HDR & picture
HDR and picture quality, explained
What HDR, nits, Dolby Vision, colour and bit depth really mean, and how to get the best picture from a Mac screen.
Chroma subsampling explained: 4:4:4 vs 4:2:2 vs 4:2:0
What is chroma subsampling? Learn why 4:2:0 is fine for movies, why 4:2:2 rules cameras, and why 4:2:0 causes blurry text on external Mac displays.
Color gamut explained: Rec. 709 vs DCI-P3 vs Rec. 2020
Understanding color gamuts on Mac. Learn what the CIE 1931 diagram represents and how Rec. 709, Display P3, and Rec. 2020 shape video on Apple Silicon.
8-bit vs 10-bit color: what it means and why skies band
Comparing 8-bit vs 10-bit color depth. Learn how 256 vs 1,024 quantization levels eliminate color banding in skies and dark movie scenes.
DisplayHDR 400 vs 600 vs 1000: which is worth it for Mac?
Comparing DisplayHDR 400, 600, 1000, and True Black OLED tiers on macOS. Learn which monitor specs actually deliver true HDR without washed out desktop colors.
Does my Mac support HDR? Every model, explained
Does your Mac have a true HDR screen? Discover which MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, and external displays support authentic 1,600-nit HDR playback.
Dolby Vision profiles 5, 7, 8.1, and 8.4 explained
Understand Dolby Vision profiles 5, 7, 8.1, and 8.4. Learn why Profile 5 turns green and purple, what MEL and FEL mean, and how to play them on your Mac.
HDR vs SDR: what's the difference, and can you see it on a Mac?
HDR delivers higher peak brightness, deeper contrast, and wider color than SDR. Learn how SDR vs HDR works and how Apple Silicon XDR screens display both.
HDR10 vs Dolby Vision vs HDR10+ vs HLG: HDR formats compared
Compare HDR10, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG. Learn how static and dynamic metadata work, when formats look identical, and how your Mac renders them.
SDR to HDR: can you turn ordinary video into HDR?
Can you convert SDR video to HDR? Learn how inverse tone mapping works, why crude conversions look fake, and how MacLC expands SDR highlights in real time.
What are nits? Screen brightness, explained
A nit measures display brightness. Learn what nits mean, how many nits you need for true HDR, and how bright Apple Silicon Mac screens actually get.
What is Dolby Vision? (and how to watch it on a Mac)
Dolby Vision uses dynamic metadata to adapt HDR video scene by scene. Discover how it beats HDR10 and how to play Dolby Vision files on an Apple Silicon Mac.
What is EDR on a Mac? Extended Dynamic Range and XDR, explained
What is an XDR display, and how does Apple EDR work? Learn how macOS renders SDR and HDR side by side, how headroom works, and how to get true 1,600 nits.
What is HDR? High dynamic range video, explained
HDR delivers brighter highlights, deeper contrast, and richer color than standard video. Learn what HDR means, how it differs from 4K, and how it works.
What is tone mapping? Why HDR video needs it
What is tone mapping in HDR? Learn how displays fit 1,000- or 4,000-nit video onto dimmer screens, how BT.2390 works, and how to stop HDR looking dim.
Why HDR looks washed out on a Mac (and how to fix it)
HDR video looks washed out, dim, or grey on your Mac? Discover the 5 real causes—from HDMI limited RGB to player tone mapping—and step-by-step fixes.
Why iPhone HDR videos look too bright (or washed out)
iPhone HDR clips can look blindingly bright on Mac screens or washed out on PCs. Here is why Dolby Vision 8.4 acts up and how to fix it.