This article discusses the effect of prolonged use (burn-in), and screen savers in relation to liquid crystal display (LCD) panels.

Burn-in

An image can be burned into an LCD panel if left displayed for an extended period (approximately 24 hours, depending on the image and LCD). However, unlike monitors with a cathode-ray tube (CRT), an LCD panel recovers over time and eventually dissipates the image.

To allow this recovery, the display panel must be turned off. The time it takes to recover depends on the original image and how long it was left on the screen. It generally takes between one and two times as long to remove the image as it took to burn it in.

Screen Savers

Although a screen saver can be used, it keeps the display backlight in use thereby decreasing its overall life. A screen saver may also prevent a PowerBook or iBook from going to sleep, decreasing battery life.

Putting the computer to sleep or shutting it down when it won't be used for extended periods is preferred to a screen saver. The Energy Saver control panel has a setting for display sleep that is applicable to both PowerBook and stand-alone flat panel displays such as the Apple Studio Display and Apple Cinema Display.