About image blur
Blurring hides details you do not want to share, such as a number plate, a face, an address or a document number. You can blur the whole picture or only a selected area.
Hiding information properly
- Use a strong blur or a large area. A light blur can sometimes be reversed or read by software.
- Blur everything sensitive, including reflections and small text in the background.
- Check the result at full size before posting it.
Other uses
A softened background can make a subject stand out, and a blurred copy of a picture works well as a backdrop behind text.
A worked example
Before posting a photo of a parcel, blur the address label. Select the label area and apply a strong blur. Zoom in to check that no digits or letters can still be read. If any can, increase the blur or enlarge the selected area.
Blur is not a guarantee
Very small text can sometimes be reconstructed from a light blur. For documents, a solid black box is safer than a blur when privacy matters.
