Stillcolor For Mac

Stillcolor is an open-source app that attempts to tackle an issue that affects some M1/M2/M3 Mac users: temporal dithering, or FRC. This technology alternates pixel colors in order to increase observable color depth, but for some users, it can cause eye strain, nausea, fatigue, dry eyes, and other such symptoms.

Technologies like Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) have been in use for many years, providing manufacturers with a cheaper, simpler way to control brightness or achieve a better image. However, many people are sensitive to them, and temporal dithering is used in all Apple Silicon Macs.

The app itself is very simple. It will run in the menu bar, where you have the option to disable or re-enable dithering at any time. It can also be launched at login for a seamless experience. Currently, verifying the results is rather complicated, as you can see on the app’s GitHub page.

Naturally, disabling temporal dithering will have an effect on image quality, as it will lead to a reduction in observable color depth. But if you’re struggling with eyestrain and can’t otherwise use your Mac for extended periods, it’s definitely a worthwhile tradeoff.