How can I obfuscate a small section of a image on macOS?
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How can I obfuscate a small section of an image on macOS? I would like to obfuscate private information in an image before I share it. Is there a way to do it on macOS?
graphics screen-capture image-editing image-capture image-processing
edited Aug 30 at 18:35
Nimesh Neema
7,88331543
asked Aug 30 at 18:27
user674669
390510
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
favorite
1
How can I obfuscate a small section of an image on macOS? I would like to obfuscate private information in an image before I share it. Is there a way to do it on macOS?
graphics screen-capture image-editing image-capture image-processing
edited Aug 30 at 18:35
Nimesh Neema
7,88331543
asked Aug 30 at 18:27
user674669
390510
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
favorite
1
up vote
8
down vote
favorite
1
1
How can I obfuscate a small section of an image on macOS? I would like to obfuscate private information in an image before I share it. Is there a way to do it on macOS?
graphics screen-capture image-editing image-capture image-processing
edited Aug 30 at 18:35
Nimesh Neema
7,88331543
asked Aug 30 at 18:27
user674669
390510
How can I obfuscate a small section of an image on macOS? I would like to obfuscate private information in an image before I share it. Is there a way to do it on macOS?
graphics screen-capture image-editing image-capture image-processing
graphics screen-capture image-editing image-capture image-processing
edited Aug 30 at 18:35
Nimesh Neema
7,88331543
asked Aug 30 at 18:27
user674669
390510
edited Aug 30 at 18:35
Nimesh Neema
7,88331543
asked Aug 30 at 18:27
user674669
390510
edited Aug 30 at 18:35
Nimesh Neema
7,88331543
edited Aug 30 at 18:35
Nimesh Neema
7,88331543
edited Aug 30 at 18:35
Nimesh Neema
7,88331543
7,88331543
asked Aug 30 at 18:27
user674669
390510
asked Aug 30 at 18:27
user674669
390510
asked Aug 30 at 18:27
user674669
390510
390510
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
8
down vote
Preview, built into macOS, has a few tools for doing this. First, open the image in Preview (the default app for images), then choose the Annotate button on the toolbar.
Options for obfuscating:
Use a selection tool to make a selection on the image, then press Backspace to delete that area. For filetypes which support transparency, the area will be removed, otherwise it will be saved as white.
Use a rectangle or other shape and set a fill colour.
answered Aug 30 at 18:36
grg♦
126k23199297
1
I am curious how did you manage to take the 1st screenshot? It looks much better when used for highlighting an item. Built-in feature or a 3rd party app?
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 18:37
2
@Nimesh It's a Preview feature :) from the bottom of the shapes tool, did it for this question because of the focus on Preview but generally I use freehand red circles
– grg♦
Aug 30 at 18:42
I should dig deeper into tools I use :-|.
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 18:43
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
The app Skitch has a visually appealing 'pixellate' tool that you can use to obfuscate sections of an image:
answered Aug 30 at 19:30
IconDaemon
10.8k62740
3
Worth noting is that there are known methods to recover information hidden behind pixelated blocks like this. Know your threat model: what kind of adversary are you worried about? In particular, this sort of attack has been used against people who pixelate their account number on checks. The format of the numbers on a check is very regular, making the attack easier. Arbitrary text is harder to recover than that.
– Cort Ammon
Aug 31 at 2:58
I’ve found the Lifehacker article that posits this ‘method’ of deobfuscation, but I’m not convinced of its practicality. I favor the pixillation method because it has a softer look than the ‘redacted’ appearance one finds in declassified secret documents.
– IconDaemon
Aug 31 at 9:43
Here's an article, which links a paper. They were able to use hidden markov models to substantially automate the process. They presented success rates against various kinds of text (account numbers, natural language, etc.). That being said, I agree fully that the pixelation method does look better.
– Cort Ammon
Aug 31 at 14:15
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
The general practise is to open the image with Preview.app and use the drawing tools to obfuscate the sensitive information.
The drawing tools can be accessed from the toolbar or from Tools → Annotate options under Menu bar.
answered Aug 30 at 18:32
Nimesh Neema
7,88331543
I couldn't find obfuscate anywhere in Preview @Nimesh Neema
– user674669
Aug 30 at 18:35
There is no 'obfuscate' tool or option in Preview. Using the tools described in either answer will draw over the sensitive section with a solid color.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:22
@IconDaemon Your comment makes me think, is it still possible to recover parts of image "overlaid" by some other image drawn on top of it?
