app colors muted when run from the IDE

I have noticed that when I run my application from within the NB IDE, either using the debugger or the run button, that colors of the app appear slightly muted when compared to the same program started from the operating system.  

What causes this effect? Can it be controlled?

Additional details follow.
I wouldn’t say that one looks better than the other, they just look slightly different.   I could provide a screen shot of the same application running side by side if that would help.

I develop on Mac (OS X), I noticed this first in NB 7 and now in NB8.  

I have always believed that this effect was intentional.  Perhaps it is a subtle hint to user that this program was running under the auspices of the IDE.  But it is a fairly subtle hint.   And it occurs to me that the level of this hinting might be adjustable.   But I can find nothing in the IDE options menu.