A Chinese photo app worth $4.5 billion is trending in the US — here's what it does

[My Everything]

 

A popular Chinese photo-editing app has burst into popularity in the West, covering social feeds in airbrushed photos with huge, sparkling eyes.

 

Although Meitu has been around since 2008, it has become an overnight success and was trending in Apple's App Store on Thursday.

 

Meitu is a lot like other photo-editing apps — it has Bitmoji-style stickers, Instagram-style filters, and Layout-style photo collages.

 

But the app really shines in its "hand-drawn" mode that is like a Snapchat filter on steroids. It slims jawlines, enlarges eyes, and adds a bit of sparkle to the whole package.

 

Basically, it makes you look like a cartoon — and these images are rapidly spreading on social media.

 

The company behind the app had its initial public offering in Hong Kong in December with a roughly $4.6 billion valuation, which may increase as investors learn that Western audiences like the app, too.

 

Here's what using the app is like:

 

This is what a fully doctored Meitu photo looks like. I added a "hand-drawn" filter, increased the blur, and added stickers.

 

 

Here's how to get there. First, boot up the app. First impression: Although this app is available in English, it's targeted toward Asian consumers — specifically, women. But all kinds of people can enjoy it.

 

 

After taking a photo with your front-facing camera, you can add Instagram-style filters. These won't transform your photo, but they'll change a few things. Here's the "youthful" filter.

 

 

You can adjust the amount of airbrushing or effects for any filter.

 

 

But the real fun starts when you apply hand-drawn filters. Here's "angelic."

 

 

That's not what I look like!

 

I liked the Chinese New Year option!

 

 

But I eventually settled on "baroness," which gives your selfies a kind of goth look.

 

 

People have started to use the app to transform Donald Trump.

 

 

Another fun game is to run your photo through the hand-drawn filters until it no longer looks like a person.

 

Click here to view the Tweet

 

It's available for both iPhones and Android devices. Have fun!

 

 

Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

 

Source

 

 

 

[S Q U I S H Y]

Meitu is awesoome. It has come so far tbh.

[waycrispy1]

This has been around for years, I'm surprised it took so long. Don't they even make their own selfie phones?

[Rapmon's Ahjussi Husband]

Lmao looks fun, but makes me wonder why asians are so fixed into huge ass eyes

 

Edited: reading the comments it says it steal data, shame, I would had never thought that of an chinese app

[SAYAKA]

looks cute and fun

[Non.]

Lmao looks fun, but makes me wonder why asians are so fixed into huge ass eyes

 

Edited: reading the comments it says it steal data, shame, I would had never thought that of an chinese app

[Lugoose]

Meitu is awesoome. It has come so far tbh.

 

yeah i remember when it was still new!

[Little Panda]

I have been using Meitu for a lot of years, such a good app! I always use it to take pictures, the filter makes them look so much better!!