SmartBlur v2 Desktop Workspace
This guide uses screenshots from the current Windows desktop app. Every plan has Batch Processing for files. Live Camera supports a local webcam on Standard and Pro. RTSP/RTSPS input and processed live recording require Pro. SmartBlur Camera output works on Standard and Pro with a supported website installer; the Microsoft Store package does not include its driver.
Free processes video files up to 10 MB. Standard and Pro have no video-size limit. The Standard detector is available on all plans; Ultra and 360° Detection require Standard or Pro, while Plate and Ultra Super require Pro.
What each area does
| Area | Purpose | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Mode | Switches between Batch Processing and licensed Live Camera | Your processing settings stay available when you switch modes. |
| Media Bin / Live Source | Adds files or configures a licensed live source | Files appear in a queue; Standard and Pro can use a webcam, while RTSP requires Pro. |
| Monitor | Shows the selected source and processed result | Images auto-preview; videos provide playback; licensed live mode shows incoming processed frames. |
| Preview / Before & After | Reviews the result | Preview shows the processed output. Before & After helps confirm coverage before export. |
| Blur Configuration | Controls targets, model, confidence, padding, style, selective blur, and output | Available controls follow the active plan. File-image and licensed live changes apply to the corresponding preview. |
| Status bar / Console | Reports model readiness, processing, saves, and failures | Read this first if the result does not change or a source will not connect. |
A safe file workflow
- Stay in Batch Processing.
- Click Drop media, the + button, or drag images/videos into the Media Bin.
- Select a file in the queue. A still image is automatically processed for preview.
- Choose Face and/or Body. Pro also provides the Plate target.
- Review the result at several zoom levels. For video, review different moments, not only the first frame.
- Adjust thresholds, padding, and blur style if needed. Standard and Pro can use Ultra and 360° Detection; Ultra Super requires Pro.
- Use Before & After to check that private regions are covered.
- Set Output options, then click Process for the queued files.
- Open or reveal the saved output and inspect it before sharing. SmartBlur never replaces the source file unless you explicitly choose a conflicting destination.
Presets
The preset menu at the top of Blur Configuration changes several controls together.
| Preset | Starting point | Typical behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Default | General photos and videos | Face target, Standard model, Gaussian blur, 10% padding. |
| Street Footage | Pro starting point for crowds, traffic, and distant subjects | Face, body, and plate targets; Ultra Super; 360° detection; more padding; stronger mosaic. Its full configuration requires Pro and is the slowest built-in preset. |
| Office CCTV | Standard/Pro starting point for fixed indoor cameras | Face and body targets; Ultra; moderate Gaussian blur and balanced thresholds. |
After tuning the controls, use the save icon beside the preset menu to name a custom preset. Custom presets are stored on this Windows profile. A preset is a starting point—always review the actual footage.
Changes that happen automatically
Still images
Changing an available target, model, 360°, padding, confidence, blur style, or intensity schedules a new preview for the selected image. Ultra and 360° require Standard or Pro; Plate and Ultra Super require Pro. Wait for the status bar to confirm that the preview was updated. A model change can take longer because the new model must load.
Videos
The controls determine the next preview/processing request. Review more than one frame before starting a long render; movement, distance, lighting, and motion blur can change detection quality.
Webcam (Standard and Pro) and RTSP (Pro)
Licensed live processing groups rapid control changes for about 400 ms, sends the latest configuration to the existing session, and processes following frames with it. The source connection stays open. A model change may produce a brief loading pause; ordinary changes such as target, confidence, padding, 360°, style, and intensity normally appear on subsequent processed frames. See Webcam & RTSP.
Manual and identity controls
Manual blur regions are fixed rectangles or ellipses at image/clip coordinates; they do not track a moving subject. Standard supports manual face decisions for one image at a time. Pro adds probabilistic face/body identity matching across image, video, batch, and live workflows.
Privacy review checklist
- Check the whole frame, including edges, reflections, screens, windows, and background people.
- For videos and Pro live recordings, inspect the beginning, middle, end, and any scene change.
- Lower confidence or use a stronger model when small or obstructed people are missed.
- Increase padding when hair, ears, head edges, or motion extend outside the blur.
- On Pro, enable Plate only when vehicle plates need protection.
- Keep the original private source and processed output in access-controlled folders.
- Do not publish a result until a human review confirms the required subjects remain covered.
Where to go next
- Quick Start for a short first-photo workflow
- AI Detection for model, confidence, 360°, and padding decisions
- Webcam & RTSP for Standard webcam, Pro RTSP/recording, and immediate settings behavior
- Troubleshooting when a source, model, or output does not behave as expected