How to process photos on Xiaomi phone: from basic correction to advanced effects

Why Xiaomi Photo Processing Needs a Special Approach

Xiaomi smartphones are among the most popular mobile photography devices, thanks to powerful cameras and flexible software, but standard editing apps often go unnoticed: People either don't know what they're capable of, or they think they're too primitive. MIUI Gallery and Google Photos (preinstalled on most models) allow you to perform up to 80% of processing tasks without installing third-party programs.

A key feature of processing on Xiaomi is deep integration with hardware capabilities, such as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipsets (in Xiaomi 13 Ultra) or Dimensity 9000.+ (redmi K60 Pro) supports hardware acceleration for real-time filters, which means using the Bokeh effect or color correction in the photo resolution. 50MP It takes less than a second, unlike budget smartphones, where a similar operation can take up to 5-7 seconds.

Another nuance is the function "AI Watermark's in firmware MIUI 14+ automatically adds metadata about the phone model and shooting parameters to the EXIF, What can prevent further processing in professional editors, we will tell you how to disable it and why it is important to maintain editing flexibility.

Basic tools: what can the standard Xiaomi Gallery

Annex Gallery (or) MIUI Gallery is not just a photo viewer, it includes 12 processing tools, divided into 4 categories: Correction, Filters, Effects and Retouch.

To start with, it's automatic optimization, and Xiaomi's algorithm analyzes exposure, contrast, and color balance, suggesting that you can fix typical problems like facelights or dim landscapes by one tap, but the automation isn't perfect. It often overstates the saturation of greens in natural images. To avoid this, use manual adjustment in the Correction section. → Colour.

• 🔧 The “Pruning” tool: supports aspect ratios from 1:1 to 16:9, as well as free framing with the grid according to the rule of thirds.
• 🎨 Vivid and Mono filters: the first increase contrast by 30%, the second convert the image into black and white while preserving textures.
• 👁️ Perspective Adjuster: Corrects distortions of the barrel or pillow (relevant for wide-angle lenses in the Redmi Note 12 Pro)+).
• ✨ The "Lighting Edges" effect: adds glow along the contour of objects (useful for anime-style portraits).

Special attention should be paid to the function "Double exposure" (available in models with a MIUI 13+). It allows you to superimpose two images on top of each other with adjustable transparency, for example, you can combine a portrait with the texture of a tree or a sky, creating an art collage right on the phone. JPEG or HEIF (RAW unsupported).

Advanced processing: hidden functions MIUI Gallery

Few people know that in MIUI Gallery has tools that you can't see on the main editing screen:

1. Open the photo in editing mode.
2. Slap on the three-point menu in the upper right corner.
3. Select the item Additional.

Here you will find:

• 📊 Histogram: shows the distribution of shadows, average tones and lights, useful for fine-tuning the exposure.
• 🎛️ Curves: allows you to regulate RGB-channels separately (similar to Photoshop for mobile).
• 🔍 Selective correction: changes parameters only in the selected area (for example, brighten the face without affecting the background).
• 🖌️ Recovery brush: removes minor defects (dust on the lens, scratches on old photos).

One of the most powerful tools — "AI Sky Replacement is available only on flagships (Xiaomi) 13T Pro, Mix Fold 3) and requires an Internet connection to download cloud/sunset patterns. The algorithm automatically segments the sky, but sometimes mistakes with complex contours (such as tree branches.

Processing RAW-Xiaomi files: when and how to use them

Photos in format RAW (Or.dng, which is raw data from the camera sensor, which gives you more room for correction. RAW available in manual mode (Pro Mode) or through the Mi Camera app (on models with a MIUI However, the processing of such files has nuances:

To fully work with RAW Xiaomi recommends installing Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed, these apps support:

• 📈 Nondestructive editing: all changes are saved in a separate layer, the original file does not spoil.
• 🎯 Color profiles: emulation of films Kodak Portra, Fujifilm Velvia, etc.
• 🔄 Synchronize settings: apply one style to all photos in the series.

Important point: during processing RAW On the phone, monitor the temperature of the processor, load on the chipset when working with the processor. DNG 3-4 times higher than with JPEG. On Poco. F5 or Redmi K50 This can lead to trottling after 15 to 20 minutes of continuous editing to avoid overheating:

⚠️ Cover all background applications before working with RAW. Use the Performance Mode in Settings → Battery → Power modes and turn off Adaptive brightness - it additionally loads GPU.

Retouch portraits: from removing acne to changing the shape of the face

There are two ways to process portraits in Xiaomi: built-in tools MIUI Gallery or specialized applications like Meitu or FaceApp, the first one is for quick edits, the second one is for deep retouching.

Built-in retouch in MIUI Gallery includes:

• 🧴 Skin smoothing: adjustable parameter from 1 to 100 (the optimal value is 30-40, otherwise the face will look plastic).
• 👀 Lightening of the eyes: adds glare and increases the contrast of the iris.
• 😊 Teeth whitening: works only in good lighting (in the dark can give a blue tint).
• 💇 Hairstyle changes: adds volume or lengthens hair (the effect is visible only in the photo, not in the video).

