SmartBlur v2 Desktop Workspace
This guide uses screenshots from the current Windows desktop app. SmartBlur has two working modes: Batch Processing for files and Live Camera for a webcam or RTSP stream. The same detection and blur controls are used in both modes.
The current SmartBlur v2 Batch Processing workspace before media is added
What each area does
| Area | Purpose | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Mode | Switches between Batch Processing and Live Camera | Your processing settings stay available when you switch modes. |
| Media Bin / Live Source | Adds files or configures a camera | Files appear in a queue; live mode shows Webcam or RTSP controls. |
| Monitor | Shows the selected source and processed result | Images auto-preview; videos provide playback; 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 | File-image changes auto-process the preview. Live changes apply to the running stream. |
| 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 the targets you must protect: Face, Body, and/or Plate.
- Review the result at several zoom levels. For video, review different moments, not only the first frame.
- Adjust the model, thresholds, padding, and blur style if needed.
- 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.
A real SmartBlur photo preview after automatic body and face redaction
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 | Crowds, traffic, distant subjects | Face, body, and plate targets; Ultra Super; 360° detection; more padding; stronger mosaic. It is the slowest built-in preset. |
| Office CCTV | 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 targets, model, 360°, padding, confidence, blur style, or intensity schedules a new preview for the selected image. 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 and RTSP
While a live session is running, SmartBlur groups rapid control changes for about 400 ms, sends the latest configuration to the existing session, and processes the 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 the next processed frames. See Webcam & RTSP.
Privacy review checklist
- Check the whole frame, including edges, reflections, screens, windows, and background people.
- For videos and 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.
- 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 live setup and immediate settings behavior
- Troubleshooting when a source, model, or output does not behave as expected