How to Manually Blur Anything the Detector Missed

TL;DR

In the Manual tab, paint over anything with the brush or draw a rectangle, pick Mosaic or Blur and a strength, and use Undo or Clear until you save. Manual redaction only adds cover; there is no way to un-blur a detection from the brush.

The problem

Automatic detection finds faces and a set of text patterns. People are identifiable by plenty of other things: a name badge, a tattoo, a house number, a number plate, a logo on a work shirt, a handwritten address, a reflection in a window. If a tool only covers what it recognises, you can ship a photo that still gives someone away and not know it.

You need a way to say, “and also that.”

What PrivShot gives you

The review screen has two modes: Auto (the detections) and Manual (your own marks).

In Manual you can:

  • Choose a Rectangle or a Brush.
  • Pick Mosaic or Blur and Light, Medium or Strong.
  • Set the brush size with a slider.
  • Undo the last manual mark, or Clear them all.
  • See how many manual marks you’ve made.

Manual marks and detections are combined in the final image.

How to do it

  1. Let the automatic pass run, and tick or untick detections in Auto.
  2. Switch to Manual.
  3. Use a rectangle for regular shapes (a sign, a badge, a plate) and the brush for irregular ones (a tattoo, a reflection, handwriting).
  4. Pick a strong setting for anything that must be unreadable.
  5. Check by zooming in. Undo and redo marks that were off.
  6. Save.

Add-only, by design

The Manual tools only add cover. There’s no eraser that reveals detail, so you can’t accidentally uncover something you meant to hide. If you hid too much, use Undo or Clear before saving, or untick an automatic detection in Auto.

Where people get identified without noticing

  • Reflections in windows, glasses, screens and car paint
  • Name badges, lanyards, uniforms and logos
  • Tattoos and distinctive clothing
  • Plates and house numbers
  • Paperwork on a desk in the background
  • Unusual surroundings that reveal where you are

Sweep the whole frame, not just the subject.

Also remember

Passport numbers, emails and usernames aren’t auto-detected, and names are off by default. All of them are manual or per-photo jobs.

FAQ

What tools are in the Manual tab? A rectangle and a brush, a Mosaic/Blur choice, a Light/Medium/Strong choice, a brush size slider, and Undo and Clear for your manual edits.

Can I undo a brush stroke? Yes, before you save, with Undo (or Clear to remove all manual edits). After saving, the copy is final.

Can the brush remove a detected blur? No. The brush only adds cover. To un-select an automatic detection, untick it in the Auto tab before saving.

Does it detect licence plates? Not yet. Cover plates with the brush or rectangle.

The app PrivShot →