Straightening
Straightening is a post-processing technique in Lightroom Classic designed to correct the alignment of landscape photographs. It addresses common compositional issues such as tilted horizons or skewed framing that frequently occur during image capture. By restoring horizontal and vertical lines to their proper orientation, this process ensures that the final image reflects the intended perspective and stability of the original scene.
The workflow leverages Lightroom’s landscape masking feature to automate horizon detection and correction. Instead of relying on manual rotation tools, the software identifies the boundary between the sky and the land to establish a reference line. This automated approach allows for precise adjustments that maintain the integrity of the image’s geometry while correcting perspective distortions.
Users can refine the straightening process by adjusting the angle slider to align the detected horizon with the grid lines in the overlay. The landscape mask ensures that the correction is applied uniformly across the image, preventing unwanted warping of the sky or ground. This method is particularly effective for wide-angle shots where minor camera tilt can significantly impact the overall composition.
Source Notes
- 2026-04-14: “But OpenClaw is expensive…”