# Plasma TVs and burn-in **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 11, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-tvs-and-burn-in/168080 "2003-04-11T18:19:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rob\_V](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Rob\_V](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rob_V)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-tvs-and-burn-in/168080/1 "2003-04-11T18:19:46Z")
I’ve been following the developements in flat-panel video displays for a while (damn, those things are sexy-cool), but I can’t seem to make heads or tails out of the issue of potential burn-in with this technology if you watch a lot of 4:3 programing. (I don’t think I could live with the “fat & squashed” picture of standard 4:3 programs “stretched” into the 16:9 display.) Since it seems that most of the latest units display grey side-bars instead of black, is burn-in still an issue in plasma displays? Additionally, my impression of LCD flat-panels is that the burn-in issue is eliminated with this technology. Is this true? ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-tvs-and-burn-in/168080/2 "2003-04-11T18:56:28Z")
It seems to be but not a major one. > [@](#): > > 1. Never leave static images on the unit. Do not pause a picture on the plasma for more than a minute. This will cause phosphor burn in. Watch the unit in full widescreen format as much as possible to avoid differentiation between the side bands of the unit. While this does not actually decrease the longevity of the phosphors it does cause an annoyance to have to play a gray static image to “erase” the burn in. From the [Plasma TV Buying Guide](http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatvreviews/plasmatv-life.html) ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-tvs-and-burn-in/168080/3 "2003-04-11T18:56:40Z")
Plasma TVs has absolutely no burn in issues, as they are impervious. Even a regualr TV can burn, not just projection. plasma = no burn in google it plasma burn in ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-tvs-and-burn-in/168080/4 "2003-04-11T18:59:15Z")
I’m wrong. LCD can’t burn Mea culpa. Mitsubishi recommends no more than 25% viewing be in letterbox or with bars. ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-tvs-and-burn-in/168080/5 "2003-04-11T19:01:55Z")
Uh-oh **Philster**. Looks like we have a contradictary Google result simulposts. I Googled _plasma display burn-in_ and got the hit above. Hmmm… Maybe we can GoogleFight it? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-tvs-and-burn-in/168080/6 "2003-04-11T19:44:58Z")
I’ve taken to watching my 4:3 shows/videos in 4:3 expanded mode, which on my Hitachi 16:9 leaves teh middle proportioned correctly and gradually stretches the picture Silly Putty style to fill the screen. And really I have no complaint with it. It’s worth it for the ability to watch my dvd’s the way God intended me to. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-tvs-and-burn-in/168080/7 "2003-04-11T19:52:04Z")
The folks at [The Screen Savers](http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/) use a plasma display as a big screen to do their computer demonstrations. This means that it’s usually just sitting there displaying a Windows desktop with a giant “The Screen Savers” logo as the wallpaper. They say in their [April 4 show notes](http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/shownotes/story/0,24330,3422415,00.html) that one of their plasma TVs suffered burn-in after only two months of use.