How to get straight lines when I want to create a vector file

[Marc VanZ]

Hello,

Totally new to Illustrator, so please have understanding if I write something wrong (and English isn't my native language so that won't help as well  😉  ).

I have an image (a PSD file) which I want to transform into a vector file. When looking on the internet I thought I understood that I can do this in Illustrator by placing the image and than using IMAGE TRACE.

But when I do this, all my lines are a bit 'round' and some areas are 'stichting together'.  The upper image is the PSD-file and the lower is the file in Illustrator after using IMAGE TRACE. 

I tried the different options in the pop-up  screen but I can't get the lines to become nice and straight. 

Is there a way to create nice straight lines?

[Doug A Roberts]

You can't get a 100% precise result using image trace. If that's what you need, your image needs to be created as vector from the ground up.

[pixxxelschubser]

Strange.

before

after

That seems to work well for me.

[Marc VanZ]

Can you show us what your settings were?

[pixxxelschubser]

Here (your setting with black/white is fine, I used a different setting with 4 colours because of the green arrows)

Please note, however, that I have used your screenshot. Resolution and size may differ from your file. (This might require different settings).
Illustrator 2023  v27.8.1

[barbara_a]

The higher the resolution and the better the quality of the PSD file, the better the autotrace will do.

I agree with Doug. Tedious as it is, if you want precise results you need to create it as vector.

[Bobby Henderson]

It is difficult to get desirable results converting a pixel-based image into vector format using effects like Live Trace. In order to get the best and most accurate, clean results you have to re-build the artwork by hand. The original Photoshop PSD image has to be placed on one layer and locked. Then that PSD image is used as a guide for building clean, new vector artwork on one or more other layers over the top of the original image. This process is not fast or easy, but it is a great exercise for learning how to use various tools in the Adobe Illustrator tool kit.

[Monika Gause]

I have a series of tutorials about Image Trace. Here is the part about maps and plans. You might want to watch others as well: https://youtu.be/NRLCDygv3nc