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 19:25
Perhaps it can be revealed if one were using Adobe Photoshop (or another app that uses layers) and drew a obfuscating block over a section, and saved it as a Photoshop document with layers intact. If one were to use Photoshop to obfuscate, and save as a Photoshop document, one would have to use the Layers > Flatten layers command first.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:30
1
I don't think so. PNGs and JPEGs are layer-less, although PNGs have an alpha channel but I don't that would have any effect on the obfuscation.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:33
 |Â
show 2 more comments
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
8
down vote
Preview, built into macOS, has a few tools for doing this. First, open the image in Preview (the default app for images), then choose the Annotate button on the toolbar.
Options for obfuscating:
Use a selection tool to make a selection on the image, then press Backspace to delete that area. For filetypes which support transparency, the area will be removed, otherwise it will be saved as white.
Use a rectangle or other shape and set a fill colour.
answered Aug 30 at 18:36
grg♦
126k23199297
1
I am curious how did you manage to take the 1st screenshot? It looks much better when used for highlighting an item. Built-in feature or a 3rd party app?
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 18:37
2
@Nimesh It's a Preview feature :) from the bottom of the shapes tool, did it for this question because of the focus on Preview but generally I use freehand red circles
– grg♦
Aug 30 at 18:42
I should dig deeper into tools I use :-|.
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 18:43
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
Preview, built into macOS, has a few tools for doing this. First, open the image in Preview (the default app for images), then choose the Annotate button on the toolbar.
Options for obfuscating:
Use a selection tool to make a selection on the image, then press Backspace to delete that area. For filetypes which support transparency, the area will be removed, otherwise it will be saved as white.
Use a rectangle or other shape and set a fill colour.
answered Aug 30 at 18:36
grg♦
126k23199297
1
I am curious how did you manage to take the 1st screenshot? It looks much better when used for highlighting an item. Built-in feature or a 3rd party app?
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 18:37
2
@Nimesh It's a Preview feature :) from the bottom of the shapes tool, did it for this question because of the focus on Preview but generally I use freehand red circles
– grg♦
Aug 30 at 18:42
I should dig deeper into tools I use :-|.
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 18:43
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
up vote
8
down vote
Preview, built into macOS, has a few tools for doing this. First, open the image in Preview (the default app for images), then choose the Annotate button on the toolbar.
Options for obfuscating:
Use a selection tool to make a selection on the image, then press Backspace to delete that area. For filetypes which support transparency, the area will be removed, otherwise it will be saved as white.
Use a rectangle or other shape and set a fill colour.
answered Aug 30 at 18:36
grg♦
126k23199297
Preview, built into macOS, has a few tools for doing this. First, open the image in Preview (the default app for images), then choose the Annotate button on the toolbar.
Options for obfuscating:
Use a selection tool to make a selection on the image, then press Backspace to delete that area. For filetypes which support transparency, the area will be removed, otherwise it will be saved as white.
Use a rectangle or other shape and set a fill colour.
answered Aug 30 at 18:36
grg♦
126k23199297
edited Aug 30 at 18:38
answered Aug 30 at 18:36
grg♦
126k23199297
answered Aug 30 at 18:36
grg♦
126k23199297
answered Aug 30 at 18:36
grg♦
126k23199297
126k23199297
1
I am curious how did you manage to take the 1st screenshot? It looks much better when used for highlighting an item. Built-in feature or a 3rd party app?
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 18:37
2
@Nimesh It's a Preview feature :) from the bottom of the shapes tool, did it for this question because of the focus on Preview but generally I use freehand red circles
– grg♦
Aug 30 at 18:42
I should dig deeper into tools I use :-|.
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 18:43
add a comment |Â
1
I am curious how did you manage to take the 1st screenshot? It looks much better when used for highlighting an item. Built-in feature or a 3rd party app?
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 18:37
2
@Nimesh It's a Preview feature :) from the bottom of the shapes tool, did it for this question because of the focus on Preview but generally I use freehand red circles
– grg♦
Aug 30 at 18:42
I should dig deeper into tools I use :-|.
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 18:43
1
1
I am curious how did you manage to take the 1st screenshot? It looks much better when used for highlighting an item. Built-in feature or a 3rd party app?
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 18:37
I am curious how did you manage to take the 1st screenshot? It looks much better when used for highlighting an item. Built-in feature or a 3rd party app?
