Undo/Redo - Quick Guide

Why Undo/Redo Matters

Editing screenshots is iterative by nature. You draw a blur box, decide it's too small, try a different strength, move a label, change a highlight color, and so on. Undo/Redo lets you explore without fear. If something looks off, step back; if it was better a moment ago, step forward. Because uBlur runs locally in your browser, this history loop is fast and private -- your image never leaves the device.

How to Undo & Redo in uBlur

1. Click the Undo button on the left toolbar to reverse your last action.
2. Click Redo to bring the change back.
3. Or use keyboard shortcuts for speed:
   • Windows: Ctrl + Z (Undo), Ctrl + Y (Redo)
   • macOS: Cmd (⌘) + Z (Undo), Shift + Cmd (⌘) + Z (Redo)

Pro tip: Keep one hand on the keyboard. Most edits are faster as a rhythm of move → undo → tweak → redountil the result feels right.

What Counts as an 'Edit' in History?

uBlur tracks meaningful actions so you can revert precisely. Typical entries include:

• Creating, moving, resizing, or deleting a Blur or Fill box
• Changing blur strength or switching a region from Blur → Fill (or vice versa)
• Adding, moving, resizing, or deleting a Highlight
• Typing, moving, or styling Text labels
• Reordering items via the Layers panel
• Cropping and canvas-size adjustments

If you ever think 'I wish I could go back one step,' you almost certainly can.

Undo vs. Redo vs. Reset

• Undo steps backward through your edit history, one action at a time.
• Redo steps forward again -- unless you make a new change after undoing, which starts a new 'branch' of history (standard editor behavior).
• Reset (if you choose to clear the canvas or reload) removes the entire session history. Only do this when you're sure.

Fast 'Micro-Commit' Workflow

Treat each small improvement like a micro-commit you can roll back:

1. Place blur boxes roughly where they belong.
2. Tap Ctrl/Cmd + Z and Ctrl + Y / Shift + Cmd + Z to compare two sizes/positions.
3. Once satisfied, add highlights and labels.
4. Do a last-pass crop, then export.

This keeps momentum high without worrying about 'breaking' a good state.

Keyboard Cheatsheet

Best Practices for Clean, Reversible Edits

• One purpose per edit: Make a small change, evaluate, then proceed. Smaller steps make Undo/Redo far more useful.
• Redact first, annotate second: Blur/FIll all sensitive data before adding highlights or text. If you undo back into a pre-redaction state, redo immediately to avoid sharing unsafe content.
• Use Layers strategically: Keep redactions below, highlights in the middle, labels on top. If a label seems 'hidden,' move its layer above the highlight and undo/redo to compare.
• Check at 100% zoom: A blur that looks safe when zoomed out may be readable at actual size.

Common Mistakes (and Fixes)

• 'Redo is greyed out.' You likely made a new change after undoing. That starts a new branch of history, which clears the forward steps. Keep going -- your current path is the new source of truth.
• 'Undo doesn't seem to do anything.' Make sure the canvas is focused (click anywhere on the image), then press the shortcut again. Some browser extensions also intercept shortcuts; try the toolbar icons.
• 'My label looks fuzzy.' You may have a highlight sitting above the label. Move the label layer to the top; use Undo/Redo to compare clarity.
• 'I lost a good state.' Reconstruct quickly: undo a few steps, duplicate the element that was correct (if available), then redo and paste the duplicate where needed.

Example: Safely Iterating a Redaction

1. Paste your screenshot into uBlur.
2. Draw a blur over a name. If any letter is still legible at 100% zoom, press Undo, increase strength, redraw.
3. For tokens/QR codes, Undo the blur and use Fill instead (non-recoverable).
4. Add one highlight around the area reviewers should examine; Undo/Redo to compare two placements.
5. Export and sanity-check the final image.

Example: Rapid Layout Experiments with Layers

1. Create a highlight and a short text label ('Wrong currency').
2. Duplicate the label to test wording ('Switch to INR').
3. Use Undo/Redo to compare location and phrasing; keep the one that reads fastest.
4. Delete the extra version to keep the layer stack lean.

Team Conventions That Pair Well with Undo/Redo

• Label tone: Imperative and concise -- 'Click Save,' 'Open Settings.'
• Layer order: Redactions → Highlights → Labels. Everyone on the team does the same.
• One focal point per image: Split long flows into multiple images rather than piling on boxes.

Pre-Share Checklist

• Blur is strong enough that no characters are readable at 100% zoom.
• Secrets (tokens, bar/QR codes, reset links) are covered with a solid Fill.
• Highlight frames the area of interest; labels are above highlights and legible.
• No stray edits left in the history (undo/redo through the last few steps to confirm).

Related Guides

• How to Manage Layers
• How to Blur Text in an Image
• How to Add Text to a Screenshot
• How to Export Your Edited Image

Try It Now

Test how easy it is to fix mistakes. Paste a screenshot, make a few edits, and use Undo/Redo to compare versions. You'll ship cleaner, clearer images in less time.

Try Undo/Redo