Are LCD TVs Subject To Screen Burn In?

Although much less susceptible than Plasma TVs, LCD TVs are still subject to screen burn in (image retention). In general, you should avoid keeping a static picture (that is, a picture that contains no or few moving elements) or a picture with static elements (black bars, black borders, logos, etc.) on your LCD TV for more than two hours at a time. If, for example, you have your TV set to 4x3, and have black borders on the top and bottom, or on the sides, changing the picture size for a minute or two every couple of hours, say during commercials or in between shows, would decrease the chance of screen burn in. Reducing the brightness and contrast of the screen when it is displaying static elements will also decrease the chance of burn in.

If you are using your LCD TV as a computer monitor, the same general rule holds true: Avoid keeping a static picture or a picture with static elements (black bars, black borders, logos, etc.) on your LCD TV for more than two hours at a time. Make sure you change the image on your screen periodically. Also, if you intend to leave your PC unattended for long periods of time, or you leave the same image on your screen while you work on other things for extended periods of time, you should set up a screen saver that goes on after about twenty minutes, or set up your monitor so that it turns off if unattended for more than twenty minutes.

The advice above also holds true if you are using your TV to play video games. Avoid keeping a static picture or a picture with static elements (black bars, black borders, logos, etc.) on your LCD TV for more than two hours at a time. Make sure you change the image on your screen periodically.

Important: Burn in damage is not covered under warranty.

Changing Picture Size If Your Watching TV For Long Periods of Time

If you are watching your LCD TV for an extended period of time, and you have black bars, black borders, etc. on the screen, it is a good idea to change the size of the picture occasionally if you can.

To change the screen size, follow these steps:

1. Press the Menu button on our remote. The Main menu appears.
2. Use the Up or Down arrow button on your remote to select Picture. The Picture menu appears.
3. Use the Up or Down arrow button on your remote to select Size, and then press Enter. The Size screen appears.
4. Use the Left or Right arrow button to select the size you want, and then press the Enter button.

   Note: Some sizes or modes may be grayed out or unavailable depending on the format of your video source.

6. Press the Exit button to exit.

Important: If your remote has a Still button that freezes the picture, try not leaving the picture frozen for more than fifteen or twenty minutes. Although you can leave a static picture on your screen for up to two hours, regularly leaving the screen frozen for extended periods of time can cause temporary or permanent image burn in.