How to correct Distortion when clips taken with iphone vertical

[rayc6390123]

When someone takes a iphone video with phone turned vertical (instead of sideways) the clips are distorted (everything is fat).  How to correct this distortion?

[Ann Bens]

Please post screenshot so we can see what you exactly talking about.

[Peru Bob]

Taking video in portrait in itself wouldn't cause distortion.

Something else is in play here.

You probably have a media/project setting mismatch.

[Bill Sprague]

Newer versions of Premiere Elements have more options for vertical video.  What version are you using?

[rayc6390123]

I have 2023 version.

[Ann Bens]

Screenshots please if you want help.

[Bill Sprague]

I have 2023 version.

By @rayc6390123

As Ann asked, screen shots are needed.   A description of the project settings and how they were established would also help.  

[rayc6390123]

Attached is example of vertical photo with fat square distortion and General settings

[Ann Bens]

Now post screenshot project settings and clip properties.

[rayc6390123]

I added clip properties, but not sure what you meant about post screenshot project settings - I attached layout of screenshot from MS Word document.

[Ann Bens]

No that is a screenhsot if the clip itself.

Richtclick in the clip in the timeline and make a screenshot of the SHOW PROPERTIES

also a screenshot of the Project Settings General. (second icon on the left of the right top corner).

Please do not put the screenshot in a word dox.

Embed in the post.

[rayc6390123]

This is the same as I shot earlier...

[rayc6390123]

These are the same as earlier...

[Ann Bens · Accepted solution]

Your project settings are incorrect. You selected hdv which is interlaced with a pixel aspect ratio of 1.33. You need 1080p (progressive) with a par 1.0.

[rayc6390123]

That's an option under 'Display Format' that's grayed out and unchangeable in this project.  I'll have to change it outside of a project and start over?

[Ann Bens · Accepted solution]

You will have to start over or try this:

Changing Project Settings in Premiere Elements - YouTube

[rayc6390123]

Wow, that worked!  So the moral of this story is to ensure the first clip is 1920x1080?  My first clip was a vertical iphone video 960x720.  I also had some clips that were 1440x1080.  When I made one of those my first clip had the same problem.  Thanks a bunch.

[Bill Sprague]

.... So the moral of this story is to ensure the first clip is 1920x1080? 

By @rayc6390123

Yes and no!  It used to be, in older versions, that the project had to be set up manually.   Using the first clip to automatically set up a project was added as a convenience and works very well if your clips all come from the same source.   You can still make your project settings manually.   The opening screen for a new project has a tiny check box that makes it do it the old way. 

[Ann Bens]

 So the moral of this story is to ensure the first clip is 1920x1080?

By @rayc6390123

No not exactly, make sure the first clip is the same as the project settings you want to use.