Best program to blank out number plates in pictures?

[MattEMulsion]

I've got some bike pictures that I want to upload to the internet but I need to blank out the number plates on a few. What is the best program to use to achieve this so that it looks good (ie so that is looks like it has not been done using MS Paint), preferably something that is free to download or something that comes with XP as standard.
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Yamaha YZF-R6

[cal91]

MS Paint.
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We are the Patriots! Love your country.

[cal91]

Sorry but I can't see your problem :\

You could try photoshop but that isn't free.... (*cough* Torrent downloads are always free).
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We are the Patriots! Love your country.

[The Original Muzza]

GIMP!
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Current Bikes: Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 (2020)
Former Bikes: Honda MSX125 (2014), BMW Funduro (1996), Honda VT500 (1983), Yamaha FZR250 (1989), Suzuki GZ125 Marauder(2005),:Triumph TT600 (2002) (stolen)
From then on, I and the bicycle feelings deeper.

[Suitor_Stu]

+1 for not seeing why MS Paint isn't good enough.

If you're not wanting to do any actual editing of the photos then photoshop is a bit over the top - as it happens, I quite like taking pics (SLR blah blah, this isn't a photography thread!) myself and I think photoshop is overly complex for what I do with them - I use Apple's Aperture instead which enables you to change levels, add effects, 'photoshop' out blemishes etc. As said before though, if you just use the colour matcher tool in Paint and match it to the yellow on your numberplate then just use one of the simple brush tools and take away the letters you should be left with a pretty good result.

What did you have in mind doing with them that makes you think paint isn't up to it?

Stu

[bonehead]

Just stick some black electrical tape on your monitor screen, jobs a good'n.

[ms51ves3]

The best option is not blurring it out at all.

[The Original Muzza]

FWIW the number plates on my profile page were done hastily in MSPaint, and although they don't look professional, you could spend an extra 2 minutes and tidy it up.
As I said though GIMP is a good free alternative to photoshop, though most would just download and crack photoshop, not that I'd condone it.
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Current Bikes: Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 (2020)
Former Bikes: Honda MSX125 (2014), BMW Funduro (1996), Honda VT500 (1983), Yamaha FZR250 (1989), Suzuki GZ125 Marauder(2005),:Triumph TT600 (2002) (stolen)
From then on, I and the bicycle feelings deeper.

[MarJay]

[Faldo]

Paint.net is a good free tool which is pretty capable.

I don't get why MS Paint isn't good enough though? I did the following in MS Paint, took about 30 secs. I don't see what effect you are trying to achieve?

https://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff267/yellaninja/ZXR%20750/Image_0781.jpg
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Current: ZZR1400
Previous: ZXR 400 L9, ZX-7R P5, ZZR 400, ZX-7R P6, Bandit 600, GSXR 750 Slingshot, DRZ400, DR650, ZX10R C1H, ZXR 750 L1, ZXR 750 L3, '99 ZX7R P4, KTM 300 EXC, ZX-9R E1, TDM850

[Dom_]

You can resize pics in paint, its under "image>stretch/skew"

[MattEMulsion]

Whenever I have tried to blank number plates out in Paint they always look rubbish. Yellowninja has done it though with reasonable effect, but whenever I try to do number plates that are on the skew like the ones in that picture, it looks poor.
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Yamaha YZF-R6

[Faldo]

Are you using the 'Polygon' tool? (right hand column, seventh one down). If you just zoom in on the plate and use the polygon tool around the edge of the plate it should turn out like that.
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Current: ZZR1400
Previous: ZXR 400 L9, ZX-7R P5, ZZR 400, ZX-7R P6, Bandit 600, GSXR 750 Slingshot, DRZ400, DR650, ZX10R C1H, ZXR 750 L1, ZXR 750 L3, '99 ZX7R P4, KTM 300 EXC, ZX-9R E1, TDM850

[ms51ves3]

[MattEMulsion]

[Ichy]

Out of interest, why do people feel the need to blank their number plate?
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https://www.metacafe.com/watch/1972097/how_to_behave_on_a_forum/

[Faldo]

[lllN30lll]

[tutton]

Funny you say that, as he went from being totally illegal, to now having a license, sv650 (girls bike, i mean legal bike) insurance and all that?
The wrath of bcf made him change his ways it would seem
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Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

[ms51ves3]