Screen Burn-In (Image Retention)

Category: electronics

Permanent discoloration of a display panel caused by a static image being left on the screen for extended periods.

Burn-in occurs when the light-emitting compounds of individual pixels degrade unevenly due to prolonged static exposure—such as news channel ticker logos, video game HUD status bars, or desktop taskbars. It is a critical risk factor considered when selecting commercial signage or gaming monitors.

Common Examples

• The display panel suffered permanent screen burn-in after being used as a retail flight-status monitor for twelve consecutive months.
• Modern premium televisions implement automated pixel-shifting algorithms to minimize the risk of cumulative screen burn-in.