I'm trying to load into the QGIS an image generated from the NA [CIA Fact Book PDF][1] which uses Lambert Conformal Conic Projection, standard parallels 25°N and 77°N. I'd like to work with the exact projection from this PDF and overlay some vector data on top of it. I think there is something wrong in my workflow. Here is what I've done so far 1. export the PDF to a TIFF file 2. Define a Custom CRS in QGIS: > +proj=lcc +lat_1=25 +lat_2=77 +lat_0=40 +lon_0=-96 +x_0=0 +y_0=0 +datum=NAD83 +units=m +no_defs 3. Open the tiff file in georeferencer. When prompted for CRS, pick the custom defined lcc as above 4. Add 6 or so GCP at the grid intersections 5. Transformation settings: Linear/Nearest Neighbor/Target SRS: select the custom defined as above. 6. Once the image loads into qgis it does not look correct. I've tried Polynomial 2 transform but that didn't fix either. My understanding is that when the source and dest projection does not change I should be able to use the Liniar transformation. using QGIS 2.18. [![enter image description here][2]][2] result in qgis: [![enter image description here][3]][3] [1]: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/ref_maps/political/pdf/north_america.pdf [2]: https://i.sstatic.net/Ce746.png [3]: https://i.sstatic.net/5QrQp.png