Online Image Blur Tool
Apply a clean gaussian blur to any image with a radius slider that updates the preview in real time. Use it to soften backgrounds, mask sensitive areas before sharing a screenshot, or prepare hero-image backdrops that let overlay text stand out. The output keeps the original resolution and format, so it drops in anywhere the source would.
How to blur an image
- Drop your image onto the tool or click to browse. Any common raster format works.
- Drag the radius slider. Small values (2-5 px) give a subtle softening; larger values (15-30 px) create pronounced glass-like blur.
- Check the preview at the region you care about — for masking sensitive content, keep pushing the radius until the text or face is unreadable.
- Download the blurred copy. Save the original separately if you might need the sharp version later.
Common use cases
- Masking license plates, addresses or faces in screenshots and photos before sharing them publicly.
- Creating soft backgrounds behind hero text on a landing page or banner.
- Producing depth-of-field effects on product photography where the background should drop back.
- Hiding confidential content in a demo video frame export before embedding it in marketing material.
Frequently asked questions
Is a blurred image truly unreadable?
A large enough radius makes text unrecoverable for humans and most OCR, but very aggressive techniques (deconvolution with prior knowledge) can occasionally lift readable signal from light blur. For real privacy, use a radius that clearly destroys text, or cover the area with a solid shape before blurring.
What radius should I pick?
For gentle softening use 2-5 px. For background-style blur behind text use 8-15 px. For privacy masking aim at 20 px or more, and verify by zooming in that the text is illegible.
Does the blur slow the page down?
The blur is computed once on the Canvas, not as a live CSS filter, so there is no runtime cost on the page using the result. The output file is the blurred image itself.
Is my image uploaded?
No. Everything runs locally in the browser. No upload, no storage, no server involvement.
About image blurring
Gaussian blur averages the colour of each pixel with its neighbours, weighted by a bell-shaped curve that emphasises closer pixels. The larger the radius, the farther the blur reaches and the smoother the result — at extreme values, an image becomes a soft colour wash. Blurring is a staple of UI design (backdrop effects, depth hints) and privacy workflows where faces, IDs or addresses need to stay unreadable.
- Adjustable radius from 1 to 50 pixels
- Real-time preview as you drag the slider
- Canvas-backed gaussian blur, not a cheap CSS filter fallback
- Preserves original resolution and format
- Works on JPG, PNG, WebP and most formats
- Your images never leave your device
Free. No signup. No file uploads. Ads via AdSense (consent required).
By Marco B. ·