PPV precursors were prepared via the precursor route. The free-standing films were stretched at room temperature under an atmosphere of water vapor. Stretch ratios of up to nine could be attained easily. This procedure is less dependent on factors such as film thickness and freshness than hot stretching. Molecular alignment is at least as good as in hot-stretched films, as proved by FTIR dichroism measurements, Detailed IR results are presented. In addition to providing an experimentally easier way to obtain oriented PPV films, this procedure also allows to produce oriented, noneliminated PPV precursor films. This new way of stretching might also be applicable to the precursors of other conjugated polymers.