About Dave Hathaway Expertise Questions about any aspect of Home Theater Systems including video-- TV and projectors, projection screens, High Definition Television ,audio/video receivers, DVD, speakers and placement, wiring, Satellite TV systems. Familiar with all these areas from the operating priciples, system design and installation viewpoints.
Experience Electronics engineer with 30 years experience, own a small Home Theater Business and do custom installs of Home Theater, Dish Network Satellite, Surround Sound systems, TV antennas, plus commerial and industrial satellite and TV distribution systems.
The TV is not from Walmart. The smiley face on the screen appears to be drawn by hand. Like a child did the scribbling. Can't see through them and they are sharp and not fuzzy. Is it possible to clean these markings from the screen?
Followup To
Question -
Hello:
I'm in the process of buying a used rear projection TV. I know one of the things to look for is screen "Burn-in". What does "Burn-in" look like when your watching a rear projection tv with this kind of damage. I recently saw a nice 53" Hitachi (2001 model). When this Hitachi is on, it looks like someone took a pink magic marker and drew a happy face on the "inside" face of the screen. Is this screen burn-in?
Answer -
Hello Kyunan,
Burn in is like there is already an image on the screen that stays on all the time. Usually, burn in occurs when the TV set has been left on for a long time with the same image on the screen. The logos that the cable channels use are one of the things that do this badly. It is hard to really enjoy a big screen the has CNN in the corner all the time regardless of what else in on the screen. From your description, the Hitachi you are looking at may have been a store demonstrator that has been left on for lots of hours with an advertising picture on the screen. Sounds like it was at Wal Mart maybe. I would keep looking and find one that does not have any images on it when the picture is running except the actual images of the program you are watching. Repairs to eliminate the burn in are expensive.
I suspose that someone could have taken the protective plastic cover off the front of the set and actually used a magic marker on the inside of it, but why?
Hope this gives you food for thought. If so, and you have more questions, just come back in with a follow up.
You can buy a brand new big screen these days for about $1500 for a 53" (or larger) size. You may want to consider this alternative.
Dave
Answer Hi Kynan,
Guess I was confused by your "inside of the plastic cover" statement. Just take the plastic cover off the set and see if the markings disappear.
Now--be a bit cautious since the actual screen material is also plastic and has a distinct feel to it. Removing the screen itself is a far more complex job usually and may need a technician to do. It is not like a smooth piece of protective plastic like many big screens have. Usually, the protective coverings can be removed and cleaned if needed. It is possible that the magic marker was done on the actual screen at some time when the plastic protective cover was removed. I may also be misinterperting your wording so proceed accordingly. The plastic cover I am refering to is a clear piece of acyrlic plastic (sometimes tinted) that is put over the actual projection screen material to protect if from damage. If that is where the markings are, it can be removed and cleaned or discarded without affecting the set. If the actual screen material has been marked on, that is a different matter entirely.
Removing the magic marker is possible--sometimes. There are solvents that will remove the markings but not all of them are compatible with the plastic material of the screen itself. If the screen has been marked on, it may be necessary to replace the screen itself.
