Afterimage on plasma: how to deal with it? Afterglow (residual image) on Apple displays Fingerprint stuck on monitor

Probably, many mobile users have encountered the problem of smartphone screen burn-in. This defect does not in any way affect the overall functionality of the display, but its presence greatly impairs the perception of the displayed image. Today we will try to find out what causes this problem, how to fix it and what can be done to delay its occurrence.

What is screen burn-in?

To put it as simply and clearly as possible, burn-in is the fading of the display in its specific area. If this defect is present in one or another part of the screen, color rendition deteriorates, and faded outlines or letters appear. The term “burnout” itself is not accurate. It has nothing to do with combustion or exposure to high temperatures. In fact, this is a banal wear and tear of the light elements of the screen on mobile phones.

We can say that the term “burnout” developed historically. It appeared back in the era of cathode ray monitors (abbreviated CRT), as well as televisions. The fact is that the basis of these monitors and televisions were phosphorus components, the glow of which built the whole picture. Over time, these components lost their original properties, which is why the picture became faded. By and large, they burned out. Despite the fact that the technology for creating screens has changed, as well as the cause of the defect, wear of the light elements continues to be called by the indicated term.

How common is smartphone screen burn-in and why?

Unfortunately, every owner of a mobile phone may encounter this problem. Devices that have OLED, AMOLED and Super AMOLED displays are most susceptible to burnout. Screens based on an IPS matrix suffer less from this defect, but it can also appear on them. Why are OLED, AMOLED and Super AMOLED sensors so susceptible to burnout?

It's all about their structure. The basis of such sensors are organic polymer compounds that emit light when an electric current passes through them. These connections are represented by LEDs of three colors:

blue;
red;
green.

On the displays of the mentioned types, burn-in appears for two main reasons:

All diodes have different shelf life, which is why they wear out unevenly. As a result, some elements, after a certain period of time, continue to work normally, while others lose their original properties. Therefore, differences in the saturation of the picture appear.
Blue LEDs do not shine as brightly as red and green ones. To make the picture uniform, more current is supplied to the blue components. As a result, they wear out much faster, and the color palette of the screen goes into green and red tones.

The most unpleasant moment is related to the fact that the problem in question does not depend in any way on the cost of the gadget. It can appear both on a budget device and on an expensive flagship. For example, there are known cases of screen burnout on iPhones, and on the latest tenth model.

Which part of displays is most likely to experience burn-in?

As a rule, those areas of the display that almost always display one picture come under attack. In such cases, the same pixels are used, and they work “without rest.” Often, the area where the touch navigation buttons, clock, and notifications tab are located burns out. The appearance of a defect is caused not only by the constant operation of some pixels, but also by the colors that are used during display. At the indicated points, the blue and white subpixels burn, and, as mentioned above, the blue elements initially wear out faster, because more electricity is supplied to them. White light also requires more current to pass through the polymer compounds, which also accelerates the wear of the screen's constituent particles.

Burnouts appear extremely rarely in the central part of the display. This is explained by the fact that in this area the picture changes frequently, the matrix uses different subpixels, so optimal performance lasts longer.

It's not just blue LEDs that can burn out. Both red and green elements can lose their properties ahead of schedule. As a rule, mobile gamers face this problem. As you know, modern entertainment applications have their own virtual navigation buttons or menu areas. At these points the picture also does not change, so the light components fade faster.

There is one more point worth mentioning. In areas prone to fading, not only color rendering problems arise. Also, specific “phantom” images appear there. As a rule, these phantoms are represented by dim silhouettes of virtual navigation buttons, search engine fields, and icons located at the top of the display. Essentially, what remains in the affected area is what it has been continuously displaying for a long time.

Is it possible to fix the display burn-in problem?

If this defect appears on a smartphone, then it will not be possible to completely eliminate it. Only a complete screen replacement will help. However, if you don’t have the money to replace it, you can use one useful program. It's called AMOLED Burn-In Fixer. No, it does not “revive” damaged LEDs, but it makes the burnt-out areas less noticeable. In general, the application mentioned does three things:

Checks the device and shows in which areas there are burnt-out spots.
If necessary, partially hides the user interface in order to slow down further burnout.
Corrects the colors in the burned areas so that the defect disappears.

