Photoshop: Pixelate the face - how it works

In this photo editing tutorial, we explain step by step how you can pixelate a face with Photoshop.

Pixelate face with Photoshop

The image editing program "Photoshop" has various tools to make image corrections. How to make certain image sections illegible:

1. Start Photoshop and open the image you want to edit.
2. Select any selection tool from the toolbar on the left. Which one you take best depends on the area you want to pixelate. For example, use the "Selection Ellipse Tool" or the "Lasso Tool" if you want to pixelate a circular area (eg a face). If you want to obscure rectangular objects, such as a license plate, the "selection rectangle tool" is more suitable.
3. Depending on the selection tool, you can either hold down the left mouse button and drag a selection window over your desired image area or use the cursor to cleanly move around the image section. The respective area is given a dashed frame when it is selected.
4. Then right-click in your selection and select "Layer by copying". The image area is copied to a new layer. Select this level in the level palette on the right to continue working on it.
5. Right click on your new layer and switch to "Convert to Smart Object". This way you can change properties later. (You can remove the smart object function using the "Rasterize layer" command.)
6. Then go to "Filter"> "Coarse filter" in the menu bar under the "Mosaic effect" function (see picture). Now a new window opens where you can define the size of the mosaic blocks. The degree of pixelation depends on the image quality. You can make your settings more easily via the preview window. Confirm your entry with "OK". Your desired image area has now been successfully pixelated.
7. You can change the coarsening filter again at any time because you have converted your layer into a smart object (see step 5). To do this, just double-click "Mosaic Effect" below your layer to change the setting.