Blur Part of an Image — Faces, Plates, Text
Paint over faces, number plates, phone numbers or any area with a blur or pixelate brush before sharing a screenshot or photo — processed in your browser.
Paint over the area to hide (drag with mouse or finger). Hold Shift and drag for a straight rectangle.
In short
To hide faces, number plates, ID numbers or text in a screenshot, pixelate or black-box the area rather than lightly blurring it — strong pixelation of short text is practically irreversible and a solid box is mathematically irreversible, while light blur can sometimes be reversed.
Who this is for: Anyone sharing a screenshot or photo that contains faces, plates, IDs, account numbers or addresses.
Blur, pixelate or black out — and why it matters
- Blur looks natural in photos (faces in the background, a number plate) but light blur of text can sometimes be reversed; use strength 16+ or pixelate for anything sensitive.
- Pixelate is the standard for hiding text and IDs in screenshots — bank statements, CNIC/Iqama numbers, phone numbers, addresses.
- Solid black box is the only method that is mathematically irreversible; use it for IBANs, passwords and documents you must share publicly.
- The saved file contains the altered pixels only — there is no hidden layer — and EXIF metadata (including GPS location) is dropped when it is re-saved.
Hold Shift and drag to cover a rectangle in one go (a whole address block or table row).
Assumptions
- Brush strokes apply the effect from an untouched copy of the source so overlapping strokes do not compound.
- Blur uses the canvas blur filter at the chosen strength; pixelate downsamples by the strength; black box fills.
- Shift-drag draws a rectangle; up to 10 undo steps; saved as JPG 92 (PNG stays PNG).
Worked example
Pixelate at strength 16 over the account number, IBAN and balance line; keep the amount, date and reference visible. Download as PNG — the hidden numbers cannot be recovered from the file.
Frequently asked questions
Can blurred text be un-blurred?
Heavy blur or pixelation of short text is practically irreversible; light blur of long known text can sometimes be guessed. For anything sensitive use strong pixelation or the black box.
Does it blur faces automatically?
No — you paint the areas yourself, which keeps the tool simple, fully offline and under your control.
Is the original kept?
Only on your device, untouched. The download is a new file.
Does it work on phones?
Yes — paint with a finger; use a larger brush for accuracy.
How do I blur a face in a photo for free?
Upload the photo, choose Blur or Pixelate, paint over the face and download — all in your browser.
Is pixelated text safe to share?
Strong pixelation (strength 16+) of short text is practically irreversible; use a black box for account numbers and passwords.
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