Image Blur
Apply blur or mosaic to selected areas of an image
Drop your image here or click to browse
Supported formats: PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF
Maximum file size: 50MB
What is Image Blur?
Image Blur is a free privacy-focused tool that lets you apply Gaussian blur effects to your images, either across the entire image or to specific selected areas. All processing happens entirely in your browser using the HTML5 Canvas API, so your images are never uploaded to any server and your privacy is fully protected. The tool offers two modes: Full Image mode applies a uniform blur across the entire photo, while Selected Area mode lets you draw a rectangle on the image to blur only a specific region. The blur intensity slider ranges from subtle softening to heavy obscuring, giving you precise control over how much detail is hidden. Selected area blurring is essential for protecting sensitive information visible in photos such as faces, license plates, addresses, phone numbers, and personal documents. With sufficient blur intensity, the original content becomes irrecoverable, making this a reliable method for redacting information. The tool supports PNG, JPG, WebP, and GIF formats. You can draw multiple blur regions by applying blur to one area, then selecting and blurring additional areas. This makes it ideal for censoring multiple pieces of sensitive information in a single image.
How to Use
- Upload the image you want to blur.
- Choose full image or selected area mode.
- Adjust the blur intensity and apply.
- Check the result and download.
Tips & Best Practices
- Use an intensity of 20px or higher when blurring sensitive information like faces, license plates, or personal data to ensure the content is completely unreadable.
- In Selected Area mode, draw the blur rectangle slightly larger than the target area to ensure complete coverage with no readable edges visible.
- For artistic background blur effects, use Full Image mode at low intensity (5-10px) to create a soft, dreamy aesthetic for portrait backgrounds.
- When redacting multiple areas in one image, apply blur to one area first, download, then upload the result to blur additional regions.
- Test different blur intensities on a copy first. For text redaction, you may need higher intensity than for faces, as text can sometimes be partially recovered from light blurring.
Use Cases
Privacy Protection
Blur faces of bystanders, children, or individuals who have not consented to appear in publicly shared photos.
License Plate Redaction
Obscure vehicle license plates in photos before posting to social media, real estate listings, or street-view-style content.
Document Censoring
Blur sensitive fields on documents such as account numbers, addresses, or personal identification numbers before sharing screenshots.
Real Estate Photos
Blur neighboring properties, personal items, or identifiable information visible through windows in real estate listing photographs.
FAQ
Can I blur only a selected area?
Yes, using 'Selected Area' mode, you can drag on the image to blur only a specific area.
Can I adjust the blur intensity?
Yes, you can adjust the blur intensity from 1px to 50px using the slider.
What is Gaussian blur?
Gaussian blur is an algorithm that smoothly blurs an image by calculating a weighted average of surrounding pixels based on a normal distribution (Gaussian function). It produces a natural-looking blur effect.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No, all processing happens entirely in your browser and no files are sent to any external server. It is completely safe for your privacy.
Can the blurred area be recovered?
An image blurred with sufficient intensity loses the original data, making recovery virtually impossible. It can be safely used to protect sensitive information.
Can I blur faces or license plates?
Yes, using 'Selected Area' mode you can drag over specific areas like faces, license plates, or personal information to blur them.
Can blurred content be recovered or unblurred?
When sufficient blur intensity is applied (20px or higher), the original pixel data is effectively destroyed and cannot be recovered. This makes Gaussian blur a reliable method for permanently redacting sensitive information.
What is the difference between full image and selected area blur?
Full Image mode applies blur uniformly across the entire photo. Selected Area mode lets you draw a specific rectangle on the image and only that region is blurred while the rest remains sharp.
Can I blur multiple areas in one image?
You can apply blur to one area, download the result, then upload it again to blur additional areas. Each application permanently applies the blur to the selected region.
What blur intensity should I use for faces?
For reliable face anonymization, use at least 20-30px blur intensity. At this level, facial features become completely unrecognizable and cannot be reconstructed.
Does blur work the same on all image formats?
Yes, the Gaussian blur algorithm works identically on PNG, JPG, WebP, and GIF images. The blur quality and appearance are consistent regardless of the input format.
Is Gaussian blur better than pixelation for privacy?
Both are effective for privacy. Gaussian blur creates a smooth, natural-looking obscuring effect. At sufficient intensity, both methods make content irrecoverable. Gaussian blur is generally preferred for its cleaner visual appearance.