Can blurring be reversed?

No — once an image is blurred and downloaded, the original pixel data in the blurred region is permanently lost. The blur cannot be reversed without access to the original unblurred image.

Is pixelation (mosaic) better than blur for anonymisation?

Pixelation destroys more information per block than Gaussian blur and is generally considered more effective for anonymisation. Both are widely used and accepted for GDPR-compliant redaction in editorial and press contexts.

Can I blur just a face or specific area?

The tool currently offers a centre region blur. Freehand selection (draw a box around any face or area) is planned for V2.

Is this sufficient for GDPR compliance?

Blurring is the standard editorial technique for anonymising individuals in published photographs. For strict legal compliance, consult your data protection officer. The centre region blur covering the face area is the most commonly accepted technique.

What is the difference between blur and pixelate modes?

Blur mode applies a Gaussian-style CSS filter, which smooths the selected region into a soft, indistinct form. Pixelate/Mosaic mode reduces the region to large visible blocks (like old-school video game graphics), which is often perceived as more obviously anonymised.

✓ No upload — runs entirely in your browser

Blur Image Online — Anonymise, Pixelate, No Upload

Blur entire images, anonymise specific regions, or apply pixelation/mosaic effects. Full control over blur strength. Runs entirely in your browser — perfect for GDPR-compliant image redaction.

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Blur, anonymise or pixelate any image — free, no upload

Full image blur, centre region anonymisation, or mosaic/pixelate mode.

Blur modes explained

Full image blur

Applies a consistent blur across the entire image. Useful for creative soft-focus effects, background images, and placeholder content where the subject should be visually obscured.

Centre region blur

Blurs a rectangular region in the centre of the image — the most common area for faces, names, or sensitive content in professional photography. Ideal for anonymising portrait subjects or redacting text in screenshots.

Pixelate / mosaic

Reduces the selected region to large square blocks. The classic editorial anonymisation technique used in news photography, documentary content, and online publishing for GDPR-compliant face redaction.

Who needs to blur or anonymise images

📷 Journalists and publishers

Anonymise subjects in news photography who have not consented to identification. Pixelation and blur are the standard editorial techniques used by major publications for GDPR compliance.

👔 HR and legal teams

Redact names, ID numbers, faces, or other personal information from document images, screenshots, and photographs before sharing in reports, presentations, or legal filings.

🏥 Healthcare professionals

Anonymise patient photographs for case studies, publications, and medical education materials. Blurring facial features is standard practice for patient privacy protection.

📱 Social media managers

Blur or pixelate identifiable faces, number plates, or address information in photos before posting publicly. Required by GDPR when publishing photos of individuals without explicit consent.

💻 App and web developers

Screenshot documentation often captures real user data. Blur sensitive fields before including screenshots in documentation, presentations, or bug reports.

🔐 Privacy advocates

Blur home addresses visible in street photography, vehicle number plates, and any personally identifiable information captured incidentally in photos.

Frequently asked questions

Can the blur be undone? ▼

No — once blurred and downloaded, the pixel data in the blurred region is permanently destroyed. This is intentional for anonymisation. Always keep the original file before blurring.

Is blur sufficient for GDPR compliance? ▼

Blurring and pixelation are the standard accepted techniques for editorial image anonymisation under GDPR. For specific legal compliance requirements, consult your data protection officer. The tool provides the technical mechanism — legal sufficiency depends on context.

Can I blur just a face? ▼

The current tool blurs the centre region of the image. Freehand face/area selection is planned for V2. As a workaround, crop the image so the face is in the centre, apply the blur, then composite back if needed.

What blur strength should I use for anonymisation? ▼

A strength of 15–25 is typically sufficient to prevent identification of faces in standard photographs. For number plates or small text, use 25–40. Higher values produce more complete anonymisation but may look more visually obvious.