Create custom reference modes on Mac

On your Mac, you can create custom reference modes for your display in addition to the provided reference modes (known as presets). You can tailor these modes for your specific workflow needs by setting color gamut, white point, luminance, and transfer function options.

Note: Reference modes are intended to be used in controlled viewing conditions typically found in professional content production environments. Using a mode in the incorrect viewing condition or with the wrong media type may produce unsatisfactory results.

To create a custom reference mode, choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Displays in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.) Click the Preset pop-up menu, choose Customize Presets, then click .

Tip: You can choose to have commonly used presets and custom reference modes appear in Control Center. Click the Preset pop-up menu, choose Customize Presets, select the checkbox next to the Preset you want to appear (in the Show in Menu column), then click Done. To quickly change Presets and custom reference modes, click , then click Display. Click next to the current preset, then choose an option from the list.

Note: These options appear only when you’re using Apple Pro Display XDR, Apple Studio Display XDR, Apple Studio Display, a 14-inch MacBook Pro (2021 or later), or a 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021 or later).

Open Displays settings for me

Option				Description
Preset Name				Enter a name for the custom reference mode.
Description				Enter a description for the custom reference mode.
Color Gamut				Select the primary colors used in the reference mode to define the gamut. P3: The wide color P3 primaries used by modern displays and digital cinema projectors. Rec.709/sRGB: The color primaries used for HDTV, the web, and typical computer displays. EBU/PAL: The color primaries used by standard definition TV per the EBU Tech 3213 specification. SMPTE-C/NTSC: The color primaries used by standard definition TV per the SMPTE-C standard. Adobe RGB: The Adobe RGB color primaries. P3 + Adobe RGB: The wide color P3 + Adobe RGB color primaries.
White Point				Select the reference mode’s white point target for the display. D65: The CIE Standard Illuminant D65 white point typically used by most displays and in video-related workflows. DCI: The white point defined by the Digital Cinema System Specification. D50: The CIE Standard Illuminant D50 white point typically used in most printing-related workflows. Custom: Use the x and y fields to specify a custom white point.
SDR Transfer Function				Select the reference mode’s gamma response when receiving standard dynamic range (SDR) content. BT.1886 Annex 1: The EOTF used for HDTV production per the ITU-R BT.1886 recommendation. sRGB ICC V2: The piecewise gamma used by sRGB per the IEC 61966-2-1:1999 standard. Pure Power: Enter an exponent to define a pure power gamma function.
Apply System Gamma Boost				Increase the gamma by a specified amount. The option may be used to provide either: The contrast implied by asymmetrical media encoding and decoding transfer functions found in some media standards. A contrast boost required when the actual display brightness to surround ratio is higher than that specified in the standard.
Turn on PQ for HDR Content				Allow the display to receive HDR content using the PQ transfer function instead of the SDR transfer function. This option is available only on Pro Display XDR and Studio Display XDR.
Turn on HDR Content				Allow the display to receive HDR content.
Turn on Local dimming				Allow the display to adjust the brightness of specific backlight zones.
Maximum Luminance				Set the maximum brightness of the display in nits.
Limit Luminance to Full Screen Capability				Restrict maximum luminance to 1000 nits, which the display can sustain full-screen in normal operating conditions and with a D65 white point. This box must be selected to fine-tune the calibration of supported displays. You can fine-tune the calibration of your Pro Display XDR regardless of whether you select this option.
Display Optimization				This option is available only on Studio Display XDR. Lower Latency: The default setting. Optimize the display’s performance to balance image quality and responsiveness. Higher Quality: Optimize the display for temporal image quality and frame timing precision over maximum responsiveness.
Backlight Optimization				This option is available only on Pro Display XDR. Prefer Color: Optimize the display’s 2D backlighting system for the color reproduction of small objects on dark backgrounds over blooming minimization. Prefer Contrast: The default setting. Optimize the display’s 2D backlighting system for the general minimization of blooming effects.

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Mac User Guide

Create custom reference modes on Mac