Weird Shadows on MacOS Sierra on an external Monitor

Question

Weird Shadows on MacOS Sierra on an external Monitor

After upgrading to MacOS Sierra, I noticed it has these weird shadows. It's almost like the gradient of a shadow is not fluid and smooth:

Screenshots:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dj6g3x68c9ggwez/Screenshot%202016-09-24%2008.34.42.png ?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2ql2prnhn2k27rz/Screenshot%202016-09-24%2008.35.43.png ?dl=0

Is this normal, or is there an issue? Anyone recommend a fix?

I'm on Mac mini (Mid 2011), and a Dell UltraSharp U2913WM 29-Inch LCD monitor.

...However, if the screenshots are picking it up, then it seems less like a monitor issue and more like a graphics card incompatibility with MacOS Sierra?

Mac mini, iOS 10

Posted on Sep 24, 2016 8:46 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 24, 2016 9:15 AM in response to Jeffrey Bowdoin

That seems to be quite normal. The windows are translucid, and what I see is the result of the image behind the window.

It was the same in El Capitan (and, I suppose, Yosemite, as well).

You can go to System Preferences->Accessibility->Display and check "reduce transparency" if this bothers you.

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Answer 2

Sep 24, 2016 9:15 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

If you look closely at the first screenshot, you can literally count the layers of the shadow that the finder window casts. I don't ever remember that being the case, where it is such a bad gradient of the shadow.

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Answer 3

Sep 24, 2016 9:17 AM in response to Jeffrey Bowdoin

Jeffrey Bowdoin wrote:

If you look closely at the first screenshot, you can literally count the layers of the shadow that the finder window casts. I don't ever remember that being the case, where it is such a bad gradient of the shadow.

Sorry, I am not seeing that on my mac. Did you have a chance to look at the images from a different machine?

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Answer 4

Sep 24, 2016 9:25 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Oh wow. I looked on my iphone and it didn't show it.

This is what I am seeing on the monitor:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/c4r9c2j39kkek85/Photo%20Sep%2024%2C%209%2021%2037%20AM .png?dl=0

What's weird is it was fine on El Capitan

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Answer 5

Sep 24, 2016 9:52 AM in response to Jeffrey Bowdoin

Any idea on what could cause that? Bad monitor? Or is it more likely that MacOS Sierra isn't compatible with a 2011 mac mini 😟

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Answer 6

Sep 24, 2016 9:59 AM in response to Jeffrey Bowdoin

Something between the mac and the display, I guess.

The screenshot does not show the problem, and I bet that if you did a screensharing session from another mac into your mini you would not see the problem either. Whether it is a cable, the display or display driver I cannot say.

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Answer 7

Sep 24, 2016 10:01 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Ok thank you, that helps me in narrowing it down. Thanks for taking the time to help!

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Answer 8

MTCoster

Level 1

4 points

Sep 27, 2016 12:53 PM in response to Jeffrey Bowdoin

I've got the same issue with a 2011 MacBook Pro and my Dell U2515H display, also seemingly caused by the Sierra update.

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Answer 9

Sep 28, 2016 7:08 PM in response to MTCoster

Yeah it definitely seems like the Sierra update. Seems pretty obvious to me on my system.

Just ***** I have to get a new monitor because an OS update. Also, my system seems much slower and hotter than normal after update, especially with the monitor plugged in.

Shouldn't be slow with a few apps open with 16gb memory...

Hope they can fix these issues soon.

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Answer 10

Sep 29, 2016 7:00 AM in response to Jeffrey Bowdoin

Slowness and other issues that some people observe but most do not tend to be caused by other software - think software that needs to be updated, or often antiviruses and "cleaners".

If Sierra is slow for you, there may be a bug in the OS, but maybe it is something else.

The usual recommendation is to:

- reset NVRAM

- restart in Safe Mode, then restart again

- run Etrecheck and post its report here

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Answer 11

jcruzq78

Level 1

14 points

Oct 14, 2016 4:10 PM in response to Jeffrey Bowdoin

Hi, I had this issue too, I am sure it is a bug in MacOS Sierra because all was good with El Capitan. I have a Dell UltraSharp U2515H and it seems the problem is a Display Port 1.2 compatibility issue, this was the solution:

- Change DP 1.2 option to Disable in the monitor settings

Check the image to have a reference about what I changed:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r2shlojv4idnv4h/IMG_1128.JPG?dl=0

After I changed it all looks fine again.

Hopefully this can help you.

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Answer 12

Oct 14, 2016 4:26 PM in response to jcruzq78

You are the man, thank you so much for sharing this solution!

You saved me having to get a new monitor or computer, it was driving me crazy.

For anybody else that's having this issue with the MacOS Sierra monitor issue (bug), be sure to restart your computer after disabling DP 1.2 on the monitor.

Thanks!

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Answer 13

jcruzq78

Level 1

14 points

Oct 14, 2016 4:42 PM in response to Jeffrey Bowdoin

Hi, don't mention it. I am happy it worked for you too.

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