Check pixel aspect interpretation as well as frame dimensions. Some footage is meant to be displayed with non-square pixels. Interpreting it as square pixels, or compensating twice, can stretch faces and circles even when the width and height match a delivery note. Compare the original intended display with the editing project before applying another scale adjustment.
Find a trustworthy shape reference
Use a known circular sign, round clock or recorded calibration shape where available. Faces alone are imperfect geometry references. Confirm that the reference was not already distorted by perspective, a lens or an AI edit. Preserve the untouched source and note where it looks correct.
Adobe's footage interpretation documentation explains interpretation settings. A delivery workflow must distinguish frame shape from pixel shape; one width-to-height calculation cannot resolve every legacy source.
Trace the interpretation chain
- Record the source dimensions and available pixel-aspect metadata.
- Inspect the import interpretation in the capable editing application.
- Compare source placement with the composition or sequence settings.
- Render a short square-pixel delivery test when that is the target.
- Check the known shape and face proportions in the receiving player.
Avoid stretching the clip manually until the result merely feels plausible. That can hide an incorrect import while introducing another undocumented transform. Where the source's intended interpretation is uncertain, preserve the alternatives and disclose the uncertainty rather than asserting a precise restoration.
Review overlays after fixing the source
Text, graphics and replacement characters may have been built against the distorted preview. Correct the footage interpretation, then inspect their alignment and shape. A proper background with a still-stretched replacement face is not a completed repair.
Is this the same as rotating a phone video?
No. Rotation changes orientation; pixel aspect affects how individual image samples are displayed. Check each issue separately.
Should every AI video use non-square pixels?
No. Follow the actual source and receiving requirements. Do not introduce a legacy interpretation simply because the image looks unusual; generated anatomy or perspective can be the real problem.
Sources and scope
This is an original Imagild Editorial workflow guide, assisted by AI and reviewed against the linked sources on October 12, 2026. External tool procedures do not imply that Imagild provides those tools or guarantees their results.