3.7. Pixelize

3.7. Pixelize
	3. Blur Filters

3.7.1. Overview

Figure 17.22. Example for the “Pixelize” filter

Original

“Pixelize” applied

The Pixelize filter renders the image using large color blocks. It is very similar to the effect seen on television when obscuring a criminal during trial. It is used for the “Abraham Lincoln effect”: see [BACH04].

3.7.2. Activating the Filter

This filter is found in the main menu under Filters → Blur → Pixelize….

3.7.3. Options

Figure 17.23. “Pixelize” filter options

Presets, “Input Type”, Clipping, Blending Options, Preview, Merge filter, Split view

	Note
	These options are described in Section 2, “Common Features”.

Shape

There are three Shape choices: Diamond, Round and Square (the default). Diamond and Round shapes will only be visible when you lower Size Ratio X/Y to about 0.6 (Diamond) or 0.5 (Round).

Block width, Block height

Here you can set the desired width and height of the blocks, in pixels.

By default, width and height are linked, indicated by the chain symbol next to the input boxes. If you want to set width and height separately, click on that chain symbol to unlink them.

Size ratio X, Size ratio Y

Horizontal/Vertical size ratio (0.000-1.000) of a pixel inside a block. Default value is 1.000. The number of blocks remains the same; so, if you change ratio, block size changes, and missing pixels are replaced with the background color.

Offset X, Offset Y

Horizontal/Vertical offset of the shapes in pixels inside a block.

Background color

Default background is that of toolbox. You can change it by clicking on color source, which opens a color selection dialog, or picking a color using the color picker on the right.

Note that you can change the background color to be partially or completely transparent by lowering the alpha value in the color selection dialog. This can lead to interesting effects provided the layer you are working on has an alpha channel.