Weird distortion issue

[Socrates_in_NJ]

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.

[Dov Isaacs]

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

[Socrates_in_NJ]

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

[Socrates_in_NJ]

Clearly every one else is as clueless as I am!

[try67]

It's not really clear how you expect us to help you beyond what Dov already said... It's a question of checking the settings on the specific projectors you're using and making sure they are the aligned with the display options of the computer they're hooked up to.

At any rate, since it this issue not related to the fact that you're viewing PDF files but a more general issue, these forums are not really the place to discuss it.

[Socrates_in_NJ]

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]

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]

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?

[try67]

The Control Panel is available under the Start Menu.

The OS version can be found by right-clicking Computer and selecting

Properties.

These are very basic Windows questions, which are better asked elsewhere.