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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Select the faces with the Object Mask tool
Select your clip, then choose the Object Mask tool in the toolbar. In the Program Monitor, click the face you want to blur. To blur more than one person, click the other faces too and they are added to the same mask.
Step 2: Track the faces
In the Effect Controls panel, find the object mask and click the Track forward and back button. Premiere Pro follows every selected face through the whole clip.
Step 3: Add the Mosaic effect
Open the Effects panel, search for Mosaic (under Stylize) and drag it onto your clip. The faces should be pixelated right away. If the whole frame is pixelated instead, drag the object mask onto the Mosaic effect in Effect Controls so it only applies inside the mask.
Faster with BetterFX: skip the Effects panel. Press your BetterFX shortcut, type the first letters of the effect and press Enter to apply it to the selected clip. Get BetterFX
Step 4: Adjust the blur
- Change the Mosaic block settings to make the pixels larger or smaller.
- Increase the mask's Expansion to cover more of the head.
- Raise Feather to soften the edges of the blur.
Prefer a soft blur? Use Gaussian Blur instead
For a smooth blur instead of pixels, apply Gaussian Blur to the clip instead of Mosaic, drag the object mask onto it and raise the blur amount.
Tips
- Check every frame. Fast movement or a face turning away can make tracking slip. Scrub through and fix any frame where a face shows.
- Apply effects faster. BetterFX lets you search and apply Mosaic, Gaussian Blur or any other effect with a single keyboard shortcut.
FAQ
Can Premiere Pro blur faces automatically?
Yes. Select the faces with the Object Mask tool, track the mask, and apply Mosaic or Gaussian Blur through the mask. Premiere Pro follows the faces for you.
How do I blur several faces at once?
Click each face with the Object Mask tool so they all end up in the same mask, then track it once.
Should I use Mosaic or Gaussian Blur?
Mosaic gives the classic pixelated censor look. Gaussian Blur looks softer and more cinematic. Both work through the same mask.
You can use the same masking technique to blur the background instead of the subject.
