diff --git a/config/ai_prompt.md b/config/ai_prompt.md
index 44ff1437..c9cb8219 100644
--- a/config/ai_prompt.md
+++ b/config/ai_prompt.md
@@ -90,31 +90,30 @@
     - Include minimal padding (10-15 pixels) around item edges
     - Ignore background clutter, other items, hands, reflections
 
-  ### Rotation Analysis (CRITICAL - ROTATION TO HORIZONTAL TEXT)
+  ### Rotation Analysis (CRITICAL - SMALL TILT ANGLE MEASUREMENT)
   
-  **IMPORTANT: Return the TOTAL ROTATION ANGLE needed to make text perfectly horizontal and readable (left-to-right, top-to-bottom, standard reading position).**
+  **IMPORTANT: The image has EXIF orientation metadata stripped. Analyze it in its RAW/NATIVE state.**
+  
+  **Return the SMALL tilt angle needed to make the text perfectly horizontal and readable.**
   
   **Algorithm:**
   1. Locate the PRIMARY text/label on the item (part number, manufacturer, specs)
-  2. Analyze BOTH the text orientation AND tilt:
-     - Is the text currently horizontal or vertical/sideways?
-     - Is the text tilted/rotated relative to its baseline?
-  3. Calculate TOTAL rotation to standard horizontal reading:
-     - Chassis/image tilt: e.g., item tilted 22° → needs -22° or +22° correction
-     - Text orientation: if vertical → add ±90° to the tilt correction
-     - Combine both to get final rotation angle
+  2. **Measure ONLY the tilt angle**: How many degrees is the text rotated from horizontal?
+     - Text reads horizontally left-to-right → `0°`
+     - Text tilted slightly clockwise (right side up) → **negative angle** (e.g., `-15°`)
+     - Text tilted slightly counter-clockwise (left side up) → **positive angle** (e.g., `+20°`)
+  3. **IGNORE text orientation** (vertical/sideways): The image is in raw/native state, so text orientation is simply directional tilt, not a 90° shift
+  4. **Return this tilt angle as `rotation_degrees`** (expected range: **-45° to +45°**)
+     - Clockwise tilt = NEGATIVE value (e.g., `-22°` to level a clockwise tilt)
+     - Counter-clockwise tilt = POSITIVE value (e.g., `+18°` to level a counter-clockwise tilt)
   
-  4. **Return exactly this value as `rotation_degrees`** (range: -180° to +180°)
-     - Counter-clockwise rotation needed = POSITIVE value
-     - Clockwise rotation needed = NEGATIVE value
-  
-  **Measurement examples** (TOTAL rotation to make text horizontal):
-     - Text already horizontal → `0`
-     - Item tilted 22° clockwise, text horizontal → `+22` (counter-clockwise to level)
-     - Text vertical (pointing left), ~90° rotation needed → `+90`
-     - Item tilted 22° clockwise AND text vertical → `+112` (22° + 90°)
-     - Text pointing right (180° rotated) → `-180` or `+180` (equivalent)
-     - If uncertain or mixed angles → `0` (safe default)
+  **Measurement examples** (RAW image, EXIF-stripped, measuring ONLY tilt):
+     - Text reads perfectly horizontal → `0`
+     - Item tilted 22° clockwise (text tilts down-right) → `-22`
+     - Item tilted 15° counter-clockwise (text tilts up-left) → `+15`
+     - Item slightly rotated 5° → `-5` or `+5` depending on direction
+     - **SAFETY CHECK**: If your calculated angle is > ±45°, re-examine. Most hardware is only slightly tilted in photos (±30° max)
+     - If uncertain → `0` (safe default; OpenCV fallback will handle it)
 
   ### Confidence Score
   - Return `confidence`: 0.0-1.0 indicating reliability of crop/rotation analysis