Exporting paths to illustrator problem

[spiritlevel]

This is a long shot but my process of elimination seems to point at Photoshop as the problem here.

I create outlines with paths in Photoshop (I currently run 23.3.2)

I then export paths to illustrator.

I open the files in Illustrator in order to export as dxf files for laser cutting. (they are usually opened in CAD by my laser and router cutting people).

HOWEVER, over the past month when I export paths to illustrator, the files open as jagged lines.  Has something changed in Photoshop for this to happen?  No upgrade to Illustrator and no upgrade with my CAD people.  I tried using the latest version of Illustrator and this seems to work but exporting as a DXF gives me jagged lines.  I'm assuming this is a version issue and that the latest Photoshop version is too new for this conversion thing I have going that I have been doing FOREVER with no problems.  I'm wondering how far back in Photoshop versions should I revert to in order to get clean lines!!!!

[D Fosse]

Paths are vector data, and as such, "jagged lines" is a concept that doesn't even apply. That's pixels. In other words, this is something that happens in the on-screen rendering of the data. Not the data itself.

No, I have no idea what the actual problem is, but I suspect a GPU problem. Such problems can easily affect one application and not another.

[spiritlevel]

yep totally aware of the vector/pixel description.  What I am getting are not pixels.  As I mentioned I have done this for over a decade in exactly this way and the jagged lines are new.

[D Fosse]

Well, I'm not getting any jagged lines with "Export paths to Illustrator" here. Everything looks good in Illustrator, all rendered at full screen resolution regardless of zoom. As expected.

So I don't know what this could be - but just so it's clear, you're seeing this in Illustrator? Perhaps you should ask there as well.

[spiritlevel]

I see this in an older version of Illustrator.  I then tried the latest version and the lines are clean but the CAD person I send these to gets jagged lines.

As you can see it's not pixelation, it's like a simplification.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Could you please post screenshots taken at View > 100% with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Options Bar, …) visible of the Path open in Photoshop and Illustrator? 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Please provide one of the Photoshop paths in a jpg for example. 

How did you create the Path – properly or did you convert a Selection to a Work Path? 

[spiritlevel]

created as proper paths not selected work paths.  that isn't the problem.  As I said, I have done this for over a decade in the same way and the path creation is not the problem.  I believe it's a software version issue starting from Photoshop and wonder how far I should go back.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

You should not »go back« with Photoshop because the problem is almost certainly not with Photoshop. 

Please post meaningful screenshots, not photographs.

https://www.take-a-screenshot.org/

And I asked you to provide one of the Photoshop Paths in a jpg.  

[D Fosse]

Actually, I'm not sure. Seeing it, I agree there might be something in the vector data coming out of Photoshop, something causing it to be incorrectly interpreted in some circumstances outside Photoshop.

I think this should be moved to bugs. But @spiritlevel , see if you can compile a reproducible case, with specified application versions (PS/Ai) and specified outside software exhibiting this. Make screenshots showing one file traveling through PS > Ai > external app (not different files).

[spiritlevel]

I can do this going through PS to Ai but I haven't got CAD, it goes to another person for that, who has not changed their version or the way they do things.  I saw a similar post to this back in 2014 but there was no response to the issue!

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Just to make sure: Does Illustrator open the Path in the »blocky« version? 

[spiritlevel]

In an older version of Ai yes, but not with the most recent version.  Clean and smooth.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

In an older version of Ai yes, but not with the most recent version.  Clean and smooth.

If Illustrator opens the Path unchanged (correct number of PathPoints, correct bezier handles, …) then the exported ai seems to be fine and the issue appears not to be with Photoshop. 

Still, who knows? If you save the Path from Illustrator as a new ai-file does that process correctly in CAD? 

[spiritlevel]

I usually save as a new ai file but I export from Illustrator as a dxf not as a new ai-file.  None of the suppliers I deal with have Illustrator, we have always just worked off me giving dxf files exported from Ai.

[Stephen Marsh]

Please provide the exported path file direct out of Photoshop without being saved through Illustrator or another app. Or the path in a raster file such as JPEG or PSD.

I have CAD software but it's probably not the same software.

P.S. What flatness value are you using when exporting the path to Illustrator format?

[spiritlevel]

I'm not sure what you mean by flatness value?  As in how many layers?  Or what compression?

[c.pfaffenbichler]

The ai-file looks fine, so the issue seems to happen downstream. 

[Stephen Marsh]

The ai-file looks fine, so the issue seems to happen downstream. 

By @c.pfaffenbichler

My guess is that it's the translation into DXF, there are many settings/options when exporting to DXF. Also try DWG if that is supported by the recipient's CAD software.

Many CAD programs can deal with PDF or EPS data, but usually not Illustrator native data.

[Stephen Marsh]

Path flatness is a legacy PostScript thing, I thought that there was an option in exporting a path, but I remembered incorrectly it is when making a clipping path. Are  you using a clipping path, or just a regular work path or path that has not been assigned as a clipping path?