Installation of 3M Natural View Screen Protector for iPad2
We have installed the 3M Natural View Screen Protector for iPad2 on the iPad2 used with a Garmin GDL 39 receiver, as described in the blog Garmin GDL 39 + iPad2 = Economy Glass Cockpit.
The screen protector suppresses glare quite well with no noticeable effect on brightness. It also is very tough.
A perfect installation, without any air or dust bubbles between protector and screen, can be achieved as follows.
First, watch the 3M installation video.
A key consideration is the avoidance of dust particles. For this, we try to create a sort of clean-room environment.
Wear upper-body clothing that likely will not shed fiber particles. For example, a long-sleeve cotton/polyester shirt is a good choice. Carefully wash hands.
We turn a bathroom into a clean-room. Run the hot shower for a few minutes, until the air has something like 70-80% humidity. This eliminates the problem of static electricity attracting airborne dust particles when you work with plastic bags and parts.
Prepare a flat surface in the bathroom by wiping it with a wet rag and patting it dry. This will be the work area.
Remove the factory-installed plastic protector from the iPad. You have a screen in pristine condition.
If that plastic protector has been removed already, use a microfiber dust cloth and a few drops of water to carefully wipe the glass of the iPad with steady, long strokes until it has a mirror finish without any blemishes or dust particles. Do not use any chemicals or cleaners.
Remove the screen protector from its plastic bag and discard the bag away from the work area.
Tape the screen protector to the iPad screen with the supplied alignment tape so that the protector is exactly lined up with the iPad Home button and the left- and right-hand edges. Make sure the screen protector is right side up according to the "THIS SIDE UP" side tab that later will be removed.
Fold the screen protector back, using the alignment tape as a hinge.
Remove the 3M-supplied cleaning rag from its plastic bag and discard the bag away from the work area. Use that rag to carefully wipe the screen.
Gradually remove the lining from the screen protector, starting at the end attached by the alignment tape, while moving the screen protector onto the glass, as shown in the video. Use the cardboard scraper to gently press out air bubbles.
When the screen is entirely on the glass, work out all remaining air bubbles from the center to the edges. The cardboard scraper may begin to buckle after some use. Switch to a credit card to gently eliminate bubbles that seemingly do not want to budge.
The result is a perfect installation, without any air or dust bubbles.
A second 3M video has advice for the situation where dust particles are caught between screen and protector. If you follow the above approach, that remedy should not be necessary.
As a final step, gently remove the alignment strip and side tab.
The above process may seem too elaborate. But in our opinion, the virtually guaranteed success on first try is well worth the extra 5-10 minutes of effort.
The screen protector suppresses glare quite well with no noticeable effect on brightness. It also is very tough.
A perfect installation, without any air or dust bubbles between protector and screen, can be achieved as follows.
First, watch the 3M installation video.
A key consideration is the avoidance of dust particles. For this, we try to create a sort of clean-room environment.
Wear upper-body clothing that likely will not shed fiber particles. For example, a long-sleeve cotton/polyester shirt is a good choice. Carefully wash hands.
We turn a bathroom into a clean-room. Run the hot shower for a few minutes, until the air has something like 70-80% humidity. This eliminates the problem of static electricity attracting airborne dust particles when you work with plastic bags and parts.
Prepare a flat surface in the bathroom by wiping it with a wet rag and patting it dry. This will be the work area.
Remove the factory-installed plastic protector from the iPad. You have a screen in pristine condition.
If that plastic protector has been removed already, use a microfiber dust cloth and a few drops of water to carefully wipe the glass of the iPad with steady, long strokes until it has a mirror finish without any blemishes or dust particles. Do not use any chemicals or cleaners.
Remove the screen protector from its plastic bag and discard the bag away from the work area.
Tape the screen protector to the iPad screen with the supplied alignment tape so that the protector is exactly lined up with the iPad Home button and the left- and right-hand edges. Make sure the screen protector is right side up according to the "THIS SIDE UP" side tab that later will be removed.
Fold the screen protector back, using the alignment tape as a hinge.
Remove the 3M-supplied cleaning rag from its plastic bag and discard the bag away from the work area. Use that rag to carefully wipe the screen.
Gradually remove the lining from the screen protector, starting at the end attached by the alignment tape, while moving the screen protector onto the glass, as shown in the video. Use the cardboard scraper to gently press out air bubbles.
When the screen is entirely on the glass, work out all remaining air bubbles from the center to the edges. The cardboard scraper may begin to buckle after some use. Switch to a credit card to gently eliminate bubbles that seemingly do not want to budge.
The result is a perfect installation, without any air or dust bubbles.
A second 3M video has advice for the situation where dust particles are caught between screen and protector. If you follow the above approach, that remedy should not be necessary.
As a final step, gently remove the alignment strip and side tab.
The above process may seem too elaborate. But in our opinion, the virtually guaranteed success on first try is well worth the extra 5-10 minutes of effort.
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