Pixelization
   
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    Graphics Glossary

         
    GraphicsAcademy.com  >  Glossary  >  Pixelization

       

     

    Pixelization

      Brigadier General Marshal Webb
    Pixelated Document In Foreground
    Pixelization is the process of blurring all or part of a bitmap image or video, by decreasing its effective resolution so that individual pixels become easily visible, and fine detail is obscured.

    This typically achieved by software dividing the area to be pixelized into groups of pixels (e.g. groups of 5X5 pixels, 10X10 pixels, 50X50 pixels, etc.), calculating an average color value across each entire group, and then filling in all pixels in each group with the group's average color.

    Typical applications of pixelization include censorship or concealment of private information, such as faces (of people whose identity is not meant to be revealed), vehicle license plates, government secrets, or in the case of broadcast materials, nudity.

    It should be noted however that pixelization does not remove as much information as some people expect: with the right software it can sometimes be possible to attempt to reverse pixelization:
    • In the case of a series of related images (e.g. successive frames of a video), information can be gathered by comparing frames, and some degree of reverse pixelization may be possible.

    • For some videos, simply squinting can give an impression of what may be concealed by pixelization.

    • If an attacker has an idea of the type of information concealed by pixelization, he may be able to work backwards (or try all possible alternatives) to find the underlying image. For example, checks often contain bank account numbers and other private details in a standardized font. If a person puts an image of a scanned check online, even if they conceal their private information with pixelization, they should be aware that it may be possible for an attacker to work backwards from the pixelized version of the image.


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