Jpeg to ai conversion

[Chelsey5ECE]

I have a jpeg file for a box template. The company wants it as an illustrator file. I don't know how to use AI.. if I drag it onto the program. And save it as an AI is that all I have to do? I looks like it is showing the image at 9 percent.  When it is exported the file thumbnail looks like it's zoomed in at 100 percent. 

Am I doing something wrong? 

Thanks 

[Monika Gause]

If all they want is an Illustrator file, then yes, you drag the JPEG into the file and then save.

But most probably they meant that they need a vector file. In that case it's not enough. You need to vectorize that JPEG. What is it? A logo? A photo?

[Chelsey5ECE]

It is for a box design. The image I give will make a template to be cut and printed

[Monika Gause]

OK. So it's the dieline?

Don't use a JPEG as a base artwork for this. It's just not precise enough.

This needs to be drawn. And it best needs to be drawn by a packaging engineer in a CAD software suitable for this.

Of course you could place the JPEG in an AI document and then use rectangles and lines to manually trace the artwork, but unless that JPEG has exact dimensions in it, you just can't draw it precisely enough.

And even then, this would need to be adjusted by the production company afterwards.