What Is Burn-In?

Burn-in is a permanent discoloration of pixels on an electronic display. It occurs when the same image is left on-screen for extended periods. It can lead to ghosting and even cause shadows in areas if too much of the same image is displayed for long periods. Prevent Burn-in by setting screensavers to something other than a static image (such as a slideshow) or using a monitor hood. Avoiding prolonged usage of a single application will help with this as well. Most monitors will have a 'timeout' function, which can be programmed to turn off the monitor after a specific period. Switch off or change your monitor's display every few hours to avoid burn-in. Avoid displaying a non-moving image for extended periods. Most manufacturers recommend changing your monitor's display every 20 - 30 minutes. To reduce the risk of burn-in, you can set up a screen saver that will switch on and off regularly. Burn-in is when a ghost image of certain parts of an image or a completely different image remains on your screen after the other photos have been removed. Burn-in can occur to plasma, LCD and LED displays. Displays which are used for gaming are somewhat more susceptible to burn-in. However, burn-in can also be avoided by turning off your computer monitors before bedtime. The longer you leave it on overnight, the greater chance you'll see some form of burn-in the next day. It is advisable to avoid continuous usage of a single image on display, especially if it has high contrast. Also, lowering the show's brightness or setting it to a non-full brightness setting can reduce the risk of burn-in. Regularly cleaning the display with a cleaning solution or screen wipes can also help. Phosphors have a limited lifespan, and the time required to fade away varies from hours to several months. It is recommended that a can use a screen saver if one is not active for an extended period.