I have somebody sleeping in my office who finds the light from my iMac disturbing, even when it's turned down to the lowest level.
Is there an easy way, just for a few days, to make the screen completely black at night - I don't want it to sleep or to switch it off so I can use it early in the morning remotely.
iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5), 27" Late 2012, 3.2Ghz 32Gb RAM i5
In your display settings, you can set the "display to sleep" It does not turn off the computer, just the displays. I then set it up (hot corners) so if I put the cursor in the corner it puts them to sleep. So, go to system preferences, desktop/screen saver, screen saver. In the bottom right hand corner, click on Hot Corners, choose which corner you want to use( I use upper left) and then choose put display to sleep. When you touch a button or mouse you may have to sign in. I have it set up that why so no one else can get on.
I have top left corner display sleep,
top right start screen saver,
bottom left mission control,
bottom right desktop.
So just by throwing the cursor into a corner it will do what is set.
In your display settings, you can set the "display to sleep" It does not turn off the computer, just the displays. I then set it up (hot corners) so if I put the cursor in the corner it puts them to sleep. So, go to system preferences, desktop/screen saver, screen saver. In the bottom right hand corner, click on Hot Corners, choose which corner you want to use( I use upper left) and then choose put display to sleep. When you touch a button or mouse you may have to sign in. I have it set up that why so no one else can get on.
I have top left corner display sleep,
top right start screen saver,
bottom left mission control,
bottom right desktop.
So just by throwing the cursor into a corner it will do what is set.
How about this: just take a pic of something completely black and create a black screensaver/desktop picture?
Lousy idea, as the top edge of the iMac is the heat vents.
On the keyboard Control-Shift-Eject will turn off your screen. Eject is typically in the upper right corner of the keyboard. It generally looks like a triangle pointing up with a line under it.
Macs without an eject key can use Control-Shift-Power to do the same thing (for laptops that do not have an eject key).
Just press these keys when you leave for the evening.
How about using Applescript to dim the screen to zero remotely
tell application "System Events"
key code 107
key code 107
key code 107
key code 107
key code 107
key code 107
key code 107
key code 107
key code 107
key code 107
key code 107
key code 107
key code 107
key code 107
key code 107
key code 107
end tell
Just create an App via the Applescript Editor or Automator, and run it after connecting remotely. If 16 107's is not enough, just add more.
Dimming wasn't dark enough!
I've found a solution. A little python program:
"
import sys, pygame
pygame.init()
size = width, height = 320, 240
speed = [2, 2]
black = 0, 0, 0
count = 0
screen = pygame.display.set_mode(size)
flags = screen.get_flags()
bits = screen.get_bitsize()
screen = pygame.display.set_mode(size,pygame.FULLSCREEN,bits)
pygame.mouse.set_visible(0)
pygame.event.clear()
while 1:
for event in pygame.event.get():
count = count + 1;
if count > 10:
sys.exit()
screen.fill(black)
pygame.display.flip()
"
For those preferring a simpler solution, 'Dockables' (free) is a collection of little apps which do useful things like Screen Capture, Shut Down, Sleep, and Sleep Display.
It says it's not compatible with 10.7 and above, but certainly Sleep Display works perfectly well on Mavericks.
What you are suggesting, puts the computer to sleep. just what fusbariclation does not want to do. He/she just wants to put the display to sleep.
On my iMac, my Macbook Pro, my Wife's Macbook Air and her Macbook Pro the Control-Shift-Eject just turns off the screen, but the iMac continues to run, which if very important for me, as my iMac is a web server for the rest of my team at work. I generally hit Control-Shift-Eject as I'm leaving the office every night.
HOWEVER, since the OP (Fustbariclation) wants to access the iMac remotely, and wants the screen to be blacked out during the remote access so it will not disturb the guest in the same room with the iMac, my Control-Shift-Eject does not work for the OP. I missed that essential tidbit in the original problem description.
Other contributes have come through with working solutions for Fustbariclation
drape a towel over it.
LOL! Excellent idea..
Unfortunately, I thought of exactly that solution, and tried it, but wasn't happy with the heat it caused.
Then I'd cut a piece of cardboard to cover the screen and tape it over the display. It ain't pretty, but it might be good enough.
Yes, but if it's being controlled remotely, that will undoubtedly cause the screen to come back to life. Otherwise, they could just put it to sleep.
System Preferences/Energy Saver and set Display sleep to a short time.
What you are suggesting, puts the computer to sleep. just what fusbariclation does not want to do. He/she just wants to put the display to sleep.
How do I make my iMac screen completely black - without sleep or turning it off?
