How to create a mosaic in Photoshop | How to hide part of an image/face

With Photoshop, you can select only part of an image and create a mosaic. If you want to pixelate things like faces, license plates, or people in the background, it's safe to start by duplicating the layer so you can work on it while preserving the original image.

Steps to create a mosaic in Photoshop

1. Open the image and duplicate the background layer.

2. Select the face or part of the image you want to hide using the rectangular selection tool, lasso tool, etc.

3. Open Filters from the top menu and select Mosaic under Pixelate.

4. Adjust the cell size to coarsen the blocks until the original information is unrecognizable.

5. Select OK, deselect the area, and inspect the result within the full image.

6. Save as a different name and export as a JPEG or PNG for sharing.

What cell size should I use?

There is no correct answer regarding cell size. It changes depending on the resolution of the original image, the size of the face, and the size displayed after posting. The important thing is not that the image cannot be read on the editing screen, but that the features of the eyes, letters, and numbers do not remain even if the exported image is enlarged. Small mosaics may look good but provide poor anonymization.

Don't forget information other than faces

In social media photos, a uniform logo, house nameplate, vehicle, background map, or phone notification can reveal information even when a face is hidden. Scan the image from each corner toward the center before making selections.

What to check after using How to create a mosaic in Photoshop

The main risk is leaving a small edge of text, a number, or a code visible after editing. When using How to create a mosaic in Photoshop, make the edited area slightly larger than the target and open the exported file once before posting.

When using How to create a mosaic in Photoshop, treat visual softening and redaction as separate jobs. For How to create a mosaic in Photoshop, blur or mosaic can reduce detail, but sensitive text and codes are easier to check with an opaque cover.

Frequently asked questions

How to make the mosaic grain bigger in Photoshop?

Increase the cell size on the mosaic settings screen. Don't decide based on numbers alone; enlarge the exported image and make sure it's large enough that faces and text cannot be discerned.

What is the selection range when you want to make only the face mosaic in Photoshop?

Include the hairline and a small margin around the face. A narrow edited area can leave recognizable contours and features.

Official reference checked July 14, 2026

Adobe's official Photoshop filter effects reference confirms that Pixelate > Mosaic breaks an image into blocks of color.