Question related to pixel ratio

[DoYouLikeHam]

Hello... I'm working my way through "Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book (2022 release)"... in the 2nd lesson, I was a bit stumped why the circular logo on screen is a bit 'stretched'... and now that I've completed the chapter, I found that the rendered output has the circle perfectly round.  See attached image of composition editing vs. rendered output.

Is there a setting somewhere that is affecting the pixel or preview ratio somehow?  Clearly, I'm somewhat new to AE, going through a textbook... thx in advance for any pointers.

Thx,

MS

[Towerguy]

Hi. Sorry I don't know the book but I think your composition is not using square pixels (this is in the Composition Settings when you start a new composition as Pixel Aspect Ratio -PAR for short). To correct this you will see an icon at the bottom of the viewing screen - on the right of the  "1 View" dropdown, hover your mouse and it should say "Toggle Pixel Aspect Ratio", select it and the composition should no longer look stretched.

[RobShultz]

Tower guy is correct but the newer versions of After Effects has moved the pixel aspect ratio correction to the wing menu (Three lines in the upper left hand corner of the comp window.)

[Warren Heaton]

Your Composition is 720-by-480 widescreen and the pixel aspect ratio (PAR) is 1.21.

The PAR value can be seen next to the Frame Size in the Poster Preview in the Project tab.

Did the lesson have you work at the "NTSC DV Widescreen" Composition preset?  It's a little dated.

If Pixel Aspect Ratio Correction is enabled, a 1.21 PAR Comp will look proportionally correct.  If Pixel Aspect Ratio is disabled, a PAR 1.21 Comp will look squeezed.

If you drop 1.21 PAR source (Composition or video) into a 1.0 PAR Composition in After Effects or a 1.0 PAR Sequence in Premiere Pro or 1.0 PAR document in Photoshop then the source should be stretched to appear proportionally correct.  

In the current version of After Effects, you'll find the option for Pixel Aspect Ratio Correction at the bottom of the Composition panel pop-up menu options.

[DoYouLikeHam]

Thx, all...

@Warren Heaton re: "Did the lesson have you work at the "NTSC DV Widescreen" Composition preset?  It's a little dated." - yes, it is the 2022 edition of the book.. but I'm running 2023 version of the software... the option wasn't available, so I just manually entered the settings.