The AMOLED Burn-In Fixer app has two important advantages:

It effectively copes with its task in the early stages of burnout.
It is free, so this kind of “repair” can be carried out without any monetary costs.

It has just as many disadvantages:

Doesn't work on all smartphones. The device must have an operating system of at least Android Lollipop (released in November 2014). This application will not help owners of Apple phones.
It is absolutely useless in the later stages of burnout, when the pixels have practically lost their functionality.

Is it possible to prevent screen burn-in?

But here the situation is more pleasant. The user can perform several actions that will delay burnout or completely protect the gadget from the manifestation of the defect in question. The list of these actions looks like this:

Lower the display brightness. It's simple here - the higher the brightness level, the more current is required, and this speeds up the wear of the LEDs. Owners of the iPhone X can set this parameter to be automatically adjusted, which will also protect the device from burnout.
Set the minimum time for the screen to turn off automatically, so that the diodes do not have to display static textures for a long time when you are not using the device.
Use Immersive Mode whenever possible. This is the so-called immersive mode, in which the device will hide the notification panel and navigation buttons when not in use.
Choose wallpaper for the main menu in dark colors. Dark shades practically do not wear out LEDs; black color doesn't affect them at all. Also, change your wallpaper periodically to complement other light elements.
Use a virtual keyboard that has dark shades. With this approach, the degradation of diodes will occur even more slowly.
Install a navigation application without bright colors. To a greater extent, this recommendation applies to ardent travelers who often need a navigator.

Is it possible to completely eliminate burnout in the future?

It is almost impossible to completely protect OLED, AMOLED, Super AMOLED displays from the defect in question. This is due to the peculiarities of their design. However, manufacturers are already using some tricks that can slow down the aging process of light elements. For example, Samsung is increasing the size of blue LEDs. Thanks to this step, the elements begin to glow brighter, but at the same time less current passes through them, which means wear takes longer.

Apple has also taken certain steps to extend the shelf life. On the same tenth iPhone there is an automatic brightness adjustment mode, thanks to which the load on the LEDs always remains optimal.

Well, we found answers to two main questions: how to fix screen burn-in using software and how to prevent its occurrence. Since progress does not stand still, in the future it is possible to completely get rid of the problem considered. But for now, almost all smartphones are at risk, so it is better to follow the recommendations mentioned so as not to encounter this unpleasant defect.

Hello everyone! The problem, as stated in the title of the article, is quite serious in itself. Since in the case when traces of previously used programs remain on the screen, it becomes simply impossible to use the device. The picture merges and turns into some kind of uniform disgrace. To make it clear what we're talking about, here's a small example - you wrote a message, went into the game, and you were left with a dim image of the keyboard on the entire display, which is displayed on top of the game.

This can happen not only with the keyboard, but with any image in general - program icons, the Safari search bar, settings “remain”... In a word - horror! And it is this very “horror” that we will deal with today. Let's talk about the reasons for the residual glow on the iPhone screen and find out what to do about it? Go!

There are only three reasonable explanations for this problem...

Version 1. Official

Yes, Apple is aware of the “problem” (in quotes in this case) and has an official note about it. True, it applies exclusively to computers, but not to mobile devices. For those who are too lazy to follow the link, here is a brief summary.

Mac, Apple Cinema, and Thunderbolt Display displays use IPS technology. This is a very cool technology and that's why we use it. But! In the case when the same bright picture is reflected on the screen for a very long time, when it changes, faint signs of the previous image may remain on the display. Which disappears after some time.

It would seem, what does the iPhone and iPad have to do with it? The fact is that these Apple gadgets also have IPS matrices installed, which means that such a residual afterglow of the picture is possible for them as well.

True, this is very difficult to achieve. The usage scenarios for iPhone and iPad are slightly different from those for a computer. We can leave the PC turned on with one image for a long time, but on the screen of the mobile device the pictures are constantly changing or it is simply turned off (locked).

Therefore, if you constantly observe “traces” from programs on your gadget (and not once every three years), then the problem is not with IPS technology...

