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 on the right, choose Customize Presets, then click the Add button . After you create a custom reference mode, turn on Show in Menu to have the reference mode appear in Control Center.

Note: These options only appear when you’re using Apple Pro 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				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.
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				The reference mode’s gamma response when receiving standard-dynamic range 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				Tell macOS to increase the gamma by the specified amount. This may be used to provide either the contrast implied by asymmetrical media encoding and decoding transfer functions found in some media standards, or a contrast boost required when the actual display brightness to surround ratio is higher than that specified in the standard.
Enable 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 only available on Pro Display XDR.
Enable HDR Content				Allow the display to receive HDR content.
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 whitepoint. This box must be selected in order 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.
Backlight Optimization				This option is only available 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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macOS User Guide

Create custom reference modes on Mac