I disabled dithering on Apple silicon + Introducing Stillcolor macOS M1/M2/M3

WhisperingWind

This monitor is 8bit+FRC. macOS is sending it a 10-bit signal, which activates the monitor's FRC (temporal dithering). You need the BetterDisplay app. With its help, you can switch to an 8-bit video signal.

mirza

Thanks a lot for your reply, and do I use it in combination with stillcolor? Also, there is so much options on BetterDisplay app, not sure how to set this up?

WhisperingWind

mirza

do I use it in combination with stillcolor?

BetterDisplay has the same dithering disable functionality as StillColor, so you can use only it.

WhisperingWind

mirza

Also, there is so much options on BetterDisplay app, not sure how to set this up?

https://postimg.cc/HVmSfS57

mirza

WhisperingWind

Thank you so much! Will try and test it!

mirza

And which color profile should I use?

WhisperingWind

mirza

Use the one that macOS generated for your monitor.

Donux

WhisperingWind Mac os automatically generates color profile for MAX capability of a monitor, so it goes hand in hand with 10 bit pipeline to make sure there are no bottle necks to achieve maximum color gamut, so that users say WOW, apple is really great, colors pop, not line on Windows etc. So I would suggest to align your color profile with the one you are aiming to achieve on your monitor, e.g. sRGB or something else.

WhisperingWind

Donux

This monitor has a standard sRGB gamut, so oversaturation won't occur at either 8-bit or 10-bit when using the correct profile. The only visible difference between 8-bit and 10-bit will be in gradient smoothness (banding vs no banding). The monitor will handle both signals correctly based on the profile that macOS generates for it.

Oversaturation only happens on wide gamut panels (like P3 or Adobe RGB) when an incorrect profile is applied, causing colors to be stretched beyond their intended range.

Donux

WhisperingWind I was really pointing at these aspects within a scope of eye strain issues. Color - is totally different priority. But when it comes to ICC, best to align your ICC within mac with your monitor intended color mode. This tailored wide gamut color profiles, are causing way more flicker, at least for me. Tested on multiple monitors, multiple machines.

WhisperingWind

Donux

The BenQ BL2711U has an sRGB panel; macOS generates an sRGB profile for it. Both 8-bit and 10-bit signals stay within sRGB on this monitor, so the wide gamut ICC flicker concern simply doesn't apply here.

10-bit does not necessarily mean wide gamut; it could also be sRGB, depending on the display.

I'd suggest @mirza tries both the system sRGB and the generated profile — he most likely won't notice any difference.

Donux

Could someone from stillColor or betterDisplay app development side compile app for Monterey with dithering OFF options ?

WhisperingWind

Donux

StillColor

StillColor uses MenuBarExtra which requires macOS 13+. Supporting macOS 12 would mean migrating to AppKit's NSStatusItem — around 100 extra lines. There might be something else too, I don't really remember. Might give it a try eventually, but no promises.

AshX

Donux

I’m using Stillcolor on Monterey. Someone made a fork for it ages ago. Works fine. Menu toggle is a bit sticky (you have to click it a few times) but it works. Monterey has far less tendency to apply HDR/EDR than Ventura and up.

https://github.com/GMMDMDIDEMS/Stillcolor/tree/main/Stillcolor

Donux

WhisperingWind Yeah I thought there might be some glitches. In any case I have upgraded now to Ventura, it works all fine there. But what a difference after Tahoe. Not sure how much I hope I have in apple engineering.

Does anyone know where to access Apple current UI design and backend strategy and overall vision ? Or maybe there are Apple engineers in this forum? How much weight does apple give to accessibility for eye strain perceicing users ? There must be some logic to the direction Apple is taking. Maybe they have plans to push software updates to the maximum, increasing on visual candy, and then eventually releasing hardware that is capable of handling it properly. I mean, this is one of the richest companies on planet earth, this is cleasly not a basement operation, but it feels like it sometimes.

mirza

Thanks everyone for suggestions. I think I still feel strain (headache), even with BetterDisplay - 8bit option. Also, for some reason app automatically goes back to 10 bit after sleep.
I'm using hdmi on a dongle (low res - 60hz, 4K only on 30 hz), maybe that's the issue? If I get a proper usb-c to display port, if I get 60 hz? Not sure what to look for anymore.
I have:
Macbook air m1
Benq BL2711u - sRGB
hdmi cable
Latest macos

WhisperingWind

mirza

I'm using hdmi on a dongle

I used a Type-C to HDMI adapter a while ago (Belkin, if I recall correctly) and experienced eye strain. Replacing it with a Satechi hub resolved the issue. This may not be directly applicable to your situation, but testing a different adapter is recommended.