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 18:37
2
2
@Nimesh It's a Preview feature :) from the bottom of the shapes tool, did it for this question because of the focus on Preview but generally I use freehand red circles
– grg♦
Aug 30 at 18:42
@Nimesh It's a Preview feature :) from the bottom of the shapes tool, did it for this question because of the focus on Preview but generally I use freehand red circles
– grg♦
Aug 30 at 18:42
I should dig deeper into tools I use :-|.
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 18:43
I should dig deeper into tools I use :-|.
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 18:43
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
The app Skitch has a visually appealing 'pixellate' tool that you can use to obfuscate sections of an image:
answered Aug 30 at 19:30
IconDaemon
10.8k62740
3
Worth noting is that there are known methods to recover information hidden behind pixelated blocks like this. Know your threat model: what kind of adversary are you worried about? In particular, this sort of attack has been used against people who pixelate their account number on checks. The format of the numbers on a check is very regular, making the attack easier. Arbitrary text is harder to recover than that.
– Cort Ammon
Aug 31 at 2:58
I’ve found the Lifehacker article that posits this ‘method’ of deobfuscation, but I’m not convinced of its practicality. I favor the pixillation method because it has a softer look than the ‘redacted’ appearance one finds in declassified secret documents.
– IconDaemon
Aug 31 at 9:43
Here's an article, which links a paper. They were able to use hidden markov models to substantially automate the process. They presented success rates against various kinds of text (account numbers, natural language, etc.). That being said, I agree fully that the pixelation method does look better.
– Cort Ammon
Aug 31 at 14:15
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
The app Skitch has a visually appealing 'pixellate' tool that you can use to obfuscate sections of an image:
answered Aug 30 at 19:30
IconDaemon
10.8k62740
3
Worth noting is that there are known methods to recover information hidden behind pixelated blocks like this. Know your threat model: what kind of adversary are you worried about? In particular, this sort of attack has been used against people who pixelate their account number on checks. The format of the numbers on a check is very regular, making the attack easier. Arbitrary text is harder to recover than that.
– Cort Ammon
Aug 31 at 2:58
I’ve found the Lifehacker article that posits this ‘method’ of deobfuscation, but I’m not convinced of its practicality. I favor the pixillation method because it has a softer look than the ‘redacted’ appearance one finds in declassified secret documents.
– IconDaemon
Aug 31 at 9:43
Here's an article, which links a paper. They were able to use hidden markov models to substantially automate the process. They presented success rates against various kinds of text (account numbers, natural language, etc.). That being said, I agree fully that the pixelation method does look better.
– Cort Ammon
Aug 31 at 14:15
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
The app Skitch has a visually appealing 'pixellate' tool that you can use to obfuscate sections of an image:
answered Aug 30 at 19:30
IconDaemon
10.8k62740
The app Skitch has a visually appealing 'pixellate' tool that you can use to obfuscate sections of an image:
answered Aug 30 at 19:30
IconDaemon
10.8k62740
answered Aug 30 at 19:30
IconDaemon
10.8k62740
answered Aug 30 at 19:30
IconDaemon
10.8k62740
answered Aug 30 at 19:30
IconDaemon
10.8k62740
10.8k62740
3
Worth noting is that there are known methods to recover information hidden behind pixelated blocks like this. Know your threat model: what kind of adversary are you worried about? In particular, this sort of attack has been used against people who pixelate their account number on checks. The format of the numbers on a check is very regular, making the attack easier. Arbitrary text is harder to recover than that.
– Cort Ammon
Aug 31 at 2:58
I’ve found the Lifehacker article that posits this ‘method’ of deobfuscation, but I’m not convinced of its practicality. I favor the pixillation method because it has a softer look than the ‘redacted’ appearance one finds in declassified secret documents.
– IconDaemon
Aug 31 at 9:43
Here's an article, which links a paper. They were able to use hidden markov models to substantially automate the process. They presented success rates against various kinds of text (account numbers, natural language, etc.). That being said, I agree fully that the pixelation method does look better.
– Cort Ammon
Aug 31 at 14:15
add a comment |Â
3
Worth noting is that there are known methods to recover information hidden behind pixelated blocks like this. Know your threat model: what kind of adversary are you worried about? In particular, this sort of attack has been used against people who pixelate their account number on checks. The format of the numbers on a check is very regular, making the attack easier. Arbitrary text is harder to recover than that.
