Pixel Exerciser - Documentation

Getting Started using the Pixel Exerciser

Preparations

Start by physically cleaning your screen, so that dust and other particles are not mistaken for problematic pixels. See your monitor's product manual for any special instructions when cleaning your screen. Have a damp soft and clean cloth at hand, you might need it later on.

Using the application

Indentifying a stuck or dead pixel

Start by going to fullscreen mode and use the 'Toggle Black/White' function to identify faulty pixels. A dead pixel can usually be identified as black, best seen when you toggle the fullscreen to white. A stuck pixel can be identified as either red, green or blue.

Fixing a stuck pixel

When you have identified a stuck pixel, usually identified as red, green or blue;

• Exit the Pixel Exercisers fullscreen mode.
• Check your monitor's product manual to find out it's Response Time.
    - The Response Time is defined in milliseconds (ms).
• Set the Pixel Exerciser's Refresh Rate to match the value of your monitor's Response Time, or slightly higher.
    - Do not set the refresh rate lower than your monitor can support!
• Use the mouse to set the location and size of the Pixel Exerciser form so it covers your stuck pixel.
• Start the Pixel Exerciser.
• Let it run for a couple of minutes at a time and check the result.
• Repeat if necessary.
• If the pixel is still stuck after a couple of rounds with the Pixel Exerciser, try to gently tap the pixel with your finger with the cloth in between your finger and the stuck pixel.
  - Tap gently! As you risk damage to your monitor if you tap too hard!
• If the pixel is still stuck, try to softly rub the stuck pixel with your finger, with the cloth in between as before.
  - Rub Softly! As you risk damage to your monitor if you rub too hard!
• If still stuck, try the gentle tap and soft rubbing method with the Pixel Exerciser started at the stuck pixels location.
• If the pixel is still stuck after this, there is a possibility that this pixel is not just stuck, but dead and beyond repair.

Fixing a dead pixel

If you discover a dead pixel, usually identified as black (unlit), this pixel is presumably not fixable. You can try exercising it, but it is probably beyond repair.

LCD Pixels & the RGB Color model

A pixel on a LCD screen actually consists of three small cells, or sub-pixels if you will.
A green, red and a blue sub-pixel is forming the final pixel. When the colors from these cells mix, it will form the final color of the pixel. This color mixing is known as the RGB Color model. 

The intensity of the RGB Colors are indicated on a scale from 0 to 255, where 0 is off and 255 is the full intensity of the respective color.

Below is a table showing the RGB Color mix and the final result of the actual pixel