Category Archives: LCD TVs

What is overscan and why do LCD, plasma and projection TVs do it?

Posted on by
Reply

Overscan occurs on your high definition LCD, plasma and projection TVs when the video image is enlarged slightly and the outer 3% is cropped off. Engadget HD has an extremely thorough explanation of overscan, but we’ll boil down the important points here for you.

Overscan is a remnant of CRT TV days when images needed to be enlarged slightly to ensure the quality of the image at the center of the screen. There is no real excuse for continuing the practice today other than, “that’s how it’s always been done.”

Continue reading →

Why are there black bars on my widescreen TV?

Posted on by
1

One of the most common questions from new widescreen TV owners is: “Why are there black bars on my widescreen TV?” The simple answer is that your TV and the video you watching have different aspect ratios. There is nothing wrong with your TV.

This “pillar box effect” most often happens when you are watching a video or broadcast that was shot in standard definition with an aspect ration of 4:3. Because your widescreen TV has an aspect ration of 16:9, the picture can not properly fill the entire screen.

Continue reading →

How to clean an LCD TV screen

Posted on by
Reply
Cleaning solutions and kits for your LCD TV screen can be purchased at your local computer or electronics store.

Cleaning solutions and kits for your LCD TV screen can be purchased at your local computer or electronics store.

Modern LCD TV screens are magnets for finger prints and dust and require regular cleaning. They are also more sensitive to being damaged by cleaning than old, cathode ray tube televisions of the past. First, it’s important to note that you should not use any cleaning solution that contains ammonia, such as Windex, or bleach. These chemicals will react to the polymer screens, causing long-term damage. The screens are also easily scratched, so be certain your cleaning cloth is soft, such as a microfiber cloth or lens cloth.

Continue reading →