Xingtu Tool (醒图工具)

Overview

Xingtu is a powerful mobile photo editing app designed for social media content. It provides professional retouching, filters, text, and design features optimized for creating Xiaohongshu-worthy image content.

When to Use

Use when:

• Editing photos for Xiaohongshu posts

• Creating cover images (thumbnails)

• Retouching product photos or selfies

• Adding text overlays to images

• Creating before-and-after comparisons

• Designing simple promotional graphics

Do NOT use when:

• Need complex graphic design (use Canva)

• Editing RAW photos professionally (use Lightroom)

• Creating vector graphics (use Illustrator)

Core Pattern

Before (raw, unedited photos):

❌ Dull lighting, flat colors ❌ No text or context ❌ Unretouched skin or product flaws ❌ No visual hierarchy

After (professionally edited):

✅ Bright, vibrant, eye-catching ✅ Clear text overlays with key info ✅ Polished skin or product presentation ✅ Strong visual hierarchy

7 Core Editing Features:

• Retouch - Skin smoothing, blemish removal, body shaping

• Filters - One-tap color grading and mood

• Adjustments - Brightness, contrast, saturation, etc.

• Text - Add titles, subtitles, captions

• Stickers - Decorative elements and graphics

• Templates - Pre-designed layouts

• Beauty - Natural enhancement tools

Quick Reference

Feature When to Use Key Settings

Retouch Portraits, product photos Intensity 30-50% (natural)

Filters Set mood, color grade "Fresh", "Bright", "Warm"

Text Titles, subtitles, prices Bold fonts, high contrast

Adjustments Fix exposure, color Brightness +10, Contrast +15

Templates Quick designs Choose Xiaohongshu-optimized

Stickers Add decoration, branding Use sparingly (3-5 max)

Beauty Selflies, portraits Natural look (avoid over-smooth)

Implementation

Step 1: Import Photo

Open Xingtu:

• Download Xingtu app (App Store or Google Play)

• Tap "Edit" (编辑) or big "+" button

• Select photo from camera roll

• Photo loads into editor

Pro tip: Use highest resolution photo available (at least 1080x1080 pixels for Xiaohongshu).

Step 2: Apply Basic Adjustments

Tap "Adjust" (调节):

Essential adjustments (most photos need):

• Brightness (亮度): +5 to +15 (brighten slightly)

• Contrast (对比度): +10 to +20 (add depth)

• Saturation (饱和度): +5 to +15 (vibrant colors)

• Sharpness (锐化): +10 to +20 (crisp details)

Advanced adjustments (if needed):

• Highlights (高光): -10 to -20 (recover blown-out areas)

• Shadows (阴影): +10 to +20 (brighten dark areas)

• Warmth (色温): -5 to +5 (adjust color temperature)

• Vignette (暗角): -5 to -10 (subtle focus on center)

Pro tip: Adjust slider, then tap original/edited comparison to avoid over-editing.

Step 3: Apply Filters (Optional)

Tap "Filters" (滤镜):

Filter selection strategy:

• Skincare/beauty: "Fresh" (清新), "Bright" (明亮), "Soft" (柔和)

• Fashion: "Contrast" (对比), "Vintage" (复古), "Cool" (冷色调)

• Food: "Warm" (温暖), "Appetite" (食欲), "Sunny" (阳光)

• Lifestyle: "Natural" (自然), "Daily" (日常), "Cozy" (温馨)

Filter intensity:

• Apply filter

• Tap filter again to adjust intensity slider

• Set to 50-70% (subtle, natural)

Pro tip: Less is more. Heavy filters look artificial and hurt credibility.

Step 4: Retouch Portraits (If Applicable)

Tap "Retouch" (修图):

Skin (skin smoothing):

• Tap "Skin" (磨皮)

• Choose brush size

• Paint over skin areas

• Set intensity 30-50% (natural, not plastic)

Blemish removal:

• Tap "Remove" (消除)

• Zoom in on blemish

• Tap to remove

• Repeat for each blemish

Body shaping (use caution - ethical concerns):

• Tap "Body" (美体)

• Choose tool (slim, tall, smooth)

• Adjust intensity 10-30% maximum (subtle enhancement)

• Avoid unrealistic reshaping

Pro tip: Retouch sparingly. Some texture looks more authentic than perfectly smooth skin.

Step 5: Retouch Product Photos (If Applicable)

Tap "Retouch":

Product polishing:

• Dodge/Burn: Brighten product areas, darken shadows

• Clarity (清晰度): +10 to +20 (enhance details)

• Sharpness (锐化): +15 to +25 (crisp edges)

• Vignette: -5 to -10 (focus on product center)

Color accuracy (important for products):

• Avoid heavy filters that distort colors

• Use "Adjustments" more than "Filters"

• Ensure product color matches reality

Step 6: Add Text Overlays

Tap "Text" (文字):

Add title:

• Tap "Add Text" (添加文字)

• Choose font: bold, clean fonts (sans-serif recommended)

• Type title text

• Set color: white or black with high contrast

• Add shadow or outline for readability

Text placement best practices:

• Top third: Title or main message

• Bottom third: Caption, price, or CTA

• Avoid center: Don't cover focal point

• Keep edges: Leave margin (don't put text at very edge)

Text hierarchy:

• Large: Main title (draws attention)

• Medium: Subtitle or key info

• Small: Details or captions

Step 7: Add Stickers (Optional)

Tap "Stickers" (贴纸):

Use stickers for:

• Brand elements (logo, watermark)

• Decorative accents (arrows, shapes)

• Icons (hearts, stars, arrows)

• Labels (sale, new, limited)

Sticker best practices:

• Use 3-5 stickers maximum (don't clutter)

• Place in corners or edges (don't cover content)

• Match brand colors (cohesive look)

• Purposeful only (avoid random decoration)

Step 8: Use Templates (Optional Time-Saver)

Tap "Templates" (模板):

Template advantages:

• Pre-designed layouts

• Xiaohongshu-optimized dimensions

• Professional design elements

• Fast editing (1-2 minutes)

How to use:

• Browse categories (fashion, beauty, food, lifestyle)

• Select template matching your content

• Replace placeholder images with your photos

• Edit text to match your message

• Adjust colors to match brand

Pro tip: Templates are great for beginners, but customize to avoid generic look.

Step 9: Save and Export

Final review:

• Pinch to zoom, check all areas

• Tap original/edited comparison

• Ensure text is readable

• Check colors are accurate (especially for products)

Export settings:

• Tap "Save" (保存) or download icon

• Resolution: Maximum (1080p or higher)

• Quality: High (don't compress)

• Save to camera roll

Upload to Xiaohongshu:

• Open Xiaohongshu app

• Tap "+" → select photo from camera roll

• Add filter in Xiaohongshu (optional, usually skip)

• Add title, description, hashtags

• Post!

Common Mistakes

Mistake Why Happens Fix

Over-smoothing skin "Perfection" look Keep texture, intensity 30-50%

Too many stickers Fun to add Use 3-5 max, purposeful placement

Heavy filters Want "look" Intensity 50-70%, mix with adjustments

Poor text contrast Aesthetic choice White text on dark, black on light

Unrealistic body shaping Insecurity Avoid or keep minimal (10-20% intensity)

Real-World Impact

Well-edited photos (real examples):

• Bright skincare product photo → 50K views (professional, trustworthy)

• Natural portrait retouching → 30K likes (authentic, relatable)

• Clean minimalist design → 20K saves (aesthetic, shareable)

Poorly edited photos:

• Heavy filter, unnatural colors → 500 views (low trust)

• Too many stickers, cluttered → 300 views (hard to focus)

• Over-smoothed skin → 200 views (inauthentic, "plastic" look)

Key metric: Professionally edited photos get 3-5x more engagement than unedited ones.

Related Skills:

• REQUIRED: graphic-content-creation (complete image content creation)

• REQUIRED: cover-design (design effective cover images)

• photo-editing (advanced photo editing techniques)

• canva-tool (graphic design for layouts)

• meituxiuxiu-tool (alternative photo editing app)