Tips for Effective Pixelation
January 2025
Getting the best results from Image Pixelator is all about choosing the right pixel size for your needs and understanding when and how to use pixelation effectively.
Recommended Pixel Sizes
The pixel size determines how heavily an area is obscured. Here are our recommendations for different use cases:
Hiding Faces (20-30 pixels)
For complete facial obscuration, use 20-30 pixels. This ensures facial features are completely unrecognizable while still maintaining the general shape and position of the person.
Blurring License Plates (15-25 pixels)
License plates require 15-25 pixels to make the text completely unreadable. Make sure to cover the entire plate area.
Obscuring Text (20-30 pixels)
Text can be surprisingly readable even when pixelated. Start with 20 pixels and increase to 30 if the text is still legible. Large text requires larger pixel sizes.
Hiding Personal Information (15-25 pixels)
For names, addresses, phone numbers, and similar data, use 15-25 pixels depending on the font size.
Subtle Effects (5-15 pixels)
For artistic effects or subtle blurring where complete obscuration isn't necessary, use 5-15 pixels. This works well for backgrounds or non-critical areas.
Heavy Obscuration (30-50 pixels)
For maximum obscuration or large areas, use 30-50 pixels. This creates very large pixel blocks that completely hide details.
Best Practices
1. Test Before Downloading
Always use the Preview button to check your work before downloading. This removes the dotted selection lines so you can see the final result.
2. Cover More Than You Think
When pixelating sensitive information, make your selection area slightly larger than necessary. It's better to obscure too much than too little.
3. Consider Reflections
Remember that sensitive information might be visible in reflections (windows, mirrors, sunglasses). Look carefully at your entire image.
4. Check Metadata
Pixelation only affects the visible image. It doesn't remove EXIF data or other metadata. Use a separate tool to strip metadata if needed.
5. Use Multiple Passes
Don't be afraid to pixelate multiple areas. You can draw as many rectangles as needed to cover all sensitive information.
6. Start Conservative
If unsure, start with a larger pixel size. You can always click Reset and try again with a smaller size if it's too much.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Too small pixel size - Text and faces can still be recognizable. When in doubt, go larger.
- Incomplete coverage - Make sure your selection covers the entire sensitive area.
- Forgetting backgrounds - Check for sensitive information in the background of images.
- Trusting low pixelation - AI and image enhancement tools can sometimes recover information from low pixelation. Use adequate pixel sizes.
When Pixelation Isn't Enough
While pixelation is effective for most use cases, it's not foolproof. For extremely sensitive information:
- Consider completely cropping out sensitive areas instead
- Use solid color blocks instead of pixelation
- Avoid sharing the image at all if possible
Remember: The pixelation isn't perfect. Use at your own discretion and apply appropriate pixel sizes for your security needs.