About this tool
Blur, pixelate, or black out the parts of an image you'd rather keep private. It's free and runs right in your browser. Great for hiding IDs, addresses, or faces before you post or send a screenshot.
Of the three effects, blackout is the only one that's truly irreversible, since it replaces the pixels entirely rather than obscuring them. Blur and pixelation can sometimes be partially reversed with the right tools, especially at a light strength setting -- for anything genuinely sensitive, blackout is the safer choice, or use a strong setting if you specifically want the blurred/pixelated look.
Frequently asked questions
Is blurring or pixelating an image completely secure?
Not necessarily. Both effects can sometimes be partially reversed with the right tools, especially at a light strength setting. Blackout is the only one of the three effects that's truly irreversible, since it replaces the covered pixels entirely instead of obscuring them.
Which effect should I use for genuinely sensitive information?
Blackout, if you want a guarantee that the covered content can't be recovered. Blur and pixelate are better suited for cases where you want the underlying shape to remain vaguely visible, at some risk of partial reversal with the right tools.
Can I undo or adjust a redaction after applying it?
Yes -- use the undo/redo buttons to step back through your edit history, or the Reset button to return to the original image and start over.
Does this work with touch on a phone or tablet?
Yes -- drawing with a finger works the same way as dragging with a mouse, for both freehand brushing and the shape tools.