How to Black Out Text in Photos Permanently So Nobody Can Read Underneath
Blacking out an address on a package photo or a phone number in a screenshot looks finished on your phone screen—until someone turns up the brightness.
Short Summary (TL;DR)
Never use a phone highlighter brush or light blur to black out text in a photo, because turning up brightness or sharpening often reveals what is underneath. Use a 100% solid opaque black box in your browser so the original letters are deleted from the image file completely.
Key Takeaways
- The black marker pen in phone photo editors is slightly see-through by default.
- Anyone can reveal faint marker-covered numbers in 5 seconds using brightness and contrast sliders.
- Solid 100% black rectangle redaction overwrites the text pixels completely so nothing stays behind.
- MaskMyBody finds printed text lines in your browser without sending screenshots to any server.
Why “Blacked Out Text” Often Still Shows Through
Many people take a screenshot of a receipt or order confirmation, swipe over their home address with the black marker pen in iPhone Markup or Android Gallery, and post it right away.
Because that marker tool works like dark highlighter ink, a single swipe is not 100% solid. Once posted, anyone can save the image, crank up exposure and shadows, and read the street name or phone number underneath.
3 Everyday Photos Where Permanent Blackout Matters
Any time a photo shows printed or on-screen text you would not hand to strangers, make sure it is solidly replaced:
- Receipts, shipping boxes, and warranties with your home address or last four card digits.
- Chat screenshots showing phone numbers, email addresses, or private names.
- Work badges, boarding passes, and ticket barcodes (even the barcode lines themselves carry your name).
How to Black Out Text Forever in 10 Seconds
Drop your photo or screenshot into MaskMyBody, switch on Text Lines (or draw a Box over the exact words), and download the saved file. Every covered pixel becomes pure solid black with zero hidden text or GPS data left inside.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone see through blacked-out text on a screenshot?
If it was painted with a semi-transparent phone marker pen or highlighter, yes—turning up exposure and contrast often reveals the text. If covered with a true 100% opaque black box, no.
What is the safest way to black out text in a photo on iPhone or Android?
Use a browser tool like MaskMyBody that replaces the pixels with 100% solid black and exports a single flat image, right on your phone with zero cloud upload.
Does MaskMyBody work for shipping labels and printed papers too?
Yes. It spots printed text lines automatically inside your browser and lets you adjust or add solid black boxes over barcodes and names.