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)

xingtu-tool