Before sending a screenshot, look beyond the area you want someone to notice. An email address in a header, a customer name beside a chart, or a long token in an address bar may have nothing to do with your message. You can cover those visible details with opaque blocks in the lightingshot editor and share the exported copy.

This guide describes covering pixels in an image. It is not a document sanitization service or a compliance certification. It does not remove information from the original file, the source website, or copies you have already shared. For highly sensitive work, follow your organization's handling requirements as well.

Make a checklist before editing

Scan the whole picture once before you start. Common places to check include browser tabs and address bars, profile menus, table rows, message previews, document titles, sidebars, account numbers, and notification popups. A detail may appear more than once. A name hidden in a large heading may still be readable in a breadcrumb or avatar menu.

First decide whether the area is necessary at all. If an entire sidebar is irrelevant, cropping it away can produce a clearer image with fewer details to review. If a sensitive item sits inside the region you need to explain, keep that region and cover the item specifically.

Apply an opaque cover

  1. Open the correct image. Select 导入图片 (Import image) and choose your screenshot. The editor processes the image locally. Keep any original file in an appropriate location; importing it does not delete or alter that file.
  2. Select the cover tool. Choose 遮盖 (Cover) on the left. Its tooltip reads 遮盖（不透明）, meaning an opaque cover. In this release the tool draws a solid dark rectangle; the selected annotation color does not change its fill.
  3. Cover the complete detail. Drag a rectangle across the information, extending slightly beyond its edges. Check characters with ascenders or descenders, adjacent labels, and any text just outside the box. Release the pointer to commit the block.
  4. Repeat and review. Add separate blocks for other locations. Use the zoom controls to inspect small text, then view the whole image again to catch a repeated detail in another part of the picture.
  5. Export the edited copy. Click 导出图片 (Export image), choose a neutral filename and the required format, then click 下载文件 ↓ (Download file). Do not put the private customer name or account number back into the filename.
  6. Inspect the downloaded file. Open the actual export in an image or PDF viewer before attaching it. Check the covered areas and the rest of the picture, and confirm that the file you are sharing is this edited copy.

Use the correct tool for the job

高亮 (Highlight) deliberately uses a translucent fill so the underlying text remains visible. It is for drawing attention, not concealing information. 矩形 (Rectangle) draws an outline with an open middle. A scribble from 画笔 (Pen) can leave gaps. Choose the dedicated opaque cover rather than trying to hide a value with one of these annotation tools.

The exported image contains the rendered canvas, including the solid cover blocks. It is not an editable project with a removable cover layer. However, the open editor keeps edit history, so Undo can reveal a detail again during the editing session. Do not treat the editor canvas, your original image, or a screen recording of your editing as the sanitized copy.

Check more than the black rectangles

Visible clues around a covered value may still identify someone. A unique transaction amount, a profile photo, or a combination of location and date can be meaningful even after a name disappears. Decide what the recipient actually needs and remove unnecessary context rather than covering only the most obvious identifier.

For a PDF export, review every page. lightingshot creates A4 image pages from the edited canvas; it does not apply a PDF redaction operation to an existing PDF document. It also does not provide OCR, searchable text, or cryptographic proof that information was removed. If your source is a complex PDF document, a purpose-built document workflow may be needed instead of taking a screenshot of one page.

Finish with a careful handoff

Use a filename that distinguishes the copy, such as “checkout-issue-covered.png,” and verify the attachment preview. Keep the sensitive original out of the same message. Downloaded files remain on your device until you remove them; closing the editor does not manage those copies for you.

You can add a short explanatory arrow after covering the private details, following the annotation guide. For import limits or failed downloads, consult Help. For the difference between local editing, temporary extension capture storage, and website hosting, read the privacy policy.