Pikitised

Pikitised is a neologism used in online art, photography, and meme communities to describe the deliberate alteration or creation of an image so that the subject’s eyes appear closed or squinting, yielding a closed-eye or dreamlike aesthetic. The term blends the Filipino word pikit, meaning closed eyelids, with the English suffix -ised (British spelling), signaling a process or result.

Usage and meaning

Pikitising can refer to various practices, including post-production edits that close the subject’s eyes, stylistic choices in photography to convey sleepiness or serenity, and the output of AI or digital art tools that depict characters with closed eyes. It is used descriptively about both original and manipulated images and is discussed in the context of image aesthetics, digital art trends, and meme culture. The term highlights a specific visual effect rather than a broader editing technique.

Origins and reception

The exact origin of pikitised is unclear, but it is a recently coined term that has circulated in online communities. As with many neologisms tied to visual culture, its acceptance and interpretation vary by community, with some embracing it as a playful stylistic option and others cautioning against it in contexts where closed eyes might misrepresent a subject.

Related concepts

Pikitised sits alongside broader discussions of image editing, stylistic trends in photography, and meme-driven visual experimentation. It is sometimes discussed in tandem with terms like photoshopping, image manipulation, and aesthetic movements focused on mood and expression.

See also

Image editing, AI-generated imagery, meme culture, photography aesthetics.