How to Redact Images Online — Free, No Upload Required

What is image redaction?

Image redaction means covering or obscuring parts of an image so they cannot be read. Common uses include hiding names, addresses, ID numbers, account details, phone numbers, and faces in screenshots or photos. Unlike simply cropping an image, redaction lets you share the full context while keeping specific parts hidden.

When do you need to redact an image?

• Sharing a bank or credit card statement (hide account numbers)
• Posting a screenshot on social media (hide personal details)
• Sending medical paperwork to a third party (hide patient names)
• Submitting evidence in a legal matter (protect witness identities)
• Sharing a work document with a client (hide internal pricing)
• Publishing a tutorial screenshot (hide login credentials)

Why browser-based redaction is safer

Most online redaction tools upload your image to their servers for processing. This means your sensitive data — the exact thing you are trying to protect — passes through a third-party computer before you receive the redacted file. A browser-based tool processes everything locally using JavaScript, so your image never leaves your device. There is nothing to breach on the server side because there is no server involved.

How to redact an image with SafeKit (step by step)

1. 1Go to safekit.pro and click "Start Locking" or drop your image directly onto the page.
2. 2Your image opens in the editor. Draw a rectangle over the area you want to hide.
3. 3Choose a mask style: Blur (soft), Pixelate (mosaic), or Black Bar (solid).
4. 4Set a password for that region. Only someone with the password can reveal it.
5. 5Repeat for as many regions as you need — each can have its own password.
6. 6Click Export. You get a protected image link or a self-contained HTML file you can share.
7. 7The recipient opens the link in their browser, clicks the masked area, enters the password, and the region is revealed — locally, without any server.

Need to share the same image with different people who should only see certain parts? Give each region a different password and share passwords individually.

What encryption does SafeKit use?

Each masked region is encrypted with AES-256-CBC using a PBKDF2-derived key. This is the same standard used by banks and governments. The encrypted data is embedded in the image export, so the file is completely self-contained — no account or internet connection is needed to reveal a region.

Tips for effective redaction

• Cover the full text — not just part of it. Partial redaction is easy to guess.
• Use a strong password (at least 10 characters) for truly sensitive data.
• Test the reveal flow before sending: open the exported link in a private tab and verify the password works.
• For PDFs, take a screenshot first, then redact the screenshot.

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