Rainbow colored scratch on PSP screen - how to remove?

So my screen has a few scratches, nothing new, but one of them turns rainbow colored when you turn it on... on light (or plain white) backgrounds it gives off a rainbow glow, and is really freaking distracting.

I tried the vaseline trick, and to my surprise, it actually got rid of the scratch... you can't see it at all anymore when the system is turned off. But when you turn it back on, there it is again, that stupid rainbow colored effect.

Does anyone what the hell is causing this, and what I can do to fix it? It's right near the middle so it's distracting as hell.

I was thinking of slapping a screen cover on it, because maybe an extra layer would negate that weird rainbow effect?

Thanks in advance

I never understand why people don't put screen protectors on all their handhelds. I really don't think there is much you can do now.

Its a crack in the plastic on the LCD, nothing you can really do now.

Sorry Roufuss.

[quote name='rodeojones903']I never understand why people don't put screen protectors on all their handhelds. I really don't think there is much you can do now.[/QUOTE]

I got it used dirt cheap, so if it's something I have to live with, it's not that big a deal - but if it's something I could have fixed, I would have done it, if that makes sense. It was on there before I even got it.

I'm still gonna slap a screen protector on it so I don't get more scratches tonight, I was just curious if the screen protector would downplay the rainbow effect at all?

A crack in the plastic? Weird, it came out with Vaseline like a normal scratch, it's pretty much scratch free now if you look at it while it's turned off... just turned on, it's like, rainbow! Luckily, the PSP doesn't use a lot of white backgrounds, can't even tell on most dark backgrounds.

the rainbow effect is due to the light reflecting weird off the angles of the scratch. Fix the scratch and you should lose it.

[quote name='gwaki']the rainbow effect is due to the light reflecting weird off the angles of the scratch. Fix the scratch and you should lose it.[/QUOTE]

Any ideas? I tried the Vaseline trick, and the scratch is pretty much not even noticeable, but still happens.. any other solutions?

If I could fix it before I put on the screen protector, that would be ideal

Hey, if it would also fix my cell phone screen, another bonus!

It sounds like a crack and the colors are from refraction of light. Hard to tell if I can't see it. But unless there is some sort of repair kit like those chip repair kits for windshields, I don't know what you can do.

the vasoline trick only partially works because it fills in the crack, but it can easily come off. I can't really think of anything that would work though because to completely eliminate the rainbow effect the material would have to create a wavelength the same length as the rest of the screen.

[quote name='gwaki']the vasoline trick only partially works because it fills in the crack, but it can easily come off. I can't really think of anything that would work though because to completely eliminate the rainbow effect the material would have to create a wavelength the same length as the rest of the screen.[/QUOTE]

Ah, gotcha. You seem to know what you're talking about, so I'll ask you:

Would adding an extra layer, like a screen protector, dampen the rainbow effect? Or would that not matter? I heard that some screen protectors pretty much make scratches look like they don't exist, which I'm kind of skeptical about.

And yea, the Vaseline trick is hard, because I keep getting the Vaseline out of the crack when I clean it.

If it is the plastic screen that is cracked on the faceplate of the psp and not the actual screen, you can just buy a new faceplate. If you decide to do this, you will void the warranty (if there is still one) for it and you will need to remove the analog and put it in the new faceplate

[quote name='Roufuss']Ah, gotcha. You seem to know what you're talking about, so I'll ask you:

Would adding an extra layer, like a screen protector, dampen the rainbow effect? Or would that not matter? I heard that some screen protectors pretty much make scratches look like they don't exist, which I'm kind of skeptical about.

And yea, the Vaseline trick is hard, because I keep getting the Vaseline out of the crack when I clean it.[/quote]Not likely. The crack is still going to have a refractive effect on the light. When the light hits the screen protector, the protector is all one surface with the same refractive index. So no change in reference to the rest of the screen will take place.

You will need to find a way to seal the crack so there is no thin space between the surfaces of the plastic. As long as there is a space with a material of a different refraction index than that of the plastic, you will see a color spectrum.

I didn't know you could change the cover of a PSP as ZtX suggested. That is likely your best bet.

[quote name='MorPhiend']Not likely. The crack is still going to have a refractive effect on the light. When the light hits the screen protector, the protector is all one surface with the same refractive index. So no change in reference to the rest of the screen will take place.

You will need to find a way to seal the crack so there is no thin space between the surfaces of the plastic. As long as there is a space with a material of a different refraction index than that of the plastic, you will see a color spectrum.

I didn't know you could change the cover of a PSP as ZtX suggested. That is likely your best bet.[/QUOTE]

Gotcha. It suddenly turned into too much effort for something I don't even notice after a few minutes anyways, unless I'm actively looking for it

But it's good that at least I know the solution if I ever feel like giving it a try!

Thanks for all the advice and help, at least I know what causes it now and how to potentially fix it. Still gonna grab a protector so I don't get more scratches though

A faceplate has a new screen, I take it?

[quote name='Roufuss']A faceplate has a new screen, I take it?[/quote]

Yeah. To replace it you'll need a #0 Phillips screwdriver and a disregard for your PSP's warranty.

Nice, thanks for all the help everyone!

Ended up getting a cheapy Gamestop screen protector, applied it (only a tiny air bubble in the corner, I can deal, since it took 4 times to get that good), and the rainbow scratch is barely noticable.. you have to really look for it now, which is an improvement over being right in your face. So while it didn't make it go away, it definitely lessened it.

Thanks for all the help everyone, I'll definitely keep the faceplates in mind in the future if I ever feel like messing around with that type of stuff.

if you still have problems and it's not the LCD, then buy a replacement cover which will make your system look brand new as well as remove all scratches.

If it is the LCD, then just buy one off Ebay and replace it.

I'm trying to clean up a used PSP that I just bought and was wondering what the best method is for removing scratches on the lcd screen? And what exactly is the vaseline method for filling in deep scratches?