Improving my stitching workflow

Hello all,

I primarily engage in photo restoration work, often dealing with the task of stitching together photos that are divided across two separate sheets. While I have accumulated some experience in this area, I recognize that there is room for improvement in my current technique. Allow me to outline my existing workflow:

All my photos are managed within LR, primarily for cataloging purposes.

When processing a photo, it is sent to PS, where one of two scenarios unfolds. If stitching is not required, I proceed to crop, descreen, restore, save, and then move on to color grading in LS.

However, when stitching is necessary, I send both image files to PS. In this case, I begin by cropping and erasing as much unnecessary padding from both photos as possible.

Subsequently, I double the width of the canvas, reposition the first photo to the left, and seamlessly integrate the second part alongside it. This step involves ensuring both parts are scanned with the same height and correctly aligned to save time.

At this juncture, I encounter two common challenges. Firstly, even though the files share identical dimensions and positioning, they often fail to align perfectly due to perspective discrepancies. My question is whether it is advisable to correct this perspective issue in LS or PS? If the latter is recommended, I would greatly appreciate guidance on using perspective correction tools effectively, as I have yet to explore this aspect.

Once I achieve a satisfactory stitch, the next task is to remove the stitching artifact. At this point, I merge both layers and attempt to use the Remove tool, but unfortunately, it proves ineffective. I have repeatedly tried to utilize it, but it consistently fails to remove the stitch as expected. The generative tool is also somewhat finicky, and while the spot healing tool works well, it may not be the most suitable tool for this particular task. My proficiency with the clone stamp tool has improved, but its applicability remains case-dependent; there are instances where it cannot be employed effectively, yet for other stitches, it suffices.

I am eager to enhance my workflow. Any advice or suggestions on how to streamline and improve this process would be greatly appreciated.