Blur Tool

Basic Usage

Select the Blur tool by pressing Shift+J or clicking the blur icon in the toolbar. Click and drag over pixels to apply a box blur effect that averages colors with their neighbors. Right-click does the opposite: it sharpens, using the same neighborhood.

Blur is an advanced tool, so it is hidden in Simple mode.

Adjusting Size

The blur size is separate from the brush size, so the brush size shortcuts do not affect it. It runs from 1 to 64 either way:

• Set the size in the tool options row while the Blur tool is active
• D + drag — Visual size adjustment (drag left/right)

Strength

Next to the size is a Strength field, from 1 to 100, starting at 100. It sets how much of the blurred result is mixed back into each pixel, so lower values give you a gentler pass you can build up. Size and Strength are remembered separately from the brush's own settings.

How It Works

The blur effect uses a box blur algorithm that samples neighboring pixels and calculates their average color. Each pixel you paint over is replaced with a blend of itself and its surrounding pixels.

• Larger brush sizes — Sample more neighbors, creating stronger blur
• Multiple passes — Paint over the same area repeatedly for more blur
• Edge handling — Edges blend smoothly with adjacent colors

Common Uses

• Softening edges — Reduce harsh transitions between colors
• Creating depth — Blur background elements to add focus
• Smoothing gradients — Blend dithered areas for smoother transitions
• Anti-aliasing — Soften jagged edges on curves and diagonals

Features

• Symmetry support — Blur respects active symmetry settings
• Selection aware — Only affects pixels within the active selection
• Full undo support — Undo/redo each blur stroke

Tips

• Use a small brush size for precise control over which pixels get blurred.
• For pixel art, use blur sparingly—too much blur can make artwork look muddy.
• Combine with the Shading tool for refined color transitions.