How to use Blur Picture

Open a picture

Open an enlarged picture on a website Extension only

When a website shows an enlarged picture over the page, you see the Blur Picture icon in the picture’s top-left corner. The first time, a hint appears beside it: “Click this icon to blur parts of the image.” Click the icon to open the tools beside the picture. The picture stays on the website:

The tools on the web page Extension only

The tools open in a column next to the picture:

In the header of the tools, the layout button switches between a column and a bar, the arrow folds the tools away or opens them again, and the cross closes them. Drag the header to move the tools anywhere; the position is remembered:

The on-page tools have no Zoom or “Upload image”; the extension’s editor tab has both. If the website closes the picture, the tools say “The website closed the picture. You can still download the result.”

Use the right-click menu Extension only

Right-click a picture on a website and choose “Blur Picture”. It opens in a new editor tab next to the current one:

Open from the Chrome toolbar Extension only

Click the Blur Picture button on the Chrome toolbar to open an empty editor tab, then click “Upload image” and choose a file from your computer:

Pin the extension Extension only

To keep the button on the toolbar, click Chrome’s Extensions (puzzle) icon, then the three dots next to Blur Picture, then “Pin to Toolbar”:

Use the online editor Online editor

On blur-picture.com, click “Upload image”, drop a picture file onto the editor, or paste a copied picture with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V. A sample picture with one area already blurred appears first, so you can try the tools. Your picture is processed in the browser and is not uploaded:

Supported file types Extension and online editor

You can open JPG, PNG, WebP and SVG files.

Mark what to hide

Extension and online editor

Draw a rectangle

“Rectangle” is selected by default. Drag across what you want to hide. Only the area inside the frame is blurred, which suits a single line of text.

Select and move an area

Choose “Rectangle”, then click an existing area, including a brush stroke, to select it. Drag the selected area to move it, or pull a rectangle’s handle to change its size. The round × button on the selected area deletes it. Press Esc or click a blank space to deselect it:

Paint with the brush

Select “Brush” to cover a detail by hand. Set the brush width from 5 to 150 with “Size”, or hold Alt and scroll with the mouse wheel or touchpad:

Erase part of the blur

With “Brush” chosen, “Eraser” appears next to “Size”. Drag it over blur to make just that spot sharp again. “Eraser” is grey while “Blur whole picture” is on:

Blur the whole picture

Click “Blur whole picture” to apply blur across the picture. Click it again to turn the effect off:

Check the area count

A line above the picture counts the blurred areas, for example “2 blurred areas” (see Adjust every area).

Adjust the blur

Extension and online editor

Set the strength

“Strength” sets the blur for the selected area from 1 to 100. Raise it until the text you want to hide cannot be read.

Soften the edges

“Softness” runs from 0 to 100 and makes the selected area’s edge soft instead of sharp. It is visible only while “Soft edges” is on. Make sure the soft edge does not reveal the detail:

Adjust every area

Tick “Select all areas” to change “Strength” and “Softness” for every area at once. If no area is selected and this box is unticked, the editor asks you to click an area first:

Edit and undo

Extension and online editor

Undo a step

Click “Undo” or press Ctrl+Z or Cmd+Z to take back the last step. You can undo steps one by one, even “Clear all”.

Delete an area

Select an area, then click “Delete” or press Delete or Backspace to remove it. The round × button on the selected area also deletes it.

Clear every area

Click “Clear all” to remove every area:

Use Esc

Press Esc to deselect the area. With “Brush” selected, Esc switches back to “Rectangle”.

Zoom

Extension and online editor In the extension’s editor tab and in the online editor; not in the tools on a web page.

Use the zoom control

The zoom control sits on the right edge, with plus and minus buttons that change zoom in steps of 25% and an upright slider from 25% to 400%. The percentage shows the size compared with the original picture. Click “Fit to window” to show the whole picture again:

Zoom and move the view

Hold Ctrl or Cmd and scroll the mouse wheel to zoom at the pointer. To pan, hold Space and drag, or drag with the middle mouse button.

Download

Extension and online editor

Choose a format

“Download” is grey until something is blurred. It saves the format shown on the button; the arrow next to it offers PNG, JPG and WebP. The editor remembers your choice:

Save your picture

When the download starts, “Download started” appears with the format. The file name has “-blurred” before the extension, for example photo-blurred.png. JPG, PNG and WebP pictures keep their pixel dimensions. The file you opened is not changed:

Settings

The settings checkboxes are at the top right of the editor:

Warn before closing Extension and online editor

“Warn before closing” is on by default. If you have edits you have not downloaded, the extension’s editor tab and the online editor may show a browser warning when you close or leave the page. In the online editor, these checkbox settings apply only to the current visit.

In the on-page tools, clicking the cross shows “Close without downloading? The blurred image will be lost.” with “Keep editing”, “Close anyway” and “Don’t ask again”. Closing the website’s tab does not show this question:

Keep edges sharp Extension and online editor

“Soft edges” starts enabled. Uncheck it to remove “Softness” and make all edges sharp.

Hide the picture icon Extension only

Uncheck “Icon on enlarged pictures” in the extension’s editor tab to hide the Blur Picture icon and hint on websites. You can still use the right-click menu.

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