Version 2. Software

This version should be considered in the case when we are not talking about some slight glow of the image on the screen, but about a full-fledged imprint of the program. For example, this sometimes happens to me with the keyboard or multitasking panel. That is, one program partially or entirely “overlays” another.

Here it’s not just a “trace”, but a whole “trace”! What to do in this case? Since this is a common iOS glitch, standard manipulations will suffice:

Hard reboot device().
If “glitches” are repeated frequently, then update or .

Version 3. Sad

Indeed, this is the most unpleasant outcome of events. The fact is that such phantom fingerprints of previously used applications and programs on the iPhone or iPad display very often indicate problems with the screen itself.

Moreover, this will not necessarily be visible damage - it may not be cracked, not broken, without illumination defects, etc. That is, externally it is a completely normal display. But inside...

The most common case is that the screen is crushed. But it’s so neat that it’s not visible.
The matrix itself is defective or its production is of poor quality. This often happens with “Chinese” components and is especially noticeable in the cold season. In the cold, the image begins to “float” and the “traces” are very noticeable.

In this case, the conclusion will be disappointing. Such a matrix cannot be restored or repaired - only replaced.

And this is really unpleasant - the cost of the spare part is quite high, and you still need to be able to replace it... But I really hope that such radical actions will not come to pass and you will find an excuse for the “memory effects” of the screen of your iPhone or iPad in the first two subheadings this article.

P.S.S. Do you have any questions or questions? Would you like to share your opinion, story, or way to solve a problem? Welcome to the comments!

Plasma screens offer higher contrast, deeper blacks, and larger panel sizes than screens using competing technologies. However, plasma also has a weak point - the so-called afterimage.

The afterimage or, as it is also called, burn-in occurs due to wear and tear of the special phosphor coating of the pixels and the loss of their primary light characteristics by the pixels as a result of their uneven operation over a long time.

A plasma screen “remembers” the black side bars if, for example, with a 16:9 format, it often displays a 4:3 picture, and a residual image can remain in the form of well-known TV channel logos, menu items, etc. Modern plasma TVs are less susceptible to burnout than models released 3-5 years ago, but still such troubles also happen to them, especially if they are used incorrectly. Therefore, experts note that the most effective way to combat residual images on plasma screens remains correct operation and prevention.

The operating rules for each specific model of plasma TV can always be found in the user manual, which is required to be supplied with it. As for the prevention of afterimages, here you should follow a few simple recommendations.

1. to prevent afterimages from appearing — turn off the plasma TV , if you pause it, including when any playback device is connected to it. You should not leave a frozen picture on the plasma screen for a long time, even if you are going to leave for just a few minutes.

2. to prevent afterimages from appearing, Withtry not to leave any static on the screen like an on-screen menu or a game system's splash screen. By the way, it is gaming consoles that pose the greatest danger to plasma, since on-screen game menus always contain a lot of stationary elements - statistics panels, game equipment, maps, etc.

It is possible that residual images on the screen after playing a game can be “erased” by simply switching the TV to normal TV or video playback. However, we must remember that toys are the main enemy of plasma. Therefore, before launching a gaming application on a plasma TV screen, you should definitely adjust the brightness and contrast parameters manually, or use a special gaming preset, which is probably provided in the menu of your TV and allows you to quickly configure it to the optimal operating mode for gaming conditions.

3. G Use the built-in screen cleaning mode wisely (image cleaner). Modern plasma TVs have a separate function to eliminate minor or temporary residual images on the screen. However, its frequent activation leads to increased wear of the plasma panel and significantly reduces its lifespan. In this regard, you should not immediately start cleaning the screen (wipe or clean) as soon as you notice a piece of the channel logo in the corner of the screen. It may well be that after some time it will disappear on its own, if it did not disappear after switching to another channel.

4. so that the afterimage does not appear - VIn some cases, you can use DVD correctors , designed for aligning images on plasma screens. In fact, any movie played continuously can achieve a similar effect. But specially designed video correctors like PlasmaSaver, which clean up residual images (light burnout) on the plasma screen due to specially selected movements of light and shadow.

It's worth noting that Plasma Display Coalition testers recently suggested that minor image retention is not due to changes in the phosphor coating, but due to the electrical charge of individual pixels. Thus, you can effectively combat it with the so-called “white fill” of the screen.

