Plasma burn-in?

[fergwad]

I use my iMac mini-display out to HDMI to my Panasonic plasma TV. Recently I was watching a 2+ hour movie in VLC on the TV, and the aspect ratio happened to mean that there were black bars above and below the image. When I turned the TV off afterwards noticed a little temporary burn-in of the black bars.

I'm guessing that since my TV was representing the exact visual output of my TV, then these pixels in the black bars weren't just "off", they were generating shades of black for hours at a time.

Anybody have any ideas about how to avoid this? Maybe VLC or another HTPC program has a way of changing the color of these black bars or some other anti-burn in mechanism?

 

[gr8tfly]

If it's a recent model Panasonic plasma, it has pixel-shifting as an anti-burn-in technique. But, in any event, it's temporary and will go away as soon as other content is displayed. I play 4:3 movies on mine (late 2008 50"), and will notice very faint vertical pillars on a "black" scene right afterwards. They go away immediately when new content is displayed, though. Bottom line is there's nothing really to worry about. These are like 9th or 10th gen plasmas and don't suffer from permanent burn-in like those of the past.

 

[RooDBwoY]

i second that. these are recent plasma displays and don't suffer permanent screenburn as easily as old ones did so i wouldn't worry too much.


i also use my iMac plugged into my HT amp, which feeds the Panny 42" plasma with no issues.

 

[mstrze]

Plus it is a black image which is the antithesis of burn-in. If the bars were white, and this were 10 years ago, you might have some issues. A lack of energy to those pixels is almost a good thing.