To stitch a panorama in Lightroom, select your overlapping raw files, choose Photo, then Photo Merge, then Panorama, pick a projection, and use Auto Crop, Boundary Warp or Fill Edges to deal with gaps. Lens profile corrections handle most distortion automatically before the merge.
Prepare the Photos
- Shoot overlapping frames with fixed exposure, focus and white balance, with roughly 25 to 30 percent overlap as a general guide.
- Import the files and check that they share the same orientation.
- Apply the lens profile correction and remove chromatic aberration for all frames, since this helps the merge and reduces edge errors.
- Avoid heavy local edits at this stage. Merge first and edit afterward.
Merge the Panorama
- Select all frames in the Library or Develop filmstrip.
- Choose Photo, then Photo Merge, then Panorama, or use the matching keyboard shortcut for your version.
- Choose a projection in the merge dialog.
- Choose how to handle the edges, then turn on Auto Settings if you want matching tone across frames.
- Click Merge. The result is saved as a new raw style file next to your originals.
Choose the Right Projection
| Projection | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Spherical | Very wide or multi-row scenes | Curved lines |
| Cylindrical | Wide landscapes with a level horizon | Slight vertical bending |
| Perspective | Architecture and narrow views | Stretching at the edges |
Switch between them in the dialog and watch the shape of the horizon and tall objects.
Correct Distortion and Edges Automatically
- Boundary Warp: Stretches the image to fill the frame with a slider, which keeps more of your scene than cropping.
- Auto Crop: Trims to the largest clean rectangle, losing some edge content.
- Fill Edges: Uses content aware fill to repair small gaps. It works best on plain areas such as sky.
- Geometry panel: After the merge, try Upright options such as Auto or Vertical to level lines.
Common Problems
If the merge fails, check for too little overlap or very plain frames. If you see ghosting, remove frames with moving subjects. Heavy boundary warp can bend straight lines, so keep it modest on architecture and crop the rest.
Finish the Edit
Treat the merged panorama like any other raw file. Adjust exposure, highlights and shadows across the whole width, add gentle contrast and check that the sky does not show banding. Export a full size version for printing and a smaller one for screens.
FAQ
Should I merge raw files or exports?
Raw files give the most flexibility and keep the result editable with full tonal range.
Why is the merged file so large?
It combines many frames at full resolution. Keep enough free disk space and consider archiving the originals once you are satisfied.
The Short Version
Apply lens corrections, merge through Photo Merge, choose a projection that suits the scene and use Boundary Warp, Auto Crop or Fill Edges for the borders. Finish with Upright to level lines.
