Ability to enable fine scale OSD even with a built-in display only

[Volodymyr-13]

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Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe

On my MacBook Pro M1 2021, when I change brightness using system F1/F2 keys it changes brightness to -+ 6% or something aka one bar step:

So each this bar changes -+ steps too much for me, I'd like to have an option to change -+ 1% using F1/F2 keys

Describe the solution you'd like

Add option to set value of % in which each F1/F2 key press will change value of brightness.

Describe alternatives you've considered

In my NativeDisplayBrightness app there is such option, it changes brightness more precise, so just by adding less then -+6% for each step.

Anything else?

No response

[the0neyouseek]

Hi @KAMIKAZEUA The option you're looking for is called "Use fine OSD Scale" located here in the app settings

[Volodymyr-13]

Hey @the0neyouseek this option didn't worked for me. Using MacBook Pro M1 2021.

https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/3391456/162590269-2ecae7d5-0315-4a94-b598-8d29c2c6fc70.mov

[waydabber]

Hey @KAMIKAZEUA - are you using an external display or only the built-in display?

[Volodymyr-13]

Only built in at the moment, just I'm not in office(where I have external monitor). Also pressing Shift+Option changes smoothly.

[waydabber]

All right. The problem probably is that MonitorControl disengages from the keyboard completely when only the internal display is connected. This is intentional and is a feature actually (there were some requests towards this, I don't recall why exactly though). This might be finetuned in a way that this does not happen when the fine OSD scale is enabled.

[waydabber]

I think this was the reason:

https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl/issues/456

[Volodymyr-13]

I see, but that was an OLD macOS. A lot was changed since that time. It's now working well, since it detects built-in display correctly:

Hmm, look what I found, if you just uncheck/check Brightness it will start to change smoothly:

https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/3391456/162591584-aee10f71-f7cf-4ccf-b83f-f67b35c41867.mov

Even if I restart app, it will continue to work. But if I disable OSD scale option and then quit app - it will not work after next start of the app, if I enable OSD scale again. But I can do this trick again then, just uncheck/check Brightness)

Bug = feature).

[Volodymyr-13]

And yet, it still changes mostly for 2% per step.. but I'd like to have 1% per step max.. :p

[waydabber]

Hmm. Something is off there obviously. I can convert this into a feature request.

[Volodymyr-13]

@waydabber also, while using OSD scale for built-in display, I noted one thing: if auto-brightness enabled, it changes brightness obviously, after that if I press F1/F2 - screen will blinks in brightness level. So, it's not reading current value of display brightness, before apply changes to it.

[waydabber]

Hi @KAMIKAZEUA - yes, if the system changes the brightness, it does not inform MonitorControl about it. MC however polls the system brightness periodically and if it detects a change, it will alter the slider and update its knowledge about the brightness level + tries to poll faster for a while. You'll see this - if you change the brightness using the ambint light sensor (for example by covering it with your hands), you'll see your screen dim and the MC brightness slider follow it after a while.

If you however try to change the brightness using MC before MC updated its internal understanding of current brightness, the screen will flash.

[Volodymyr-13]

Hey @waydabber Just used this over almost all day at work. In 80% of cases it blinks brightness on F1/F2 key, which is really annoying. I'm sitting near window and looks like brightness is changing a lot, clouds are moving so it's really dynamic.

I think this should be like maybe another bug report, since MC should read system brightness when I press F1/F2 key. But since I'm currently using like bug=feature, this is perhaps should be considered and tested while implementing current request. If this is possible of course.

[waydabber]

Indeed, just tested this, it is actually a different problem - it flashes even when MC has updated the slider and reacted to the change in brightness level. I'll look into it.

[waydabber]

But yes, you should create a separate bug report about this one. :) Thank you!

[Volodymyr-13]

I just not sure if I have to include this OSD scale option enabled with this flashing bug. Since I found this already: https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl/issues/931 so this if this will be fixed, then we good :)

[waydabber]

Yes, you are right, I added a note to that bug about the fact that the problem is deeper than known. Honestly I use my macbook in clamshell mode mostly plus I have the ambient light sensor disabled so I did not notice the issue. Sorry about that + thank you!

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