Pixelate Image

The image is divided into blocks of NxN pixels. All pixels within each block are replaced with the average (or median) color of that block. Larger block sizes produce more extreme pixelation.

No. Pixelation permanently replaces pixel detail with averaged block colors. The original fine detail cannot be recovered, making it suitable for permanently obscuring sensitive information.

For effectively obscuring faces, license plates, or text, use a block size where no identifying features are discernible — typically 15-25 pixels. Test by zooming in to verify nothing is recognizable.

Both are effective if applied strongly enough. Pixelation is generally preferred for redaction because some blur types can theoretically be partially reversed with deconvolution. Heavy pixelation is more resistant to computational reversal.

This tool applies pixelation to the entire image. For selective pixelation of specific regions (like faces or license plates), you would need to crop the area first, pixelate it, then overlay it back — or use a dedicated photo editor with selection tools.