diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6f93c81..fe75720 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Changelog
 
-## Unreleased (0.4.0-SNAPSHOT)
+## 0.4.0-rc.1
 
 Printing extension **2.3.0** (additive; wire payload v1 and the agent subprotocol are
 unchanged). 2.1.0 added the record, table-list and text print processes; 2.2.0 added
diff --git a/docs/SESSION-STATE.md b/docs/SESSION-STATE.md
index 9b7cc6d..8aa82c8 100644
--- a/docs/SESSION-STATE.md
+++ b/docs/SESSION-STATE.md
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ the full `-Pui-demo verify` passed with 193 tests, 0 failures, 0 errors, one int
 historical. **Still pending, not observed:** hosted Gitea CI, publication, installation and any physical print. The
 installed printer default is untouched; no printing was performed.
 
+**Release version:** the project version is now the immutable prerelease `0.4.0-rc.1` (it was `0.4.0-SNAPSHOT`, which the
+tag workflow cannot release). The release tag must be exactly `v0.4.0-rc.1`. The QQQ `4.1.0-RC.20` dependency tuple, the
+parent and all code are unchanged. Maven Central publication and deployment remain separate operations.
+
 ## Echo operator/media and retained-source candidate — 2026-11-01
 
 The isolated Echo candidate adds native printing extension **2.3.0** (after the protected-main 2.2.0 rendering extension) on the
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index fc40daf..9cfff30 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
    <parent><groupId>com.kingsrook</groupId><artifactId>qbit-build-parent</artifactId><version>2.0.0</version><relativePath/></parent>
    <groupId>com.kingsrook.qbits</groupId>
    <artifactId>qbit-printing</artifactId>
-   <version>0.4.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+   <version>0.4.0-rc.1</version>
    <name>QQQ Printing</name>
    <licenses><license><name>Apache License, Version 2.0</name><url>https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0</url></license></licenses>
    <properties>