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To pixelate part of a picture in Photoshop, select the area you want to hide and choose Filter > Pixelate > Mosaic. Adjust the cell size until the detail is obscured at the image’s delivery size. For an editable result, use a Smart Object and control the filter with a mask.
How to pixelate part of a picture in Photoshop
- Protect the original. Duplicate the image layer or convert the working layer to a Smart Object so you can revise the effect without changing the original pixels.
- Select the detail to censor. Choose the Marquee tool for a rectangular area or the Lasso tool for a freeform outline, then select the face, address, logo, license plate, or other detail.
- Apply Mosaic. With the intended layer active and the target selected, choose Filter > Pixelate > Mosaic.
- Set the cell size. Adjust the cell-size control in the filter dialog. Mosaic redraws the selected pixels as square blocks of color; increase the size until the identifying detail is no longer discernible.
- Inspect the edges. Zoom to the final delivery size and check around the whole selection. Expand or refine the selection or mask if identifying detail remains visible beyond the pixelated area.
- Save working and delivery files. Keep a layered working file for revisions, then export a flattened copy for delivery.
Adobe documents the Mosaic filter and selective pixelation workflow in its Photoshop pixelation guide.
How to mosaic a background instead of a subject
If the subject should remain clear and the background should be pixelated, select the subject first and invert the selection. Choose Select > Subject, then Select > Inverse, and apply Filter > Pixelate > Mosaic. This targets the area around the detected subject rather than the subject itself. Inspect the boundary closely, since the selection may need refinement where subject and background meet.
Which method should you use?
| Method | Best for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Marquee or Lasso selection | A single rectangular or irregular target | Select the area directly, then apply Mosaic. |
| Select Subject + Inverse | Pixelating the background around a subject | Select the subject, invert the selection, then apply Mosaic to the surrounding area. |
| Layer mask or Smart Filter mask | Coverage that may need repeated adjustment | Use a mask to control where the effect appears; edit the mask later in the Layers panel. |
| Mask All Objects | Working with a layer containing multiple detected objects | Choose Layer > Mask All Objects, then apply the filter to the chosen masked object. See Adobe’s guide to masking all detected objects. |
Make the Mosaic effect easier to revise
A Smart Object lets you apply Mosaic as a Smart Filter, so you can reopen the filter and adjust its cell size. A mask lets you change which parts of the layer or effect are visible without rebuilding the selection from scratch. Adobe explains how to add and edit layer masks. For a sensitive target, check both the mask boundary and the exported image at its actual viewing size.
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Mosaic or blur: which should you choose?
Mosaic creates conspicuous square blocks of color. If that look is not suitable, select the area and choose a blur effect from Filter > Blur instead. Adobe presents blur as an alternative for obscuring part of an image in its pixelation guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does a Photoshop Mosaic reliably protect private information?
Mosaic is a visual obscuring effect, not a quantified privacy guarantee. Adobe’s documentation explains how to create and control the effect, but does not establish a universally safe cell size or provide a recovery-resistance test. Do not assume the result is irreversible or secure simply because the blocks look large. Inspect the flattened export at its actual delivery size and ensure no identifying detail remains visible.
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