– Cort Ammon
Aug 31 at 2:58
I’ve found the Lifehacker article that posits this ‘method’ of deobfuscation, but I’m not convinced of its practicality. I favor the pixillation method because it has a softer look than the ‘redacted’ appearance one finds in declassified secret documents.
– IconDaemon
Aug 31 at 9:43
Here's an article, which links a paper. They were able to use hidden markov models to substantially automate the process. They presented success rates against various kinds of text (account numbers, natural language, etc.). That being said, I agree fully that the pixelation method does look better.
– Cort Ammon
Aug 31 at 14:15
3
3
Worth noting is that there are known methods to recover information hidden behind pixelated blocks like this. Know your threat model: what kind of adversary are you worried about? In particular, this sort of attack has been used against people who pixelate their account number on checks. The format of the numbers on a check is very regular, making the attack easier. Arbitrary text is harder to recover than that.
– Cort Ammon
Aug 31 at 2:58
Worth noting is that there are known methods to recover information hidden behind pixelated blocks like this. Know your threat model: what kind of adversary are you worried about? In particular, this sort of attack has been used against people who pixelate their account number on checks. The format of the numbers on a check is very regular, making the attack easier. Arbitrary text is harder to recover than that.
– Cort Ammon
Aug 31 at 2:58
I’ve found the Lifehacker article that posits this ‘method’ of deobfuscation, but I’m not convinced of its practicality. I favor the pixillation method because it has a softer look than the ‘redacted’ appearance one finds in declassified secret documents.
– IconDaemon
Aug 31 at 9:43
I’ve found the Lifehacker article that posits this ‘method’ of deobfuscation, but I’m not convinced of its practicality. I favor the pixillation method because it has a softer look than the ‘redacted’ appearance one finds in declassified secret documents.
– IconDaemon
Aug 31 at 9:43
Here's an article, which links a paper. They were able to use hidden markov models to substantially automate the process. They presented success rates against various kinds of text (account numbers, natural language, etc.). That being said, I agree fully that the pixelation method does look better.
– Cort Ammon
Aug 31 at 14:15
Here's an article, which links a paper. They were able to use hidden markov models to substantially automate the process. They presented success rates against various kinds of text (account numbers, natural language, etc.). That being said, I agree fully that the pixelation method does look better.
– Cort Ammon
Aug 31 at 14:15
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
The general practise is to open the image with Preview.app and use the drawing tools to obfuscate the sensitive information.
The drawing tools can be accessed from the toolbar or from Tools → Annotate options under Menu bar.
answered Aug 30 at 18:32
Nimesh Neema
7,88331543
I couldn't find obfuscate anywhere in Preview @Nimesh Neema
– user674669
Aug 30 at 18:35
There is no 'obfuscate' tool or option in Preview. Using the tools described in either answer will draw over the sensitive section with a solid color.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:22
@IconDaemon Your comment makes me think, is it still possible to recover parts of image "overlaid" by some other image drawn on top of it?
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 19:25
Perhaps it can be revealed if one were using Adobe Photoshop (or another app that uses layers) and drew a obfuscating block over a section, and saved it as a Photoshop document with layers intact. If one were to use Photoshop to obfuscate, and save as a Photoshop document, one would have to use the Layers > Flatten layers command first.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:30
1
I don't think so. PNGs and JPEGs are layer-less, although PNGs have an alpha channel but I don't that would have any effect on the obfuscation.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:33
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
2
down vote
The general practise is to open the image with Preview.app and use the drawing tools to obfuscate the sensitive information.
The drawing tools can be accessed from the toolbar or from Tools → Annotate options under Menu bar.
answered Aug 30 at 18:32
Nimesh Neema
7,88331543
I couldn't find obfuscate anywhere in Preview @Nimesh Neema
– user674669
Aug 30 at 18:35
There is no 'obfuscate' tool or option in Preview. Using the tools described in either answer will draw over the sensitive section with a solid color.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:22
@IconDaemon Your comment makes me think, is it still possible to recover parts of image "overlaid" by some other image drawn on top of it?
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 19:25
Perhaps it can be revealed if one were using Adobe Photoshop (or another app that uses layers) and drew a obfuscating block over a section, and saved it as a Photoshop document with layers intact. If one were to use Photoshop to obfuscate, and save as a Photoshop document, one would have to use the Layers > Flatten layers command first.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:30
1
I don't think so. PNGs and JPEGs are layer-less, although PNGs have an alpha channel but I don't that would have any effect on the obfuscation.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:33
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
The general practise is to open the image with Preview.app and use the drawing tools to obfuscate the sensitive information.