5. don't panic every time when parts of the video image “freeze” on the plasma screen. The residual image, for example, of a ticker at the bottom of the screen after watching the news or a football score is not a burn-out, and they will disappear very quickly on their own.

6. use common sense . Today, few people remember that once upon a time, even on the screen of a CRT TV, a residual image could appear if it was not used according to the rules. Modern plasma, when used correctly, can work for many years without any significant burnout, and to damage the screen in this way you have to try hard.

7. so that the afterimage does not appear - Withshould know that In the first 100-200 hours of operation of a plasma TV, the process of wear of the phosphor in the plasma cells occurs most actively. Because It is recommended to “break in” new TVs . Firstly, it is better to display the image on them in the working format (usually 16:9), and secondly, you can use special screen fills, which are simply reproduced in slide show mode and allow you to obtain the most uniform characteristics of the phosphor over the area of the plasma panel . After 100-200 hours in the running-in mode, the characteristics of the panel will become more stable and it can be properly calibrated.

And further: Almost every new plasma has the “Vivid” or “Vibrant” mode active by default, which is designed to work in a brightly lit supermarket, but should never be used at home, since it requires a very high level of image contrast and leads to screen burn-in.

If you have any Apple device with a display, for example, a MacBook Pro with a Retina display, then you might have noticed this phenomenon: if you don’t move or change anything on the working screen for a long time, and then open some full-screen application (especially if it has a gray background), then sometimes you can quite clearly observe that the previous image remains visible, as if it “shines through” the new one.

This is called afterglow, afterimage, or ghost image. Next, I will try to answer questions about how bad it is and whether something can be done about it.

Finder visible in the background of the Dashboard

Afterglow or afterimage

In English it is called image persistence, image retention is an effect observed when an image remains on the display for a long time, and after changing the image, the previous image continues to be visible for some time, as if it “shines through” the new one.

For example, this can often happen with the login screen if it was displayed on the screen for a long time, and then you logged in, but continue to see the outline of the login window.

First, I want to reassure you - everything is fine with your display and there is no need to rush to return your Mac, iMac or display under warranty. In any case, this is what Apple itself claims, and I am inclined to trust them, especially considering that I have been observing the same thing on my MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2012) for almost a year and, although I was nervous at first, Now I’m quite used to it and I hardly notice this effect.

Having studied the materials on Wikipedia: LCD, IPS panel, Image persistence, Screen burn-in; I came to the conclusion that Apple provides truthful information. Indeed, liquid crystal displays, unlike cathode-ray (CRT) or plasma displays, are practically not threatened by the prospect of burn-in. Moreover, image retention does not only occur on displays used by Apple, it is a common feature of all LCD displays, but due to the IPS technology used in the current generation of Apple displays, this effect is most noticeable.

What to do with the afterimage?

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to completely get rid of this effect, but it won’t cause any harm to the monitor in the long run. To reduce the likelihood of ghosting, you can use two features that are enabled by default in Mac OS X, but you may have turned them off or changed the timing.

Monitor sleep mode

If you leave the computer for a long time, for example, to go drink tea, then the sleep function will not only prevent image retention, but will also help save energy.

To enable this feature or make sure it is enabled, follow these steps:

Open System Preferences, for example, through the Apple menu  (in the upper left corner).
Then click on the icon of the energy-saving light bulb with the caption “Energy Saver”.
Set the value of the “Monitor sleep mode” slider to the minimum value that is comfortable for you.
If you have a laptop, then on the second tab “Battery” you should also set the display turn-off time with the slider.

I set myself 5 minutes when working from the network adapter and 2 minutes for the battery.

I don’t see the point in a screen saver, because in sleep mode, although it doesn’t show beautiful pictures, it saves electricity.

Conclusion

So, if you own a MacBook Pro with Retina display, iMac, Apple Cinema Display, or Apple Thunderbolt Display, then there is a high probability that you may experience an afterglow effect on your monitor, also known as image retention.

This is not dangerous for the monitor and does not mean that it is “burnt out” or “burnt out”; moreover, for some LCD display technologies this is normal.

To reduce the likelihood of image retention, do not leave a static image on the monitor for long periods of time, for example, by using the Monitor Sleep function.