Multiple display management issues

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Multiple display management issues

I have a projector I use daily for watching stuff. It requires the room to be dark, the darker the better. My desktop computer is placed in the same room, and I would really prefer that its monitor be off when I use the projector.

For VLC I can just "black out" the monitor while something is viewed on the projector, but it's not good enough -- too much light emanating from the monitor, still.

If I simply turn off the monitor, OS will automatically make the projector the "main" display -- menu bar, all open apps are moved to the projector and upon turning on the monitor again I have to manually select it as the main display AND drag all the apps to the monitor.

Anyone with a great workaround/app for this?

Running: 10.8.5 on an i5 Mac mini (2011)

Monitor: Dell U2711

Projector: Epson EH TW3200

Note: I don't mirror displays in order to maintain each device's natural resolution

Posted on Oct 12, 2013 7:25 PM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 9

77,044 points

Oct 12, 2013 8:55 PM in response to eurobum

I have not suggested > Shades | Software | Charcoal Design to anyone in a long time.

However, I think that it might be usefull in your case. Because it gives you independent screen brightness control while in expanded desktop mode.

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Answer 2

eurobum Author

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Oct 13, 2013 5:36 AM in response to den.thed

Thanks, but it seems Shades is not updated for 10.8; it flickers as soon as I adjust brightness below 100 %. There seems to be no support out there.

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Answer 3

eurobum Author

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Oct 13, 2013 6:25 AM in response to eurobum

Does anyone know any way possible for each connected display to have "independent" Mission Controls? Because then I can use a hot corner to invoke the monitor to go to sleep mode. Doing it now just causes both to sleep.

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Answer 4

den.thed

Level 9

77,044 points

Oct 13, 2013 7:35 AM in response to eurobum

The Intel iMac or Universal version.....?

The Universal version of Shades works fine on my 2010 Mac Mini running 10.8.5 with either two Samsung monitors or a Samsung and LG monitor.

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Answer 5

eurobum Author

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Oct 13, 2013 9:14 AM in response to den.thed

Tried both, same.

Also tried ScreenDimmer by Atlas Wegman as it has independent settings for each connected display. Unfortunately, it cannot even dim to "blackness" let alone sleep/turn off.

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