The drawing tools can be accessed from the toolbar or from Tools → Annotate options under Menu bar.
answered Aug 30 at 18:32
Nimesh Neema
7,88331543
The general practise is to open the image with Preview.app and use the drawing tools to obfuscate the sensitive information.
The drawing tools can be accessed from the toolbar or from Tools → Annotate options under Menu bar.
answered Aug 30 at 18:32
Nimesh Neema
7,88331543
edited Aug 30 at 18:35
answered Aug 30 at 18:32
Nimesh Neema
7,88331543
answered Aug 30 at 18:32
Nimesh Neema
7,88331543
answered Aug 30 at 18:32
Nimesh Neema
7,88331543
7,88331543
I couldn't find obfuscate anywhere in Preview @Nimesh Neema
– user674669
Aug 30 at 18:35
There is no 'obfuscate' tool or option in Preview. Using the tools described in either answer will draw over the sensitive section with a solid color.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:22
@IconDaemon Your comment makes me think, is it still possible to recover parts of image "overlaid" by some other image drawn on top of it?
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 19:25
Perhaps it can be revealed if one were using Adobe Photoshop (or another app that uses layers) and drew a obfuscating block over a section, and saved it as a Photoshop document with layers intact. If one were to use Photoshop to obfuscate, and save as a Photoshop document, one would have to use the Layers > Flatten layers command first.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:30
1
I don't think so. PNGs and JPEGs are layer-less, although PNGs have an alpha channel but I don't that would have any effect on the obfuscation.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:33
 |Â
show 2 more comments
I couldn't find obfuscate anywhere in Preview @Nimesh Neema
– user674669
Aug 30 at 18:35
There is no 'obfuscate' tool or option in Preview. Using the tools described in either answer will draw over the sensitive section with a solid color.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:22
@IconDaemon Your comment makes me think, is it still possible to recover parts of image "overlaid" by some other image drawn on top of it?
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 19:25
Perhaps it can be revealed if one were using Adobe Photoshop (or another app that uses layers) and drew a obfuscating block over a section, and saved it as a Photoshop document with layers intact. If one were to use Photoshop to obfuscate, and save as a Photoshop document, one would have to use the Layers > Flatten layers command first.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:30
1
I don't think so. PNGs and JPEGs are layer-less, although PNGs have an alpha channel but I don't that would have any effect on the obfuscation.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:33
I couldn't find obfuscate anywhere in Preview @Nimesh Neema
– user674669
Aug 30 at 18:35
I couldn't find obfuscate anywhere in Preview @Nimesh Neema
– user674669
Aug 30 at 18:35
There is no 'obfuscate' tool or option in Preview. Using the tools described in either answer will draw over the sensitive section with a solid color.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:22
There is no 'obfuscate' tool or option in Preview. Using the tools described in either answer will draw over the sensitive section with a solid color.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:22
@IconDaemon Your comment makes me think, is it still possible to recover parts of image "overlaid" by some other image drawn on top of it?
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 19:25
@IconDaemon Your comment makes me think, is it still possible to recover parts of image "overlaid" by some other image drawn on top of it?
– Nimesh Neema
Aug 30 at 19:25
Perhaps it can be revealed if one were using Adobe Photoshop (or another app that uses layers) and drew a obfuscating block over a section, and saved it as a Photoshop document with layers intact. If one were to use Photoshop to obfuscate, and save as a Photoshop document, one would have to use the Layers > Flatten layers command first.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:30
Perhaps it can be revealed if one were using Adobe Photoshop (or another app that uses layers) and drew a obfuscating block over a section, and saved it as a Photoshop document with layers intact. If one were to use Photoshop to obfuscate, and save as a Photoshop document, one would have to use the Layers > Flatten layers command first.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:30
1
1
I don't think so. PNGs and JPEGs are layer-less, although PNGs have an alpha channel but I don't that would have any effect on the obfuscation.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:33
I don't think so. PNGs and JPEGs are layer-less, although PNGs have an alpha channel but I don't that would have any effect on the obfuscation.
– IconDaemon
Aug 30 at 19:33
 |Â
show 2 more comments
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