Image Redaction Tool

How it works

This tool uses the browser's Canvas API to let you draw black rectangles over sensitive areas in images. Click and drag on the image to draw a redaction box. The redacted pixels are permanently overwritten on the canvas, so the original content cannot be recovered from the downloaded file.

Your images are never sent to a server. All processing happens locally in your browser. It works on any modern browser, on both mobile and desktop. Supports touch and pointer input for drawing.

Want proof? Open your browser's developer tools and watch the network tab while you work: your images never upload.

Frequently asked questions

Can the redacted areas be recovered from the downloaded file?

No. Each rectangle is painted as solid black directly onto the image pixels, and the result is re-encoded into a new file. Unlike a movable overlay or a black box in a PDF, the covered pixels are permanently overwritten and cannot be lifted off.

What format does the download use?

The redacted image always downloads as a PNG named redacted.png, no matter what format you started with. Because the image is re-encoded through the canvas, the original EXIF and GPS metadata is dropped from the exported file as well.

Does redacting reduce the image resolution or quality?

No. Redaction happens on the full native resolution, so the export matches the original dimensions and only the boxed pixels change. Large images are shrunk to fit the screen while you work, but the downloaded file is always full size.

Can I blur or pixelate instead of using a solid black box?

Not currently. This tool draws solid black rectangles only. Solid fill is the safest option, since blurred or pixelated areas can sometimes be partially reconstructed.

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