Graphics resolution [Solved - sort of - not fixed, just explained]

[The Chief]

I have noticed a (somewhat minor) hic-cup in my graphics system.

The PCLinuxOS logo is perfectly round on the splash screen, but once logged in, it becomes "flattened" (wider or shorter, or maybe both).   No other problems, and everything works fine, just makes me think something is not set quite right.  

It is at the default resolution set up when installing (1280x800).  I have tried changing it a step either way - to 1280x768 and to 1280x1024, but neither appears to make any difference whatever.   Maybe I should have tried changing the horizontal, too???

Compaq CQ50 laptop, full specs here: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01630409&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3866411

Running PCLinuxOS 2010.2, fully updated and using the 'Intel 810 or later' driver (as selected by default at installation).

It's not something that is going to bug me, but I'm wondering if anyone has had similar problems and might have some suggestions.

[timeth]

Hi Chief,

When you say,

but once logged in, it becomes "flattened" (wider or shorter, or maybe both).   

do you mean your desktop wallpaper looks like it's out of perspective, or has the wrong dimensions?

I have a laptop too with the same screen resolution, 1280x800 but I didn't have any problems with the wallpaper.
Have you tried altering the positioning options in Desktop settings? Right click on desktop > folder view activity settings
If you like, you could try my blog. I've got quite a few PCLinuxOS wallpapers there for this screen size and some with round circles so you can see if they look perfectly round or stretched.   (There's a link in my signature below)

[The Chief]

I have not selected any wallpaper, just left it at the defaults, so it looks exactly like the splash screen - shaded blue (darker in the upper left corner, lighter in the lower right corner) with the PCLinuxOS logo (circle with Dobie and name) in the center.  I was describing the appearance of the circle in the logo.

[Was_Just19]

Change the wallpaper to select one with suitable dimensions for your screen .......  had to do that here too.

[The Chief]

OK, and now I have the same problem everyone else has with KDE4...  Where is it?   

I remember someone here found it once - guess I'll do a search..

[menotu]

Right click on the desktop and choose "Folder View Activity Settings"

Oh, and you can choose "open" to traverse your folders for images, OR select the "Get New Wallpapers" to download them from the KDE.look web site

[The Chief]

Yeah - I found it.  Unfortunately, the selected wallpaper was already the appropriate resolution (if the file name can be believed) and the circle is still "squashed!"   But perfectly round in the splash screen, which appears to be the identical image.

I tried the various settings (Scaled, Centered, Maintain Proportions, etc.) but none seemed to do anything.  Do I need to log off and back on?

Please guys, don't put a whole lot of effort into this.  I'll putter around and eventually figure it out, I'm sure.

[menotu]

A restart shouldn't be necessary - the settings should "take" immediately.

[timeth]

Unfortunately, the selected wallpaper was already the appropriate resolution (if the file name can be believed) and the circle is still "squashed!"   But perfectly round in the splash screen, which appears to be the identical image.

Hey Chief,

I was looking in the Folder view activity settings where you can change the wallpaper, and the default wallpaper does say, as you said, that it is the correct resolution, 1280x800. I tried switching to it myself and guess what? The circle is squashed. So I went to the folder where the wallpaper images are stored

/usr/share/wallpapers/Air/contents/images

and there is a 1280x800 image there but opening the image shows that it is actually squashed. It has been created by using a different size image and squashing it to the right size rather than creating one from scratch with the right dimensions, so, there is nothing wrong with your screen settings, it's the image that is a bit off.  

[uncleV]

I have noticed a (somewhat minor) hic-cup in my graphics system.

The PCLinuxOS logo is perfectly round on the splash screen, but once logged in, it becomes "flattened" (wider or shorter, or maybe both)

One has different resolution in splash-screen and then in DE he is using.
If you find your splash-screen resolution and apply the nearest resolution aspect (e.g. horizontal vs. vertical lines) you should have the logo and other circles nearest to the ideal circle shape. (?)

P.S. Hmm... this is because of the relatively new "wide screen" standards. (?)

[timeth]

One has different resolution in splash-screen and then in DE he is using.
If you find your splash-screen resolution and apply the nearest resolution aspect (e.g. horizontal vs. vertical lines) you should have the logo and other circles nearest to the ideal shape. (?)

In this folder,  /usr/share/wallpapers/Air/contents/images   there are 7 different sizes for the default wallpaper and your system chooses the correct one for the resolution you have selected, but the 1280x800 size image is actually a different size image that has been squashed so anyone with this screen resolution will have this problem with the default wallpaper. Just need to change wallpapers, or if you really want the default, we'll have to find an actual 1280x800 somewhere. Possibly through Sproggy? He created the default wallpaper.   

[The Chief]

Unfortunately, the selected wallpaper was already the appropriate resolution (if the file name can be believed) and the circle is still "squashed!"   But perfectly round in the splash screen, which appears to be the identical image.

Hey Chief,

I was looking in the Folder view activity settings where you can change the wallpaper, and the default wallpaper does say, as you said, that it is the correct resolution, 1280x800. I tried switching to it myself and guess what? The circle is squashed. So I went to the folder where the wallpaper images are stored

/usr/share/wallpapers/Air/contents/images

and there is a 1280x800 image there but opening the image shows that it is actually squashed. It has been created by using a different size image and squashing it to the right size rather than creating one from scratch with the right dimensions, so, there is nothing wrong with your screen settings, it's the image that is a bit off.  

Arrrgh!     I can't believe I'm the first one to notice this!  But thanks - that explains why I couldn't seem to make it change, and why  everything else works just fine.  Time to mark it solved, I guess..