Image Trace not precise?

[sebastian2012a]

Hi,

I've used Image Trace successfully before, but yesterday I tried to vectorize a jpg of a QR code, and the results did not even remotely look like the original.

I think I tried all options, but I wonder if I did something wrong or if Image Trace can't be used for straight lines and geometric objects?

[Test Screen Name]

QR codes depend on very precise technology. Never vectorise or otherwise mess with them.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

Count the squares in that code and then use Object > Create Object mosaic.

The result will be precise.

Or recreate the code with InDesign.

[sebastian2012a]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Monika+Gause  wrote

Count the squares in that code and then use Object > Create Object mosaic.

The result will be precise.

Or recreate the code with InDesign.

Thank you -- I just tried Mosaic, but the option was greyed out...

At any rate, I'm afraid there are too many squares to count. It's not a big problem either, I was just surprised because I thought the trace function were super accurate (but it's obviously still really useful for everything else).

[Monika Gause]

THe image needs to be embedded in the AI file in order to use the Object Mosaic.

[sebastian2012a]

Thank you, I'll try that!

[jane-e]

If you create the QR code in InDesign (already suggested), then you can copy and paste it to Illustrator where it will still be vector. Unless this is an exercise in using Image Trace, this is probably the most efficient method.

[sebastian2012a]

jane-e  wrote

If you create the QR code in InDesign (already suggested), then you can copy and paste it to Illustrator

I thought 'recreating' the code in InDesign meant actually recreating it in some manual way, but I looked it up now and that's definitely interesting! So thanks for bringing it up again (and thanks to Monika who mentioned it the first time)!

[jane-e]

sebastian2012a  wrote

jane-e   wrote

If you create the QR code in InDesign (already suggested), then you can copy and paste it to Illustrator

So thanks for bringing it up again (and thanks to Monika who mentioned it the first time)!

You're welcome!

[Test Screen Name]

Then again... why would you? A bitmap will be fine at any size.

[sebastian2012a]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Test+Screen+Name  wrote

Then again... why would you? A bitmap will be fine at any size.

You know what -- I realized that earlier today totally by chance.

I was so used to the idea of bitmap being trash you can't edit, but qr codes can indeed be blown up to any size. (I suppose that goes for any straight horizontal and vertical line...)