diff --git a/jdaviz/configs/imviz/plugins/orientation/orientation.py b/jdaviz/configs/imviz/plugins/orientation/orientation.py
index 13b66c5152..e24b9f1baa 100644
--- a/jdaviz/configs/imviz/plugins/orientation/orientation.py
+++ b/jdaviz/configs/imviz/plugins/orientation/orientation.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
 __all__ = ['Orientation']
 
-base_wcs_layer_label = 'Default orientation'
+base_wcs_layer_label = 'Default Orientation'
 align_by_msg_to_trait = {'pixels': 'Pixels', 'wcs': 'WCS'}
 
 
@@ -52,15 +52,20 @@ class Orientation(PluginTemplateMixin, ViewerSelectMixin):
     * :meth:`~jdaviz.core.template_mixin.PluginTemplateMixin.close_in_tray`
     * ``align_by`` (`~jdaviz.core.template_mixin.SelectPluginComponent`)
     * ``wcs_fast_approximation``
-    * ``delete_subsets``
+    * :meth:`delete_subsets``
     * ``viewer``
     * ``orientation``
     * ``rotation_angle``
     * ``east_left``
-    * ``add_orientation``
+    * :meth:`add_orientation`
+    * :meth:`create_north_up_east_left`
+    * :meth:`create_north_up_east_right`
     """
     template_file = __file__, "orientation.vue"
 
+    # defined as traitlet to allow access from UI - leave fixed
+    base_wcs_layer_label = Unicode(base_wcs_layer_label).tag(sync=True)
+
     align_by_items = List().tag(sync=True)
     align_by_selected = Unicode().tag(sync=True)
     wcs_use_fallback = Bool(True).tag(sync=True)
@@ -146,7 +151,8 @@ def user_api(self):
             expose=(
                 'align_by', 'link_type', 'wcs_fast_approximation', 'wcs_use_affine',
                 'delete_subsets', 'viewer', 'orientation',
-                'rotation_angle', 'east_left', 'add_orientation'
+                'rotation_angle', 'east_left', 'add_orientation',
+                'create_north_up_east_left', 'create_north_up_east_right',
             )
         )
 
@@ -526,12 +532,8 @@ def _on_viewer_change(self, msg={}):
             if ref_data.label in self.orientation.choices:
                 self.orientation.selected = ref_data.label
 
-    def create_north_up_east_left(self, label="North-up, East-left", set_on_create=False,
+    def _create_north_up_east_left(self, label="North-up, East-left", set_on_create=False,
                                   from_ui=False):
-        """
-        Set the rotation angle and flip to achieve North up and East left
-        according to the reference image WCS.
-        """
         if label not in self.orientation.choices:
             degn = self._get_wcs_angles()[-3]
             self._add_orientation(rotation_angle=degn, east_left=True,
@@ -540,12 +542,23 @@ def create_north_up_east_left(self, label="North-up, East-left", set_on_create=F
         elif set_on_create:
             self.orientation.selected = label
 
-    def create_north_up_east_right(self, label="North-up, East-right", set_on_create=False,
-                                   from_ui=False):
+    def create_north_up_east_left(self, label="North-up, East-left",
+                                  set_on_create=False):
         """
-        Set the rotation angle and flip to achieve North up and East right
+        Set the rotation angle and flip to achieve North up and East left
         according to the reference image WCS.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        label : str
+            Data label for this new orientation layer.
+        set_on_create : bool
+            Whether to set the created option as the current orientation.
         """
+        self._create_north_up_east_left(label=label, set_on_create=set_on_create)
+
+    def _create_north_up_east_right(self, label="North-up, East-right", set_on_create=False,
+                                   from_ui=False):
         if label not in self.orientation.choices:
             degn = self._get_wcs_angles()[-3]
             self._add_orientation(rotation_angle=180 - degn, east_left=False,
@@ -554,11 +567,26 @@ def create_north_up_east_right(self, label="North-up, East-right", set_on_create
         elif set_on_create:
             self.orientation.selected = label
 
+    def create_north_up_east_right(self, label="North-up, East-right",
+                                   set_on_create=False):
+        """
+        Set the rotation angle and flip to achieve North up and East right
+        according to the reference image WCS.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        label : str
+            Data label for this new orientation layer.
+        set_on_create : bool
+            Whether to set the created option as the current orientation.
+        """
+        self._create_north_up_east_right(label=label, set_on_create=set_on_create)
+
     def vue_select_north_up_east_left(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        self.create_north_up_east_left(set_on_create=True, from_ui=True)
+        self._create_north_up_east_left(set_on_create=True, from_ui=True)
 
     def vue_select_north_up_east_right(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        self.create_north_up_east_right(set_on_create=True, from_ui=True)
+        self._create_north_up_east_right(set_on_create=True, from_ui=True)
 
     def vue_select_default_orientation(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self.orientation.selected = base_wcs_layer_label
diff --git a/jdaviz/configs/imviz/plugins/orientation/orientation.vue b/jdaviz/configs/imviz/plugins/orientation/orientation.vue
index d272d0d9fb..b68f5eecbd 100644
--- a/jdaviz/configs/imviz/plugins/orientation/orientation.vue
+++ b/jdaviz/configs/imviz/plugins/orientation/orientation.vue
@@ -128,18 +128,45 @@
             <span style="line-height: 36px">Presets:</span>
             <!-- NOTE: changes to icons here should be manually reflected in layer_icons in app.py -->
             <j-tooltip tooltipcontent="Default orientation">
-              <v-btn icon @click="select_default_orientation">
+              <v-btn
+                :icon="!api_hints_enabled"
+                :class="api_hints_enabled ? 'api-hint' : null"
+                @click="select_default_orientation"
+              >
                 <v-icon>mdi-image-outline</v-icon>
+                {{ api_hints_enabled ?
+                  'plg.orientation = \''+base_wcs_layer_label+'\''
+                  :
+                  null
+                }}
               </v-btn>
             </j-tooltip>
             <j-tooltip tooltipcontent="north up, east left">
-              <v-btn icon @click="select_north_up_east_left">
+              <v-btn
+                :icon="!api_hints_enabled"
+                :class="api_hints_enabled ? 'api-hint' : null"
+                @click="select_north_up_east_left"
+              >
                 <img :src="icons['nuel']" width="24" class="invert-if-dark" style="opacity: 0.65"/>
+                {{ api_hints_enabled ?
+                  'plg.create_north_up_east_left()'
+                  :
+                  null
+                }}
               </v-btn>
             </j-tooltip>
             <j-tooltip tooltipcontent="north up, east right">
-              <v-btn icon @click="select_north_up_east_right">
+              <v-btn
+                :icon="!api_hints_enabled"
+                :class="api_hints_enabled ? 'api-hint' : null"
+                @click="select_north_up_east_right"
+              >
                 <img :src="icons['nuer']" width="24" class="invert-if-dark" style="opacity: 0.65"/>
+                {{ api_hints_enabled ?
+                  'plg.create_north_up_east_right()'
+                  :
+                  null
+                }}
               </v-btn>
             </j-tooltip>
           </v-row>