Screen burn-in is a common problem with phosphor based displays such as Plasma TVs and CRT direct and rear view projections. Screen burn-in, also known as ghosting or image burn in, occurs when an image has been placed on a screen for too long, resulting in the image to be “burned” into the pixels permanently. Pixels that are “burned” in retain the color of the burned image and cannot revert to their normal state.

Burn-In Screen burn-in was a problem first time Plasma TV owners lamented when the new TV technology first hit the market. One of the most common problems was the burn in of logos found with news stations that resulted in a permanent discoloring of the pixels used to display the logo. With new developments in motion adaptive anti burn technologies, the problem has been reduced significantly for Plasma TVs.

Anti Burn-In Technology
Anti burn in technology minimizes the screen burn in problem by continuously moving the image on the screen forcing the pixels on the screen to continually change color. The movements are so small that it’s virtually undetectable to the viewer.

Some Anti-Burn Tips:

1. No Idling – if you’re not watching your TV, turn it off. Pausing a DVD for half an hour could cause burn-in for older Plasma TVs. Better to be safe than sorry.
2. Do your research – Most Plasma TVs out today have some degree of anti-burn built in, but like most things, effectiveness may vary. Do your research to see which brands and models have better history with anti burn technology and factor that into your purchase.
3. Use anti burn features – Depending on the brand and model, anti-burn settings are built into the TV and may run automatically, while with other TVs, running a program is necessary. Make sure that you know how your Plasma TV deals with burn in, because even with current technologies, screen burn ins can still occur.
4. Reduce contrast setting – Lowering the contrast setting on your new Plasma TV will reduce the chance of screen burn in. High contrast settings force phosphors in the display to work harder making burn ins more likely.
5. White screen for safety – For certain Plasma TV models, like HP or Samsung Plasma TVs, there’s a white screen option that will display a white screen or a moving white/grey scroll bar for approximately 30 minutes. Running this program after watching a movie or a long program will further protect your TV against burn in.

Although screen burn in for Plasma TVs has been significantly reduced with current technology, the problem still exists. If you’re thinking about purchasing anew Plasma TV, don’t let screen burn in problems affect your purchase. Just make sure that whatever model you decide on has anti burn features. Other than that, your best bet is to keep the TV off when you’re not watching and to avoid falling asleep with the TV on.