Image Pixelate
Pixelate a whole image or rectangle and export PNG. Cosmetic, not secure redaction.
This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your data is never uploaded, never stored, and never leaves your device.
Image Pixelate creates an averaged block mosaic across a whole image or one exact rectangle, preserving output dimensions. It is cosmetic and not secure redaction.
How to use it
- 1Open one supported image and choose whole-image or numeric rectangle mode.
- 2Set a 2–1,024px block size and inspect the selection outline.
- 3Create PNG, inspect the mosaic result, then download.
Example
- Input
- 8 × 6 image; rectangle (1,1), 5 × 3; block 2px
- Output
- 8 × 6 PNG; six averaged blocks in the selected region
Outside pixels are retained; partial edge blocks use only selected pixels.
What happens to your data
The source is processed in this browser without uploading its contents or name. Local processing does not make pixelation secure: sensitive information can remain inferable.
Last updated October 2026
Create a blocky mosaic effect on a whole image or one exact rectangular region. Set the block size in source pixels, enter rectangle coordinates with the keyboard if needed, and export a PNG at the original dimensions. Blocks average the selected pixels; content outside the rectangle is retained.
Pixelation is cosmetic, not secure redaction. Text, faces or other information may remain recognizable or inferable. Do not rely on this tool to protect passwords, personal details or confidential information; use an appropriate removal and redaction workflow instead.
How it works
Open one still PNG or ordinary 8-bit JPEG up to 10 MiB, 12 million pixels and 8,192 pixels per side. PNG bit depths through 8-bit are supported. Animated PNG, GIF, WebP, HEIC, SVG, 16-bit PNG and compound JPEG are not accepted. The browser applies supported EXIF orientation before displaying the original dimensions. Processing and PNG export run locally, without uploading the source file or its name. Source metadata and color profiles are not copied, and browser decoding may change colors; keep the original.
Leave Pixelate whole image selected for a full-image mosaic, or clear it to enter Left (x), Top (y), Region width and Region height. Coordinates start at (0,0) in the original decoded image, not the scaled preview. The rectangle must lie entirely inside the source; invalid bounds are rejected rather than silently moved. The outlined preview shows the selected region before processing.
Choose a whole-pixel Block size from 2 to 1,024. The grid starts at the selected rectangle's top-left, not the global image origin. Each block is filled with its average color; partial right and bottom blocks average only their actual pixels. For a region at (1,1) measuring 5 × 3 with block size 2, the grid has widths 2,2,1 and heights 2,1. No neighboring pixels outside the region enter those averages.
Color channels use alpha-weighted averages and alpha is averaged over the block. This avoids invisible RGB values in transparent pixels contaminating the visible color. It is an 8-bit sRGB-style arithmetic mosaic, not a linear-light photographic filter. A mixed transparent/opaque block can become partially transparent. Fully transparent blocks export with zero RGBA. The rest of the image retains its decoded pixels, subject to browser canvas color and alpha rounding; source file bytes and metadata are not preserved.
Select Pixelate and create PNG to see the processed result below the original preview. Larger blocks remove more visible detail but are not a privacy guarantee. Changing the region, block size or source immediately invalidates the previous download. The tool supports one rectangle per export, not automatic face detection, freehand masking, Gaussian blur or secure document redaction. Use Crop Image to cut away unwanted content or Image Resizer to change dimensions.
Worked example: Pixelate a small exact rectangle
- Input
- 8 × 6 image; rectangle (1,1), 5 × 3; block size 2px
- Result
- 8 × 6 PNG with six averaged blocks inside the selected rectangle
Three block columns and two rows; every pixel outside the rectangle is retained from the decoded image.
Common use cases
- Making a deliberate mosaic effect in artwork
- Comparing pixel-art styling at different block sizes
- Applying a block effect to a precise screenshot region
- Creating a pixelated background while retaining an unselected area
Frequently asked questions
Can I safely hide passwords or faces with pixelation?＋
Do not rely on it. Pixelation can leave information recognizable or inferable and does not guarantee anonymity. Remove sensitive content with an appropriate redaction workflow and independently inspect the final file.
Does the rectangle use preview pixels or original pixels?＋
Original decoded pixels. The preview can be scaled down to fit a phone or desktop, but x, y, width, height and block size always refer to the full-size source.
Does pixelation change the download dimensions?＋
No. An 8 × 6 source remains 8 × 6. Only the selected pixel region is changed. The block grid is anchored to that region's top-left corner.
What happens to transparency?＋
Alpha is averaged across each block and colors are alpha-weighted. A partly transparent block remains partly transparent; completely transparent blocks have zero alpha. PNG export preserves transparency without painting a background.
Can I select multiple regions or detect faces automatically?＋
This version processes the whole image or one numeric rectangle at a time. It does not detect faces or provide a freehand or multi-region editor.
Standards and limitations
Related tools
Image Trim
Trim transparent or solid-colour image borders with explicit thresholds and PNG export.
Crop Image
Trim a photo to the part you want, freehand or locked to a ratio like 1:1 or 16:9.
Image Metadata Remover
Remove JPEG and PNG privacy metadata locally while retaining image data and color profiles.
Image Format Converter
Batch-convert PNG, JPG and WebP, resize images, and control JPEG backgrounds locally.