For more complex tasks, like nasal or cheekbones, you'll need FaceApp. This app uses a neural network trained on millions of portraits, so the changes look natural.

• 📏 Facial proportions (forehead, nose and chin width ratio).
• 🎨 Color type of appearance (warm/cold skin tone).
• 👁️ Symmetry of traits (automatically aligns eyes and eyebrows).

However, FaceApp has limitations:

⚠️ Note: The app sends photos to its servers for processing. If privacy is critical, use offline editors like AirBrush or Perfect Corp. Also avoid overusing Perfect Skin filters, which erase the texture of the skin, which is noticeable when printing photos.

Increase the scale to 100% for details

Disable autocorrection in the application settings

Save the original in a separate folder

Check the lighting (avoid shadows on the face)-->

Export and optimization: how to save photos for social networks and printing

After processing, it is important to export the photo correctly so that it looks equally good on the phone screen, on Instagram, and when printing.

For converting formats to Xiaomi, it is convenient to use the Photo & Picture Resizer app (available in GetApps).

• 📏 Change size without losing proportions.
• 🔄 Packages up to 50 photos at a time.
• 🎨 Use color profiles (e.g. convert from Adobe) RGB sRGB for social media).

Pay particular attention to compression JPEG. V MIUI Gallery defaults to 90% quality, but 80-85% is enough for Instagram to reduce the weight of the file by 2 times without any visible loss of quality:

1. Open the photo in editing mode.
2. Put it on the gear icon. → Image quality.
3. Select User and move the slider 80%.

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If you frequently upload photos to Telegram or VK, Turn off the "Compress Images" option in the settings of these apps, otherwise, double compression (first in the phone, then on the social network) will lead to the appearance of artifacts.

Third-party applications: when standard tools are not enough

Despite the rich opportunities MIUI Gallery, some of these tasks will require specialized programs.-5 Photo processing applications on Xiaomi, tested on Redmi Note models 12 Pro+ Xiaomi 13 Lite:

• 📸 Lightroom Mobile: The Best Choice to Work with RAW Supports presets and sync with desktop, minus: requires subscription for certain features (e.g. Healing Brush).
• 🎨 Snapseed: Google’s free editor with Selective Adjust and Perspective tools.
• 🤳 VSCO: It's known for its film-imitation filters, and there's 10 presets available in the free version. A6 warm-colored portrait.
• 🖼️ PicsArt: It's good for collage creation and text inscriptions. It's a tool. AI Replace to replace backgrounds.Caution: aggressive advertising in the free version.
• 🌄 Afterlight 2: specializes in landscape processing, including a set of textures (rain, snow, light rays) and the Fusion tool for overlaying effects.

When choosing an app, pay attention to your phone’s CPU support. For example, Lightroom is optimized for Snapdragon and can brake on MediaTek Helio (like in Redmi). 10A). Before installing, check the requirements in Google Play or use the test version.

For users who often work with RAW Or ProRES video, we recommend you install Darkroom:

• 📊 Tonal correction curves (similar to Photoshop).
• 🔧 Setting up noise reduction for highly sensitive images (ISO 3200+).
• 📁 Packaging with the application of one style to all photos in the folder.

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For Xiaomi models with stylus support (for example, Xiaomi Pad 6), Adobe Fresco will be the best choice - it allows you to draw and retouch photos with pixel accuracy, using pressure sensitivity.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users make mistakes when processing photos on their phones, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:

1. Too much saturation: bright colors look unnatural, especially on the skin. Solution: Increase saturation by no more than 15-20% and use the Selective Adjustment tool for individual objects.
2. Ignoring the histogram: overlights or underlights ruin even a well-processed photo. Solution: Before saving, check the histogram in the image. MIUI Gallery or Lightroom.
3. Compression without control: multiple preservation JPEG Solution: Work with a copy of the file in format PNG or TIFF, JPEG Convert only the final version.
4. Ignoring color profile: photo in Adobe RGB will be dim in social networks that use sRGB. Solution: Convert profile before export.
5. Over-retouching: smoothing out all textures makes the photo "plastic." Solution: Use a brush with low opacity (20-30%) for local correction.

Another common problem is the color mismatch across devices, and a photo that looks perfect on the Xiaomi 13 Pro screen (with Dolby Vision support) may be too dark on your computer monitor to avoid this:

• 🖥️ Check the photo on multiple devices before posting.
• 📱 In the settings of the phone screen (Settings) → Display. → Color scheme: Select a Standard (not Saturated) profile).
• 🔍 Use calibration images (such as Color Checker) to adjust white balance.

⚠️ Note: If you are processing photos for printing, turn off the camera settings option AI Scene Detection. It automatically applies filters that can distort colors when you put them on paper.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions