InSnapHow to Remove Text or an Object From a Screenshot Cleanly
Remove a name, icon or text from a screenshot and fill the gap from the surrounding background. When it works best, what to expect, and how to do it with InSnap Smart Erase.
Sometimes a screenshot has something in it you would rather not show: a username, a stray icon, a line of text. A blur draws attention to the spot. Removing the item and filling in the background looks cleaner.
How it works
The idea is simple: look at the pixels around the thing you want to remove, and use them to fill the gap. On plain or gradient backgrounds, which is most of what a user interface looks like, the result can be indistinguishable from the original. On busy photographic backgrounds the fill is a best guess.
Remove an item with InSnap Smart Erase
- Press the capture hotkey (Command-1 on Mac, Ctrl+1 on Windows) and select the area.
- Open the advanced tools on the toolbar and choose Smart Erase.
- Drag a box over the text or icon. InSnap fills it in from the surrounding background.
- In the attributes, pick whether to keep the background around the item or fill the whole box. You can move or resize the box and the result updates.
- Copy, save or pin the result.
Smart Erase runs locally with an algorithm that reads the area around the box; there is no AI model and nothing is uploaded. It is an InSnap Pro feature (a one-time $15 purchase).
What it is good at, and what it is not
- Good: text, icons and small objects on flat colors, gradients, tables and interface backgrounds.
- Less reliable: an item whose color is very close to the background it sits on, or a large object over detailed photographic texture. The tool tells the object from the background by color, so close colors are harder.
- Tip: draw the box a little larger than the item, since anything outside the box is never changed.
When you still need a blur or cover
Erasing hides the item, but if the picture is a document where a gap would look odd, a mosaic or a solid cover may read more clearly as "redacted".
FAQ
How do I remove text from a screenshot without leaving a blur?
Use an eraser that fills the gap from the background, such as InSnap Smart Erase, instead of a blur.
Does Smart Erase use AI or upload my screenshot?
No. It is a local algorithm and nothing leaves your computer.
Will it change the rest of the screenshot?
No. Only pixels inside the box you draw are changed.
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