Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for adapting a multi-mode scanning technique employed to optically scan the display panel of a scanned display device to provide for the time required by the user to adjust to a change in scanning mode. Each scanning mode has a predetermined scan transition time during which scan transitions are made. The adaptation consists of lengthening a predetermined number of scan transition times immediately following the beginning of a scanning mode, with the lengthening increment shorter for each successive preselected scan transition time, and with the lengthening occurring automatically in response to a change or beginning of a scanning mode.