Vivid

Vivid is a macOS application that enables the maximum HDR screen brightness on MacBook Pro and Pro Display XDR permanently, not just during HDR content playback. The app uses Apple's standard APIs to unlock brightness levels typically reserved for HDR videos or specific applications, providing up to double the luminosity in high ambient light conditions.

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• Permanent HDR brightness activation. Vivid unlocks the full HDR brightness range of Apple's display hardware, allowing its use on the desktop and in all applications. Brightness levels, reaching up to 1600 nits, remain continuously active, offering a high-luminance visual experience in any usage context.
• Split-screen comparison mode. The trial version of the application includes a split-screen mode that shows a clear comparison between the standard operating system brightness and the brightness enhanced by Vivid. This mode makes it easy to evaluate the visual effect before completing the license purchase.
• Control from the menu bar. The application is managed via an icon located in the macOS menu bar. From this context menu, you can activate or deactivate the high brightness function, hide the Dock icon, and access the program's main options.
• Compatibility with Pro Display XDR on other Macs. In addition to compatible MacBook Pros, Vivid can boost the brightness of a Pro Display XDR monitor when connected to other Mac models. This feature extends the core functionality to desktop setups using Apple's professional monitor.
• Quick deactivation for HDR content. The software requires manual deactivation when playing native HDR content to avoid double application of brightness processing. Deactivation is done with one click from the menu bar icon, a process that takes seconds.
• Color profile management. The application maintains the color profiles assigned to the monitor while the high brightness mode is active. The user's color calibration and configured color spaces are not altered by the modification of the luminosity level.
• Integration with native keyboard controls. The MacBook Pro's keyboard brightness controls continue to function with Vivid activated. The user adjusts the base brightness level with the function keys, and the application applies its multiplier to that established base level.
• Menu bar only mode. The Dock interface can be hidden completely, leaving control of the application solely from the system's top menu. This option reduces visual clutter in the Dock and is suitable for users who prefer minimal shortcuts.
• No background processes when inactive. When the enhanced brightness function is turned off, the application does not run monitoring or video signal modification processes. System resource consumption is limited to the active state of the main function.
• Multi-monitor support. In setups with more than one compatible monitor connected, Vivid can manage the HDR brightness of each display independently. Each screen receives its individual configuration for activating or deactivating the high brightness mode.
• Per-app activation/deactivation. An advanced feature allows creating rules to automatically activate or deactivate Vivid when opening or closing specific applications. This automates brightness management in workflows with software that requires native HDR processing.
• Display temperature monitoring. The software includes a system that checks the display hardware's temperature during prolonged use of the high brightness mode. If elevated thermal levels are detected, the intensity is automatically reduced to preserve hardware longevity.
• Fine-tuning of the brightness multiplier. Beyond fixed doubling, the application provides a slider to precisely adjust the brightness multiplier. Values can be adjusted in 5% increments, from 100% (native brightness) to 200% (hardware maximum).
• Automatic startup with the system. The application can be configured to launch automatically when the Mac starts up and restore the last brightness activation state. This setting maintains the user's preference between system reboots.

Development of Vivid began in 2021 following the release of the first MacBook Pros with Apple Silicon M1 Pro and Max chips, whose screens incorporated full HDR capabilities. The developers, a small independent team specializing in system software for macOS, identified the operating system's limitation that reserved maximum brightness only for specific content. The program is written primarily in Swift, using Apple's Cocoa and Core Display frameworks to interact with display drivers and manage video signal streams. The first public version was released in late 2021, with subsequent updates adding support for M2 models and multi-monitor configurations.

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