Lightroom Tutorial: Adjust Perspective and Image Geometry

Perspective is the way that objects appear to be closer or farther away from each other based on their distance from the camera. In photography, perspective can be used to create a sense of depth and dimension in an image. However, perspective can also make objects appear distorted, especially when they are photographed from a low or high angle.

Image geometry is the shape of an image, including the straightness of lines and the parallelism of planes. In photography, image geometry can be distorted by a variety of factors, including lens distortion, camera shake, and perspective.

Adobe Lightroom offers a variety of tools that can be used to adjust perspective and image geometry in photos. In this tutorial, we will learn how to use the Upright tool and the Transform tools to correct perspective and image geometry in photos.

The Upright Tool

The Upright tool is a quick and easy way to correct perspective in photos. To use the Upright tool, follow these steps:

  1. Select the photo that you want to correct.
  2. Go to the Geometry panel on the right side of the Lightroom window.
  3. In the Upright section, select the desired correction option. There are four correction options available:
  • Level: This option will straighten the horizon in the photo.
  • Vertical: This option will correct for converging vertical lines, such as the sides of a building.
  • Auto: This option will apply a combination of leveling and vertical corrections.
  • Full: This option will apply the most extreme corrections possible.

4. Click the Apply button to apply the correction.

The Transform Tools

The Transform tools provide more precise control over perspective and image geometry corrections. To use the Transform tools, follow these steps:

  1. Select the photo that you want to correct.
  2. Go to the Geometry panel on the right side of the Lightroom window.
  3. In the Transform section, click the Tools button.
  4. In the Transform area, select the desired transform tool. There are five transform tools available:
  • Move: This tool lets you move the entire image.
  • Scale: This tool lets you scale the entire image.
  • Rotate: This tool lets you rotate the entire image.
  • Aspect: This tool lets you adjust the aspect ratio of the image.
  • Warp: This tool lets you distort the image to correct for a variety of distortions.

5. Use the tools to adjust the perspective and image geometry of the photo.

6. Click the Done button to apply the corrections.

Tips for Adjusting Perspective and Image Geometry

Here are a few tips for adjusting perspective and image geometry in photos:

  • Use the Upright tool for quick and easy corrections.
  • Use the Transform tools for more precise corrections.
  • Be careful not to overcorrect the perspective. Too much correction can make the photo look unnatural.
  • Use the Grid Overlay option to help you align the lines in your photo.
  • Use the Before and After previews to compare the original and corrected photos.

Conclusion

Adjusting perspective and image geometry can improve the overall quality of your photos. By following the tips in this tutorial, you can learn how to use the Upright tool and the Transform tools to correct perspective and image geometry in Adobe Lightroom.