How to Pixelate an Image GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > Design
How to Pixelate an Image
Learn how to blur a part of a picture, for privacy's sake
By Daniel Anglin Seitz Daniel Anglin Seitz Writer University of Vermont, Emerson College Dan Seitz is a tech writer with 10 years of experience writing about apps, gaming, and more. His work has appeared on Uproxx.com and other outlets. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 25, 2022 Tweet Share Email Sasin Paraksa/Getty Images Tweet Share Email Design Graphic Design Photoshop Animation & Video 3D Design What to Know
Open image in photo editing program > crop image to better focus on subject > select area to pixelate.Next: Select Pixelate filter > Filters > Blur to apply blur to selected area.Tip: Larger pixels make details more blurry, smaller pixels hide fewer details. This article explains how to pixelate specific parts of an image for the sake of privacy and identity protection. How to Pixelate Photos
Open the photo in an image editing program. For the purposes of this article, we'll be using the General Image Manipulation Program, or GIMP, which is freely available. Most photo editing software and websites have the same tools and filters, but ensure the software has Pixelate as an available filter before using it. Crop the image to better fit what you want to emphasize. To do this, select the Rectangle Select tool, select an area, then select either Crop or Crop to Selection. If, for example, you want to focus on one face in a large group of people, you might cut it down so the face is in the middle of the photo, or you may simply want to get rid of extraneous details. Select the area you want to pixelate. If you don't need most of the background detail, the simplest way to do this is to select the area of the face with the Rectangle tool. Notice that behind the subject in the photo, because there isn't a lot of detail, it's hard to notice the filter is applied. Keep that in mind if you're trying to remove background details. If you want to be more precise, select the Oval Select tool, or Free Select tool, also called the lasso. With the lasso, you can create individual points around an area you want to select, or you can circle it in freehand. In this shot we've chosen the Oval Select tool. For faces, especially if you want to quickly blur them out, the Oval Select tool will let you blur quickly with a minimum loss of detail. Once you've selected your area, select the Pixelate filter, then select Filters > Blur to apply the filter. This filter is sometimes called Pixelize. Choose the size of your pixels carefully. The bigger the pixels, the blurrier the face is, but smaller pixels may make more details visible. Pick a balance you prefer, then save your photo. If you're trying to keep people anonymous in a photo you're putting on social media, consider disabling tagging. That way, if somebody recognizes the person, they can't reveal them by tagging them. When Should I Pixelate an Image
Pixelation can be an artistic choice; you can use it to emphasize the subject of your photo by rendering other parts of it less comprehensible to the eye. But more often than not, it's used to protect the identities of others in a photo, or to remove logos or other information you don't want in the shot. For example, if you think you look good in a group shot, you might want to pixelate the other faces so everybody knows it's you. Before sharing someone's photo online, even if they're not the subject, get in touch and ask them for permission. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire The 4 Best Photo Editor Apps of 2022 How to Make a Pattern in Photoshop 10 Best Free Photo Resizers 10 Best Free Photo Editing Programs Using the Lasso Selection Tool in Paint.NET 8 Best Free Photo Editing Apps The 5 Best Alternatives to Photoshop for Android How to Use the Photoshop Marquee Tool How to Take Better Sunset Photos With an iPhone Several Techniques for Removing a Date From a Photo How to Create the Out of Bounds Effect in Photoshop What Is Burst Mode and How to Use It How to Use the Motorola Camera App How to Repair Smudges in Your Digital Photos How to Use the Photoshop Clone Stamp Tool Create a Vignette effect in three imaging applications. Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies