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What is Michel Fortin?
Michel Fortin is an independent Mac and iOS software developer, and his site is the home for his apps, writing and services. The page lists tools including Counterparts Lite (a string-table editor), Black Light (scheduled color effects) and Gamma Control (screen calibration), alongside a blog and archive going back to the early 2000s.
What you'll find there
- Apps: Utilities aimed at Mac users with specific needs — localization work, display calibration, scheduled screen tinting.
- Blog: Posts on macOS and Apple hardware topics, such as EDR on Macs, Big Sur and M1 machines, and fixes to Sim Daltonism.
- Services and store: A services section and links to the App Store, plus a store page.
If you're evaluating one of the apps, start with its own page for current features and requirements rather than the homepage summary; if you're researching a macOS topic, the blog archive is the better entry point.
Which Mac and iOS apps does Michel Fortin develop, and what does each one do?
Michel Fortin develops several Mac and iOS apps, mostly small, focused utilities. Based on the site, the lineup includes:
- Counterparts Lite — a "string table editor," i.e., a tool for editing the string/translation tables used in app localization.
- Black Light — applies color effects on a schedule (with a Pro version that adds features such as more hot keys).
- Gamma Control — for calibrating your screen.
- Gamma Board — listed among the apps; the site groups it with Gamma Control.
- Scenica — listed among the apps.
- Sim Daltonism — a color-blindness simulation tool (the blog references a "purple bug" in it).
- Red Stripe — listed among the apps.
The blog also covers related technical topics, such as EDR (extended dynamic range) on Macs and macOS Big Sur/M1 Macs, which fits the display- and color-oriented tools.
For a practical next step: if you're choosing among them, match the app to your task—localization work points to Counterparts Lite, screen calibration to Gamma Control, and scheduled color effects to Black Light. See the developer's app pages at Michel Fortin for details on each.
Is Black Light free or paid, and what does Pro add over the standard version?
The page does not state whether Black Light is free or paid, and it does not describe what a Pro version adds. It lists Black Light among Michel Fortin's Mac and iOS apps, links to a store, and has a blog post titled "Introducing Black Light 3" and another on "Hot Keys in Black Light Pro." Those titles show a Pro edition exists, but not its price or extra features.
Practical next step
If you are deciding between editions, check the Mac App Store listing for Black Light and Black Light Pro side by side before buying. Compare the feature list for the standard version against the Pro listing, focusing on the extras you would actually use. The blog post "Introducing Black Light 3" on Michel Fortin may explain the current editions, and the App Store page should carry the current price and in-app purchase details.
As general advice rather than a description of this app: colour-effect utilities often keep the basic scheduling in the standard version and put advanced controls, such as hot keys or finer scheduling, in the paid tier. Confirm that split on the official listings rather than assuming it.
How do I use Gamma Control to calibrate my Mac screen?
Gamma Control is Michel Fortin's Mac app for calibrating a screen, listed alongside his other Mac and iOS software on Michel Fortin. The site itself doesn't publish a step-by-step calibration guide, so treat the workflow below as general advice for display calibration on macOS rather than a description of the app's exact features.
A practical calibration routine
- Set up the room first. Calibrate under the lighting you normally work in; a profile tuned in a dark room looks wrong in daylight.
- Let the display warm up for about 30 minutes, then set the screen to its native resolution and disable any "auto brightness" or ambient-light adjustment.
- Start from a neutral preset (such as the standard or sRGB mode) before adjusting anything, so you're refining a sane baseline.
- Adjust brightness, contrast and gamma/white point in small steps, checking against reference patches or a test pattern.
- Save the result as a named profile and switch back to it when needed; keep the original profile so you can compare.
Who this matters for
- Photo and video work: accurate white point and gamma matter more than peak brightness; a slightly dim but neutral screen beats a bright, blue-tinted one.
- Design and web work: sRGB is the safe target, since most viewers see your work on ordinary screens.
- General office use: a modest brightness reduction and a warmer white point often reduce eye strain more than precise color accuracy.
Deciding whether to use it
Choose a dedicated calibration tool when you need repeatable, named profiles and fine control over gamma and white point. If you only occasionally adjust brightness, macOS's built-in calibration assistant and presets may be enough. A hardware colorimeter remains the most reliable route for color-critical work; software calibration is a good complement when no sensor is available.
A sensible next step: check Michel Fortin's app page and blog for any notes on Gamma Control's current settings and macOS compatibility before you build a workflow around it.
What does Counterparts Lite do for editing string tables?
Counterparts Lite is a Mac app for editing string tables, presented by its developer as "the classy string table editor." That description points to its purpose: working directly with the string-table files that hold localized text, rather than editing them as raw code.
Where it fits
String tables pair keys with translated strings, and they are easy to break by hand—a stray quote, a missing semicolon or a duplicated key can silently drop a translation. A dedicated editor is most useful when you are:
- Reviewing translations for a new language and need to spot missing or mismatched entries.
- Making small wording fixes after a build, without opening a full IDE.
- Handing files to a translator or reviewer who should see the strings, not the syntax.
Trade-offs and a next step
A focused Mac editor suits individual developers and small localization passes. Larger teams that need shared translation memory, review workflows or automated sync with a translation service will usually pair it with a localization platform instead.
As a practical check, open one of your real string-table files in Counterparts Lite and confirm it handles your format and any comments or metadata you rely on. For background on the developer's other Mac and iOS tools, see Michel Fortin.
How can I contact Michel Fortin for support or business inquiries?
The site lists a Contact page and a direct Email link as the ways to reach Michel Fortin; it also links a Mastodon and GitHub profile, which suit public or developer-facing messages rather than private support or business requests. For anything involving an app purchase, license or bug report, email is the appropriate channel; for code-level issues on open projects, GitHub is the more natural route.
A practical next step: open the Contact page on Michel Fortin and use the email address given there, stating which app you use (for example Counterparts Lite, Black Light or Gamma Control), your macOS or iOS version, and the exact steps that led to the problem. Keep purchase details out of public posts on Mastodon or GitHub.
For a business inquiry, say up front what you are proposing—licensing, distribution, localization or collaboration—and which product it concerns, so it can be routed without back-and-forth.
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