layout.
+if mount | grep -q "/Volumes/${VOLUME_NAME}"; then
+    hdiutil detach "/Volumes/${VOLUME_NAME}" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+fi
+
+dmgbuild -s "${SCRIPT_DIR}/dmg_settings.py" \
+    -D "settings_dir=${SCRIPT_DIR}" \
+    -D "staging_dir=${STAGING_DIR}" \
+    -D "app_name=${APP_NAME}" \
+    "${VOLUME_NAME}" \
+    "${DIST_DIR}/${DMG_NAME}"
+
+echo "Created ${DIST_DIR}/${DMG_NAME}"
diff --git a/installers/macos/dmg_background.png b/installers/macos/dmg_background.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d0ef41215d
Binary files /dev/null and b/installers/macos/dmg_background.png differ
diff --git a/installers/macos/dmg_background@2x.png b/installers/macos/dmg_background@2x.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9e56344bb1
Binary files /dev/null and b/installers/macos/dmg_background@2x.png differ
diff --git a/installers/macos/dmg_settings.py b/installers/macos/dmg_settings.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..90ffde36f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/installers/macos/dmg_settings.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import os
+
+_settings_dir = defines["settings_dir"]  # noqa: F821
+
+app_name = defines.get("app_name", "SasView6.app")  # noqa: F821
+staging_dir = defines["staging_dir"]  # noqa: F821
+
+format = "UDBZ"
+
+files = [os.path.join(staging_dir, app_name)]
+symlinks = {"Applications": "/Applications"}
+hide_extensions = [app_name]
+
+background = os.path.join(_settings_dir, "dmg_background.png")
+
+window_rect = ((200, 120), (640, 280))
+default_view = "icon-view"
+include_icon_view_settings = True
+show_status_bar = False
+show_tab_view = False
+show_toolbar = False
+show_pathbar = False
+show_sidebar = False
+icon_size = 128
+
+icon_locations = {
+    app_name: (140, 120),
+    "Applications": (500, 120),
+}