Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face the need to edit images directly on the device. Situations where photos need to hide sensitive data, remove unnecessary objects or, conversely, restore accidentally smeared areas, occur regularly. The MIUI shell and its modern counterpart HyperOS provide built-in tools, but their functionality can be limited for complex retouching tasks.
There are many software solutions that allow you to work effectively with an image. From a standard gallery to specialized neural networks, the choice of method depends on the degree of damage to the file and the quality of the result required. It is important to understand that full restoration of the original pixels under the smear is not always possible, especially if the file has already been saved in a compressed format.
In this detailed guide, we will look at all the available methods of processing graphics, you will learn how to use the built-in functions of the system, which third-party applications will show the best result, and what technical limitations exist when working with raster graphics on mobile processors.
Analysis of damage and capabilities of the built-in gallery
The first step should always be to assess the nature of the image damage. If it is a matter of simply closing the object with a color marker or blur, the standard Xiaomi editor can offer a solution through the “Lastik” or “Cloning” function. However, if part of the photo has already been smeared and the file is saved, it is almost impossible to return the original content with standard system tools without the use of artificial intelligence algorithms.
The MIUI Gallery’s built-in editor has a basic set of retouching tools that allows textures to be replaced by copying them from adjacent areas, which is effective for removing minor defects or dust on the matrix. More complex artifacts, such as censorship stripes or brushstrokes, require more advanced content generation algorithms.
⚠️ Note: If the image has been saved in format JPEG Once the smear is applied, the original data underneath is lost forever, and any recovery will be a digital reconstruction, not a real return of information.
To get started with the built-in tools, you need to open the image, click the Change button, and select a category of retouching tools, and here you will find features that allow you to smooth transitions and hide the boundaries of edits, but not remove them completely if they are already sewn into pixels.
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Use the Save Copy function before any editing so that the original file remains unchanged in case of error.
Use of third-party retouch applications
When the system is not up to speed, Google Play's specialized applications come to the rescue, and the leaders in this field are programs that use Content-Aware Fill technology and generative neural networks, and they analyze the surroundings of the smeared area and offer the most likely version of what should be there.
One of the most popular solutions is the SnapseedSnapdragon and MediaTek app, which are installed in Xiaomi smartphones. The Point tool allows you to replace unwanted objects by neatly mixing textures. For more complex tasks, such as removing large smeared areas, applications like TouchRetouch or Retouch are better suited.
- 📱 Snapseed: A free and powerful tool with a “point” function to remove small objects and artifacts.
- 🎨 TouchRetouch: A paid application specializing in removing complex objects and lines with intelligent background filling.
- ✨ PhotoRetouch: A utility with an emphasis on removing people and objects using cloning algorithms.
- 🤖 AI Eraser: Apps that use artificial intelligence to finish drawing deleted or hidden image fragments.
The process of removing the smeared part in third-party software usually follows the following: the user selects the retouch tool, paints over the problem area, and the algorithm replaces it with content taken from the surrounding space, the quality of the result depends on the uniformity of the background and the complexity of the texture.
Application of tools based on artificial intelligence
Modern technology can work wonders where classic methods are powerless; neural network services can “understand” the context of images and generate details with a high degree of confidence; for Xiaomi owners, this is especially true, since mobile browsers are great at handling web versions of such services.
Online platforms like Cleanup.pictures, Magic Eraser, or Photoroom offer object removal and background restoration in a couple of taps. You just paint over the patched area, and the server neural network returns the processed result, which requires an Internet connection, but produces an outcome that often exceeds the capabilities of local applications.
Particularly noteworthy are the “Magic eraser” features that appear in Xiaomi’s flagship models (series 13, 14, 15) and in the HyperOS shell. AI-The tools work locally or through the cloud, providing high processing speed and excellent texture reconstruction quality.
⚠️ Note: When uploading photos to online services for processing by neural networks, make sure you do not violate the privacy policy, especially if the pictures have people’s faces or personal data.
How do neural networks work when restoring photos?
Cloning and stamping techniques in mobile editors
For advanced users who want complete control of the process, the Clone Stamp is an indispensable tool, which allows you to manually select the source of the texture and transfer it to the blurred area, and unlike automatic algorithms, you decide which pixels to use to replace it.
In applications like PicsArt or Photoshop Express, this tool is called a Clone or a Stamp. The technique requires some skill: you need to constantly change the point (source) to avoid repetitive patterns that immediately give out editing. On screens with a high refresh rate of Xiaomi (120 Hz and above), working with small details is especially convenient.
The key is to make the brush size and stiffness, so the soft edges of the brush help to hide the transitions between the cloned section and the original, and the transparency adjustment also helps to make the brush look more natural by layering the textures.
- 🔍 Scaling: Always work at maximum zoom for precise stamp positioning.
- 🔄 Frequent source change: Take textures from different parts of the image to avoid the stamping effect».
- 💡 Light correction: After cloning, it may be necessary to adjust the brightness and contrast of the restored area.
☑️ Checklist of quality retouching
Comparison of Image Recovery Methods
The choice of a particular method depends on the type of area covered and the desired result. Below is a table that will help you navigate the effectiveness of different approaches on Xiaomi devices.
| Method | Difficulty | Quality of the result | The Necessity of the Internet |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI's built-in eraser | Low. | Low (for simple backgrounds) | No. |
| Annexes (Snapseed) | Medium | Medium/High | No. |
| Online AI-service | Low. | High (depending on context) | Yes. |
| Manual cloning | Tall. | Maximum (with skill) | No. |
As you can see from the table, automated methods win in speed, but manual work gives you the best control. For owners of budget Redmi or Poco models, online services can be a bit heavy for the browser, so it is better to use lightweight native applications.
On the AMOLED displays that many Xiaomi models are equipped with, the artifacts of compression and poor-quality retouch are more noticeable due to the high contrast and color saturation.
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For quick removal of small objects on Xiaomi, the built-in is best suited AI-eraser or Snapseed, and for complex cases - a combination of manual cloning and neural networks.