diff --git a/backend/services/image_processing.py b/backend/services/image_processing.py
index 8c8e8fb2..e9282544 100644
--- a/backend/services/image_processing.py
+++ b/backend/services/image_processing.py
@@ -88,21 +88,10 @@ class ImageProcessor:
                 image = self._rotate_by_orientation(image, exif_orientation)
                 self.logger.info(f"Applied EXIF rotation: {exif_orientation}")
 
-            # Apply manual rotation FIRST (before cropping/detection)
-            if abs(rotation_degrees) > 0.5:
-                image = image.rotate(-rotation_degrees, expand=True)
-                self.logger.info(f"Applied manual rotation: {rotation_degrees}°")
-
-            # Detect text orientation on full rotated image (before cropping)
-            text_angle, angle_status = self._detect_text_orientation(image)
-            if text_angle is not None:
-                self.logger.info(f"Detected text angle: {text_angle}° ({angle_status})")
-                if angle_status in ['upside_down', 'sideways']:
-                    image = self._rotate_image(image, text_angle)
-
-            # Now crop after orientation is corrected
+            # Smart cropping
             cropped_image = image
             crop_size = None
+            text_angle = None
             crop_method = 'none'
 
             if crop_bounds:
@@ -119,13 +108,26 @@ class ImageProcessor:
                 crop_method = 'manual'
                 self.logger.info(f"Applied manual crop: {crop_size}")
             else:
-                # Try OpenCV smart crop on properly oriented image
+                # Try OpenCV smart crop
                 try:
                     crop_result = self._smart_crop_opencv(image)
                     if crop_result is not None:
                         cropped_image, crop_size = crop_result
                         crop_method = 'opencv'
                         self.logger.info(f"Applied OpenCV crop: {crop_size}")
+
+                        # Detect text orientation within the cropped region
+                        text_angle, angle_status = self._detect_text_orientation(
+                            cropped_image
+                        )
+                        if text_angle is not None:
+                            self.logger.info(
+                                f"Detected text angle: {text_angle}° ({angle_status})"
+                            )
+                            if angle_status in ['upside_down', 'sideways']:
+                                cropped_image = self._rotate_image(
+                                    cropped_image, text_angle
+                                )
                     else:
                         crop_method = 'pillow'
                 except (IOError, ValueError, cv2.error) as e:
@@ -135,6 +137,11 @@ class ImageProcessor:
                     )
                     crop_method = 'pillow'
 
+            # Apply manual rotation if provided
+            if abs(rotation_degrees) > 0.5:
+                cropped_image = cropped_image.rotate(-rotation_degrees, expand=True)
+                self.logger.info(f"Applied manual rotation: {rotation_degrees}°")
+
             # Resize and compress
             compressed_bytes = self._resize_and_compress(cropped_image)