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Socrates_in_NJ
Socrates_in_NJ
Known Participant
March 30, 2017
Question

Weird distortion issue

  • March 30, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 1548 views

I tried this in the Adobe Reader forum and no one had any ideas.  Perhaps someone here can help.

I was an engineer on the Apollo moon program and my retirement hobby has been giving presentations to grade-school children.  Using the full Acrobat, I created a pdf to use for visual aids.  The schools use Adobe Reader to display the pdf.  There is one weird problem that has popped up occasionally.  Unfortunately, I discover it when I'm about to begin my presentation to the kids so I have no time for troubleshooting.

Most schools use "smart boards" and the problem does not occur there.  Some schools connect a computer to a projector and that's where the problem occasionally happens.  Looking at the computer screen, all is good (all images are perfect).  However, the projected images are stretched horizontally.  I can actually look at both simultaneously and the computer screen is good while the projected image is distorted!  The circular Apollo-11 shoulder patch appears oval, all persons appear fat, etc., etc.  Yes, the distortion shows up with all pages in the pdf.  This only happens with Windows computers.  In fact, in one instance, the teacher quickly swapped the Windows laptop for a MacBook (with the same projector) and the projected images looked good.

Any clues here, guys?  Please type slowly so that I understand - I'm very illiterate regarding Windows.  The only computers that I've ever owned have been Apple, starting with the Apple-II and graduating to the Mac.

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

Socrates_in_NJ
Socrates_in_NJAuthor
Known Participant
March 30, 2017

It's unfortunate that you and Dov are unable to assist me in locating the computer display options.  Thanks for your interest in stating the obvious.

try67
Community Expert
try67Community Expert
Community Expert
March 30, 2017

Well, you didn't really provide much information, such as the OS used on those computers (beside it being "Windows"), or the model name of the projector, or the type of connection used to connect the computer to the projector, etc.

Generally speaking, you should find these settings under Control Panel - Display (or something similar, depending on the OS version, like "Appearance", or "Monitor Settings", or "Screen Resolution").

Socrates_in_NJ
Socrates_in_NJAuthor
Known Participant
March 30, 2017

How do I access the "Control Panel?"  Please read my original post.  I'm clueless regarding Windoze machines.

How do I determine the OS level?

Dov Isaacs
Dov Isaacs
Legend
March 30, 2017

The problem is not Acrobat or Reader or even your content, but rather, the settings used either on the computer from which the document is being displayed or the projector being used. There is a mismatch in resolutions and aspect ratios between the computer and the projector. Fix those and the problem goes away.

          - Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
Socrates_in_NJ
Socrates_in_NJAuthor
Known Participant
March 30, 2017

Absolutely.  I was hoping that someone could tell me where to look to find that mismatch.

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