Posting a chat screenshot? Blur the phone numbers and avatars. Showing an ID card or driver's license? Blur the document numbers. Sharing a parking photo? Blur the license plate. Handling user complaint screenshots? Blur names and numbers. Redacting images is basic privacy hygiene — with the right tool it's one click, without risking a second leak.
What needs redacting
- Phone numbers: blur the middle digits to avoid spam calls
- Names/ID numbers: always redact ID document screenshots
- Chat logs: avatars, nicknames, sensitive conversation content
- Addresses/license plates: anything tied to location and vehicles
- Bank/payment info: any money-related screenshot
Two ways to redact
1. Mosaic (pixelation)
Turns the area into blurry blocks — irreversible, the most thorough redaction. Best for:
- Sensitive digits like phone and ID numbers
- Faces, license plates
- Anything you never want seen
2. Paint/cover
Cover info with a color block or sticker. It hides the content, but some tools' paint effects can be reversed — for highly sensitive data use mosaic.
Redact with the PixelForge image mosaic tool
Open PixelForge Mosaic Tool — browser-local, images never uploaded:
- Upload images: JPG, PNG, WebP
- Select areas to blur: drag rectangles on the image, add multiple
- Adjust mosaic intensity: larger blocks mean more thorough covering
- Batch process: blur multiple images uniformly and download at once
Because processing is local, private images like chat screenshots and ID photos never touch a third-party server.
Redaction tips
- Use enough intensity: blocks that are too small can be reconstructed; choose "medium" or above
- Cover completely: cover every digit and letter fully — don't leave half a character exposed
- Redact area by area: blur names, numbers and avatars separately
- Check before exporting: zoom in and verify nothing was missed
Crop before redacting
If the image has lots of irrelevant content, crop it online first and keep only what's needed — smaller exposure surface, more precise redaction.
Common questions
Q: Is image redaction safe? Will it upload to a server? A: PixelForge's mosaic tool runs locally in the browser — images never reach any server. Ideal for chat screenshots and ID documents; privacy stays in your hands.
Q: What's the difference between mosaic and blur? A: Mosaic pixelates and is irreversible; blur softens and can theoretically be reconstructed. For sensitive data, use mosaic.
Q: Can I redact multiple images at once? A: Yes. The PixelForge mosaic tool supports batch upload — select areas on each and process them all uniformly, great for batches of chat screenshots.
Q: How do I blur a string of digits on an image? A: Drag a rectangle over the whole string, set intensity to "medium" or above, and make sure every character is covered.
Q: Can redacted images be used in articles? A: Yes. After redaction the image is ready for articles, posts and reports. Optimize size with the compressor before uploading.