Let's assume you successfully downloaded the official Install macOS High Sierra.app (version 10.13.5). Here is how to turn it into the "image file" you need for QEMU, Proxmox, or legacy hardware.
Goal: Create a raw, bootable disk image (close to the fictional .rdr). download macos high sierra 10.13.5 image file -.rdr-
The open-source tool GibMacOS by CorpNewt pulls official recovery manifests from Apple. It can download any version of macOS, including 10.13.5. Boot from USB: restart Mac, hold Option (⌥),
Steps:
Note: GibMacOS outputs a .dmg. To get a raw image file (similar to a hypothetical .rdr), use dd: The open-source tool GibMacOS by CorpNewt pulls official
dd if=/path/to/InstallESD.dmg of=/path/to/output.raw bs=1m
The .raw file is a sector-for-sector copy – the truest "image file" you can get.