Blur Mode
Gaussian blur softens selected areas while maintaining the natural appearance of the image. The blurred area remains visible but details become indistinguishable.
Blur Intensity
- Light (5-10px) - Softens details, text still partially readable
- Medium (15-25px) - Good for faces and license plates
- Heavy (30-50px) - Maximum obscurity while keeping context
Best for: Faces in backgrounds, license plates, street signs, personal details you want to hide while maintaining image context.
Note: Light blur may not adequately protect sensitive information. For security-critical content, use heavier blur or black out mode.
Pixelate Mode
Pixelation replaces selected areas with large, blocky pixels. This creates a distinct "censored" appearance that clearly indicates something has been intentionally hidden.
Pixel Size
- Small (5-10px) - Subtle pixelation, some detail visible
- Medium (15-25px) - Classic pixelated look
- Large (30-50px) - Very blocky, maximum obscurity
Best for: Screenshots, faces in photos where you want to clearly show something is hidden, stylized censorship effects.
Pixelation is often preferred over blur for screenshots because it matches the digital aesthetic and is clearly intentional rather than looking like an accident or quality issue.
Black Out Mode
Complete redaction fills selected areas with a solid color (typically black), completely removing all visual information. This is the most secure option.
Options
- Solid black - Standard redaction appearance
- Solid white - Less conspicuous on light documents
- Custom color - Match document background or brand colors
Best for: Legal documents, medical records, financial information, any data that must be completely unrecoverable.
Important: Black out is the only mode that truly removes information. Blur and pixelation can sometimes be reversed with advanced techniques. For truly sensitive data, always use solid color redaction.
Selection Tools
Choose the right selection tool for different scenarios:
Rectangle Select
Click and drag to create a rectangular selection. Hold Shift to constrain to a square. Best for documents, screenshots, and clearly defined areas.
Ellipse Select
Creates circular or oval selections. Perfect for blurring faces while maintaining a natural appearance.
Brush Select
Paint over areas freely to create custom selection shapes. Adjust brush size for precision. Best for irregularly shaped areas or when you need to follow contours.
Multiple Selections
Create multiple selection areas before applying the effect. All selections will be processed together when you click Apply.
- Each selection can use the same or different effect intensity
- Click on existing selections to modify or delete them
- Preview shows how all selections will look when applied
Privacy Use Cases
Here are common scenarios where blur and redaction tools protect privacy:
Personal Information
- Names and signatures on documents
- Addresses and phone numbers
- Email addresses
- Social security or ID numbers
- Credit card numbers
Photos
- Faces of people who haven't consented to being photographed
- Children's faces in public photos
- License plates on vehicles
- Street addresses and house numbers
- Computer screens showing private information
Screenshots
- Usernames and profile names
- Private messages and conversations
- Email addresses and contact info
- Account numbers and financial data
- Browser bookmarks and history
Legal and Compliance
Many jurisdictions have privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA) that may require redaction of personal information before sharing documents or images. When in doubt, redact more rather than less, and use solid black out mode for maximum security.