Looking for a dimmable monitor

[jerwin]

My sister complains that monitors are harsh to look at, and are on the whole, not dim enough.

The last monitor she ordered-- from BenQ-- promised a feature called EyeCare-- and has a minimum brightness level too high for comfort. While I could set it up with a custom color profile that cuts in half the red and green and blue components, it's probably best returned.

Is there a particular monitor technology that is associated with dimmable colors? (IPS, perhaps) I know that some calibrated displays are designed to be used in darkened rooms by photographers and video editors, but she doesn't have hundreds of dollars to spend on a nec spectraview or other professionally calibrated display.

 

[Fishrrman]

I could be wrong, but I doubt you're going to find many (any?) 3rd-party displays that can be dimmed "via software" from the Mac itself.

But... displays have a control interface that allows you to adjust overall brightness "on the display itself". Have you tried that?

 

[jerwin]

But... displays have a control interface that allows you to adjust overall brightness "on the display itself". Have you tried that?

Of course. I'm not an idiot.

Let me explain it to you this way:

On my 2014 mac 5k. I can use the brightness option to choose an overall brightness of 0-16 bars. I generally choose a value of 4. It's not as if I use my machine on the deck of a sailboat and need to overpower the sun.

She has prefers a lower brightness.

which would be fine, if she had a imac (with the same display characteristics as an imac 2014 5k).

I've used other monitors that are extremely bright. I have a secondary monitor which currently set to a brightness value of ZERO. And yet, it's well suited for idly watching (non 4k) streaming video. Sometimes I wish that it wasn't as bright. It is certainly brighter than my imac's minimum brightness.

picture of my secondary monitor's OSD below.

So, it would be useful if this sort of design decision were better reflected in the manufacturer's specs. "Warning-- best not used in a dark room."

 

[Fishrrman]

Fishrrman <--- banging head on table, and wonders "why didn't I mention this before?"

OP:
Try this little preference pane called "Shades":
http://www.charcoaldesign.co.uk/shades

It's free, and I'm using it right now to "dim down" the overall brightness of my display.
I've actually been using it for years. Don't know why I didn't think of it earlier.
I think this could be just what your sister is looking for.

 

[robo456]

I use f.lux on my pc and iMac... I'm not 100% sure if it can dim versus changing the warmth around, but might be worth a look as well; it definitely helps my eyes at night in a dark room.