Taking high-quality photos on Xiaomi smartphones has become incredibly easy thanks to powerful cameras and advanced image processing algorithms. However, even flagship models such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12 sometimes face the classic problem of night shooting β the red-eye effect. This occurs when a flash bounces off the retina of the eye, creating an unnatural red glow that can spoil even the most successful shot.
Fortunately, the Android operating system, combined with the MIUI or HyperOS shell, offers many tools to retouch such defects. You don't have to be a professional photographer or have sophisticated software on your computer to fix the situation. Modern gadgets allow you to eliminate this flaw in just a few touches of the screen right in the gallery or through specialized applications.
In this detailed guide, weβll break down all the available ways to eliminate red eyes on Xiaomi devices.Weβll look at the built-in editor features, third-party apps from Google Play, and give tips to prevent this effect in the future.
Why do you see the red eye effect in the pictures?
Before we start to correct it, it's important to understand the nature of this visual noise. The red eye effect occurs when the light from the camera flash hits the eye at a certain angle. In the dark, the pupil dilates to let more light through, and the flash has time to illuminate the blood vessels on the retina, reflecting them red.
On Xiaomi smartphones, this problem may be more noticeable because of the compact arrangement of the LED flash and the camera lens. The closer they are to each other, the more likely they are to be directly reflected. In addition, automatic image processing algorithms sometimes do not have time to adjust the white balance at the time of shooting.
It's worth noting that children and people with light eyes have a much brighter and more frequent effect, because there's less of the pigment melanin in the iris, which normally absorbs some of the light, and understanding these physical processes helps to better tune the camera before shooting.
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Use Night Shooting mode without flashing if the subject is in a static position β this often gives a more natural eye color than forced backlighting.
Use of the built-in editor of the MIUI Gallery
The fastest and most affordable way to remove red eyes is to use the standard Gallery app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones. The shell developers have implemented powerful retouch tools that work on artificial intelligence and do not require the installation of additional software.
To start, open the image and click on the edit button. In the bottom menu, select the Retouch or Tools tab, where the "Remove the Red Eye Effect" function often hides. The algorithm automatically finds the pupils and adjusts their color, preserving their natural shine.
If the automatic mode didn't work perfectly, you can use the Brush or Point Recovery tool for manual correction. You can carefully paint over the problem area and the program will pick up the right shade from the surrounding area of the eye. This takes a little longer, but gives a very accurate result.
βοΈ Gallery work algorithm
This will allow you to go back to the original if the result of the editing does not suit you. The Save as a Copy feature is usually available in the save menu.
Top Android Apps for Eye Retouching
If MIUI isn't enough, Google Play offers a huge selection of customized applications that often have more advanced facial recognition algorithms and allow for deep color correction, and consider the most effective ones for Xiaomi owners.
One of the leaders is Adobe Lightroom, which provides professional color tools and allows you to selectively change the shade of the iris, and despite the apparent complexity, the basic features are available for free and intuitive even for beginners.
Another popular option is Retouch or TouchRetouch, which specializes in removing red objects and defects, and can literally erase red, replacing it with a healthy pupil texture, which takes seconds to process thanks to smart brushes.
- πΈ Adobe Lightroom β professional color correction and work with masks.
- β¨ Facetune β a specialty portrait editor with the function βHealthy eyesΒ».
- π¨ PicsArt β a universal harvester with drawing and cloning tools.
- ποΈ Eye Color Changer β a highly specialized application for changing and correcting eye color.
When choosing a third-party app, pay attention to the permissions it requests. The editor only needs access to the gallery and media files to work. If the app requires access to contacts or location for simple retouching, this can be a signal of insecurity.
Setup the camera to prevent the effect
The best way to combat red eyes is to prevent them from appearing during the shooting phase. Xiaomi smartphones offer several settings to help minimize the risk of this effect.
First of all, try turning off the flash if there is enough light in the room or other light sources.The cameras of modern Xiaomi, especially the flagship series, shoot great in low light thanks to optical stabilization and large matrices. Turn on Night mode for better results.
If you need a flash, use the Red Eye Elimination feature, which is often built into the camera's settings, and it works by a series of pre-short pulses of light that cause the pupil to narrow before the main frame, and you can find this option by clicking on the lightning icon or by going into the settings of the shooting mode.
β οΈ Warning: The pre-flash function may not work if the subject blinks during a series of pulses or does not look directly into the lens. In such cases, it is better to ask the person to look at the light source a second before the frame.
And also, the effective method is to change the angle of the shot, so you can ask the model to turn his head or his gaze slightly away from the lens, and it will change the angle of reflection of light from the retina, and the red glare will just not get into the camera lens, and this is an old photographic trick that works great on mobile devices.
Comparison of correction methods: table
To make it easier for you to choose the right way to fix the defect, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you assess the time and quality of the result for the different methods available on Xiaomi devices.
| Method | Difficulty | Quality of the result | Need for installation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in editor | Low. | Good. | Not required |
| Adobe Lightroom | Medium | Excellent. | Required. |
| TouchRetouch | Low. | High. | Required (paid) |
| Hand-to-hand retouching by brush | Tall. | Depends on skill. | Depends on the software. |
| Built-in editor | Low. | Good. | No. |
| Adobe Lightroom | Medium | Excellent. | Yes. |
| TouchRetouch | Low. | High. | Yes. |
| Hand-held retouching | Tall. | Variatively. | Depends. |
As you can see from the table, for most users, the best option is the built-in editor, which is free, always at hand and gives predictable results, but for professional retouching or dealing with complex cases, you should pay attention to specialized software.
Remember, the quality of the original file also plays a role: If the photo is very noisy (which often happens with high ISO in the dark), the automatic algorithms may work worse, in which case manual correction in Lightroom will give the best effect.
Frequent errors in editing
Even with powerful tools, it's easy to make mistakes that make the photo worse than the original. The most common problem is over-lightening or changing the color of the pupil. Eyes can turn unnaturally white or take on a strange, "glass" hue.
Try to preserve the texture of the iris. When using cloning or restoration tools, it is important not to "blurn" the details. Accuracy is more important than speed: it is better to spend an extra minute carefully selecting the size of the brush than to get a result that immediately catches the eye.
The Secret of Naturality
Another mistake is to ignore the glare. You should always have at least one small white glare in your eye (a reflection of the light source). If you accidentally paint it over when you remove the red, the look will become dead and flat. Use the Illuminator tool carefully to bring the look back to life.
β οΈ Warning: Do not use high contrast filters immediately after retouching the eyes.This may again show red hues or make the boundary between the treated and natural parts of the eye too noticeable.
FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove the red eyes in a picture already sent to WhatsApp?
Why are some Xiaomi photos red and others not?
Does red eye removal worsen the quality of the photo?
Does red eye removal work in the video?
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The main secret of the perfect photo is not to rely only on post-processing, but to try to adjust the light and angle correctly at the time of shooting, using the capabilities of your Xiaomi camera.
To sum up, the problem of red eyes in photos taken on Xiaomi is solvable. Whether it's a quick fix through a gallery or a deep retouch in a professional app, you can always save a shot. Experiment with settings, use natural light where possible, and your shots will get even better.