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 hierarchyAfter (professionally edited):
✅ Bright, vibrant, eye-catching
✅ Clear text overlays with key info
✅ Polished skin or product presentation
✅ Strong visual hierarchy7 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)