Plasma-screen TVs have a lot of advantages, including a big screen size in a flat panel that's easy to hang on the wall or put in places where conventional TVs won't fit. One drawback of plasma screens is the possibility of "burn-in," a phenomenon in which an image or icon that is located in one spot on the screen (think of the little network symbols in the corner of the screen) leaves an image that can be seen when you change channels. This often happens when a screen is paused upon for extended periods of time. If you follow these simple steps, however, the possibility of burn-in is remote.
Instructions
1. Break in your plasma-screen television. Newer screens are more susceptible to burn-in than older screens. Run your new television in its "theater" or "movie" mode for a while before you start gaming. To be on the safe side, do this for 100 to 200 hours of total use time.
2. Use the television's utilities. Most plasma screens have a feature called an "image cleaner," which is designed to prevent and repair the shading of the pixels that causes burn-in. Use this feature every few weeks or months. If your television doesn't have an image cleaner, turning it to an empty channel can help as well--the "snow" has a similar effect. Some televisions will have other settings designed to prevent burn-in damage, so read the manual and see which ones your set may include.
3. Turn off game consoles and the television when you're not using them. This sounds like common sense--and it is, but it's one of the best ways to prevent burn-in from happening. You'll not only prevent the possibility of a paused image being burned into your screen, but you'll save some electricity and extend the life of your components as well.
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