PVM 20l5 plastic film on screen?

[peterwright1234]

Hey so i just bought my first pvm. Its a 20l5 and it looks good except for a small tear on what looks like a plastic film that covers the screen. Is this an aftermarket screen protector or is it something put on in the manufacturing process? It seems like i could easily take it off if i opened the case of the monitor. ANybody know what it is? i can include a picture if necessary.

[Richtr8]

Please include a picture.

It might be a 16:9 overlay? I'm not sure. I know that the 20L5s have those mentioned in the manual. Try taking off the bevel when you snap the pics.

[Ed Oscuro]

Do whatever you want with it. Could just be a plastic protector put on for shipping. If it's aftermarket, nothing special there either. It's up to you whether you think that possibly losing brightness and visual clarity is worth having that on there to possibly protect it from scratches (not a big deal if you don't bump your tool belt into the thing repeatedly). Personally I would take it off immediately.

[peterwright1234]

heres the picture i took yesterday. thanks for the info guys. Its not a 16:9 overlay. I can't take more pictures without the bezel cause i left the monitor at my parents house. Are screen protectors usually put on underneath the bezel?

[Fudoh]

looks like the original protection foil - should probably have been removed years ago. I would just pull

[philexile]

I think that may be the anti-glare film applied by Sony. If you remove it, be careful – it could leave a weird residue on the screen I think.

[Ed Oscuro]

Pretty sure that's just a simple plastic film. If it lifts up easily, it's not any anti-glare coating.

Edit: I don't find any reference to any coatings on the tube in the operator's manual or the ad brochure, either. Here's what it says in the manual about cleaning the monitor: "periodically clean it with a mild detergent solution. Never use strong solvents such as thinner or benzine, or abrasive cleaners since they will damage the cabinet."

[peterwright1234]

Well the question is what defines easy? I mean i say it might be easy taking it off but im pretty patient. It took a little picking at with my thumbnail to take a little tiny piece off. I'm just thinking it would be totally possible if i took the bezel off and was able to get at it from a corner. might take a while though.

[Ed Oscuro]

It took a little picking at with my thumbnail to take a little tiny piece off.

A plastic protection piece should come off all at once. However, if it is coming off in pieces, it's still apparently not any kind of coating.

Wonder if this is a similar thing to the stickers on my Storex plastic filing cabinets turning to nasty brittle sticky crap after a couple years. Still sticky, but the original pliable nature of the material is completely gone.

[fagin]

It's obviously gone brittle with age.... as most plastics do.

Don't pull it off cold... as you'll make the effect worse. Get a hairdyer and heat the front up and then it should come off easier.

[peterwright1234]

Should i be careful with the heat? is there any risk of damaging the monitor with it?

[fagin]

Do it section by section. You're only using it to get the plastic warm..... not to give it 3rd degree burns!

[Ed Oscuro]

Oh, I'm dumb. The manual says this:

"The surface of the CRT has an optional PET film treatment."
It then gives some standard CRT care advice: No abrasives, alkaline soap, or strong solvents such as alcohol, thinner, or benzine.

Since the film is likely to reduce brightness and has cracked anyways, it's time to get rid of it.

[peterwright1234]

awesome I'm just gonna assume thats what it is. thanks for doing the research. Not looking forward to actually taking it off but Im really excited that the film is unimportant.

[Ed Oscuro]

For what it's worth, I didn't see any PET film on my own 20L5, and it looks fine. Be careful scraping that off all the same.