4K only on 30 hz

30 Hz refresh rate results in perceptible stutter during mouse movement and scrolling, which increases visual fatigue and can contribute to headaches.

A USB-C to DisplayPort cable (or hub with DisplayPort output) would provide 4K at 60 Hz via DisplayPort Alt Mode, eliminating signal conversion. This alone may resolve part of the issue.

Also, for some reason app automatically goes back to 10 bit after sleep.

I saw in BetterDisplay there is a protection option to prevent your settings from being overwritten by the OS - maybe that will solve your problem.

Latest macos

For me, the most comfortable macOS on a 6bit+FRC monitor is Sonoma 14.1.2. I tried installing Sonoma 14.5. On Sonoma 14.5, the desktop wallpaper looks like it's been through heavy sharpening. And my eyes started to get tired a little faster. Sequoia is unusable on this monitor. Perhaps, this is again not your case. But the OS rendering subsystem was rewritten, and maybe what they added is causing you problems even on a true 8-bit monitor. The same goes for Windows 10 - it's completely comfortable on a true 8-bit monitor, but Windows 11 is not. The rendering is slightly different.

Benq BL2711u - sRGB

I used a BenQ BL2711U with Mac for about 6 years until its matrix died. It was comfortable. Although sometimes they can change not only the matrices but also, for example, the scaler, etc.

Donux

AshX Thanks. I will have to again reinstall I think 🙂 But it is worth the hassle. I have tried to ignore everything and use Tahoe, but its like walking on eggshells, you are constantly over stimulated and ungrounded due to additional flickering layers. Weirdly enough after downgrade from Ventura to Monterey, my both machines - old macbook 2015 and macbook air m2 will use the same OS. Its a symbolical intergenerational reunion 🙂 Thanks Apple!

Donux

Is there really a difference btween Ventura and Monterey on macbook air m2, should I really bother with it? I assume betterDisplay 8 bit mode will also not work on it for the external monitor ?

dark_knight

Hey Everyone, I'm having major eyestrain issues with my Macbook Air 13in M4 running Tahoe 26.3. I've tried connecting it to various external displays but continue to have eye strain issues on them as well. I've connected those same external displays to my old 2019 Macbook pro intel 16in and had no eye strain issues.

I also installed stillcolor to remove dithering on my M4 Macbook air but not sure if it worked because I still have eye strain. Can someone here provide insight on what I should do?

Donux

dark_knight Welcome to the club brother. We are all confused just like you are. And apart from a lot of briliant effort from amazing contributors in this forum, there are no definite solutions, only remediation of severity.

WhisperingWind

dark_knight

I also installed stillcolor to remove dithering on my M4 Macbook air but not sure if it worked

Check via terminal using

ioreg -lw0 | grep -i enableDither

It should show

"enableDither" = No.

If it does, GPU dithering is disabled.

For the laptop's built-in display, you might see "Yes" (since dithering there might be handled by the display's TCON rather than the GPU), but the rule here is: if there is at least one "No", then StillColor is working.

I've tried connecting it to various external displays but continue to have eye strain issues on them as well.

Apple Silicon GPUs can output a 10-bit signal to your monitor. If you have an 8-bit+FRC monitor, you may be able to perceive the monitor's FRC. Download BetterDisplay and select 8-bit mode.

Do not use 6-bit+FRC monitors if you are sensitive to FRC.

The problem could also be with the DP-HDMI converter if you're not using a direct DisplayPort connection. Thunderbolt ports operate using the DisplayPort Alt Mode protocol - it's native to them. Connecting an HDMI display requires a converter. Try using a DisplayPort cable if your monitor supports it (USB-C to USB-C / DP). I've come across HDMI converter that caused eye strain within 10-15 minutes.

P.S. In theory, on the M4 there might be some flickering after disabling temporal dithering. It's hard for me to say - I don't have an M4.

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