Estimates　of　clumping　index　(Ω)　are　required　to　improve　the　indirect　estimation　of　leaf　area　index　(L)　from　optical　field-based　instruments　such　as　digital　hemispherical　photography　(DHP).　A　widely　used　method　allows　estimation　of　Ω　from　DHP　using　simple　gap　fraction　averaging　formulas　(LX).　This　method　is　simple　and　effective　but　has　the　disadvantage　of　being　sensitive　to　the　spatial　scale　(i.e.,　the　azimuth　segment　size　in　DHP)　used　for　averaging　and　canopy　density.　In　this　study,　we　propose　a　new　method　to　estimate　Ω　(LXG)　based　on　ordered　weighted　gap　fraction　averaging　(OWA)　formulas,　which　addresses　the　disadvantages　of　LX　and　also　accounts　for　gap　size　distribution.　The　new　method　was　tested　in　11　broadleaved　forest　stands　in　Italy;　Ω　estimated　from　LXG　was　compared　with　other　commonly　used　clumping　correction　methods　(LX,　CC,　and　CLX).　Results　showed　that　LXG　yielded　more　accurate　Ω　estimates,　which　were　also　more　correlated　with　the　values　obtained　from　the　gap　size　distribution　methods　(CC　and　CLX)　than　Ω　obtained　from　LX.　Leaf　area　index　estimates,　adjusted　by　LXG,　are　only　5%–6%　lower　than　direct　measurements　obtained　from　litter　traps,　while　other　commonly　used　clumping　correction　methods　yielded　more　underestimation.　©　2019,　Canadian　Science　Publishing.　All　rights　reserved.