DxO ViewPoint Review: Features, Performance, and Workflow Integration

How to Use DxO ViewPoint to Fix Keystone and Straighten LinesCorrecting keystone distortion and straightening lines is one of the most common tasks in architectural, interior, and real-estate photography. DxO ViewPoint is a dedicated perspective- and geometry-correction tool that makes these adjustments fast and accurate while preserving as much image quality as possible. This guide walks through why and when to correct perspective, how ViewPoint works, a step‑by‑step workflow, useful tips for difficult cases, and how to integrate ViewPoint into your broader editing process.

Why perspective correction matters

Buildings photographed from ground level or with a wide-angle lens often exhibit converging verticals (keystone) or skewed horizontals. Left uncorrected, these distortions can make structures look unnatural, reduce perceived professionalism, and distract the viewer from design details. Correcting perspective:

• restores true geometry
• improves composition and perceived symmetry
• increases usability for architectural portfolios and real-estate listings

Overview of DxO ViewPoint: what it does well

DxO ViewPoint specializes in:

• Automatic and manual keystone correction (vertical and horizontal convergence)
• Lens-distortion correction tailored to many lens/camera profiles
• Horizon straightening
• Volume and shape recovery (helps keep objects from appearing squashed when correcting perspective)
• Non-destructive workflow as a standalone or as a plugin for Lightroom and Photoshop

Preparing your image

1. Start with the highest-quality source available (RAW if possible). Perspective corrections often require some cropping; having more resolution gives you flexibility.
2. Straighten roughly in your RAW processor only if the image is grossly rotated—ViewPoint has precise straightening tools and grid overlays, so avoid over-correcting beforehand.
3. If you use Lightroom/Photoshop, install ViewPoint as a plugin to send images directly; alternatively, open images directly in ViewPoint as a standalone app.

Step-by-step workflow in DxO ViewPoint

1. Open the image in ViewPoint (standalone or from your host app).
2. Choose the appropriate correction mode:
   • Use the Automatic Keystone Correction to let ViewPoint detect prominent converging lines and apply a correction. This is often a great starting point.
   • Switch to Manual Keystone if automatic results are imperfect or if you want finer control.
3. Use the guide/line tools:
   • Place vertical guide lines along building edges that should be parallel. Place horizontal guides along lines that should be level (e.g., window sills).
   • For buildings shot from the ground, mark at least two vertical guides on both sides of the structure to define the desired vertical direction.
4. Apply correction:
   • ViewPoint will transform the image so the marked lines become parallel or horizontal. You’ll see the resulting crop area; adjust the transform amount if needed.
5. Use Horizon tool:
   • If the entire scene is tilted, use the horizon/rotation control to align the horizon precisely before or after keystone correction.
6. Recover volume (if needed):
   • When aggressive perspective correction makes subjects look stretched or squashed, use ViewPoint’s volume-restoration slider to recover natural proportions for faces, cars, or architectural elements.
7. Fine-tune lens/distortion correction:
   • Apply lens distortion correction to remove barrel or pincushion artifacts that can interfere with straight lines, especially near image edges.
8. Crop and refine:
   • After transforms, crop to remove blank areas. Use the rule-of-thirds or architecture-focused crops (centered compositions) as needed.
9. Export or send back to host app:
   • Save the corrected image or return it to Lightroom/Photoshop for color, noise, and final retouching.

Practical examples

• Interior shot with strong converging verticals:
  • Place vertical guides along the left and right wall edges where they should be parallel. Apply vertical keystone correction and use volume recovery to keep furniture looking natural.
• Exterior photo taken from street level:
  • Place vertical guides on the building’s corners and horizontal guides across window rows. Use a mix of automatic keystone and manual nudges to align ornate elements.
• Wide-angle real-estate photo where floor and ceiling lines diverge:
  • Add horizontal guides for floor and ceiling, correct horizon, then re-check verticals—sometimes you’ll need small iterative corrections.

Tips for better results

• Use at least two guide lines per axis (two verticals, two horizontals) to define the desired geometry reliably.
• When faces or people are in the frame, use the volume-restoration sparingly and check for unnatural proportions.
• If heavy cropping reduces resolution too much, consider re-shooting from a greater distance with longer focal length to minimize perspective distortion.
• Combine ViewPoint with selective cloning/healing in Photoshop to fix edges revealed after cropping or to remove distracting elements exaggerated by the transform.
• For real-estate pipelines, create a consistent preset for typical room setups to speed up batch corrections.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Overcorrecting: excessive keystone correction can produce unnatural-looking results. Aim for lines that look physically plausible.
• Ignoring lens distortion: correcting perspective without addressing barrel/pincushion distortions can leave wavy lines near edges.
• Cropping too aggressively: preserve as much resolution as possible; recompose in-camera when you can.

Integration with Lightroom and Photoshop

• As a plugin, ViewPoint accepts round-trip editing from Lightroom and Photoshop. Export from Lightroom → Edit In → DxO ViewPoint, make corrections, save, and the corrected TIFF/PSD will appear back in Lightroom.
• Use ViewPoint earlier in the editing chain for geometry fixes, then finish with color, sharpening, and local edits in your primary editor.

Quick workflow checklist

1. Open RAW or high-res image.
2. Apply coarse rotation if needed.
3. Run automatic keystone or set manual guides.
4. Straighten horizon and correct remaining distortions.
5. Use volume recovery if required.
6. Crop, export, or return to host editor.

Using DxO ViewPoint makes geometric corrections predictable and repeatable, reducing manual distortion fiddling and preserving image quality. With practice, guiding lines and the volume tools let you produce natural, professional architectural photos quickly.