How to invert part of an image

Invert only the area you select

1. Open your image

   Choose Choose image, drag a file into the tool, or paste an image from your clipboard. You can also choose Use the sample image to practice. Images are processed in your browser on your device.

   The tool accepts JPG, PNG, WebP and supported HEIC/HEIF files, one at a time. The limit is 25 MB, 20 megapixels, and 16,384 pixels on either side. HEIC/HEIF input uses the static main image; some variants may need conversion to JPG or PNG first.

2. Switch from whole-image inversion

   A new image is inverted in full by default. Keep Invert colors turned on and change Processing area to Invert selected areas. Before you add a selection, the result shows the original colors.

3. Draw a rectangle on the result

   Drag across the part you want to change in the result preview. Use the result on the right on a wide screen, or below the original on a narrow screen. Only the area inside the rectangle is inverted. The original preview stays unchanged for comparison.

   Draw another rectangle in an empty area to include a second part of the image. Overlapping boxes do not invert the same pixels twice.

Invert a screenshot without changing its photos

A dark screenshot may contain both an interface and a photo. Inverting the whole screenshot makes the interface light, but also changes the photo's colors. To keep the photo looking as it did:

1. Choose Keep selected areas unchanged under Processing area.
2. Draw a rectangle around the photo in the result preview.
3. Adjust the rectangle to match the photo's edges. Add one rectangle for each photo you want to protect.

Everything outside your boxes is inverted. Everything inside them keeps its original colors. This is especially useful when the photo has straight, rectangular edges. If your selection includes a border or caption, those pixels will also stay unchanged, so check the edges before saving.

Move, resize or remove a selection

Drag a box to move it. Drag its bottom-right handle to resize it. To create a new box without dragging, use Add area, then reposition the box.

For precise alignment, choose a box from Selected areas and open Adjust selected area. Enter its Left, Top, Width and Height in pixels. These values refer to the original image dimensions, even when the preview appears smaller on screen.

Undo restores a previous selection edit, with up to 50 steps retained. Delete selected area removes the active box, while Clear areas removes all boxes. There is currently no redo button.

Reset clears your selections and returns to whole-image inversion. It keeps the current image loaded. If you only want to compare with the unedited picture, turn off Invert colors instead; turn it back on to return to your selected effect.

Choose a format and save

Select an output format and choose Download image. The saved image contains the result preview, without selection outlines or handles, at the original pixel dimensions.

• PNG: lossless output that preserves transparency. A useful choice for screenshots, text and line art.
• JPG: lossy output. Transparent areas are filled with white.
• WebP: lossy output that preserves transparency, if your browser supports this encoder.

Copy image copies a PNG when the browser permits clipboard access. If copying is unavailable, download instead. Check that Invert colors is on before saving an inverted result; with it off, the download uses the original colors.

Common questions

Can I select an irregular object?

The current tool uses rectangles. You can combine multiple boxes, but it does not yet offer a freehand brush, an ellipse, or automatic object selection. Rectangles are best for screenshots and straight-edged regions; a curved silhouette needs a more detailed selection tool.

Does inversion change transparency?

Inversion reverses the red, green and blue values while leaving the alpha channel unchanged. Keep PNG or WebP as the output format if you need transparent areas. Choosing JPG adds a white background.

Why does a colored background turn a different color?

Inversion replaces each RGB value with 255 minus that value. White becomes black, red becomes cyan, and blue becomes yellow. This is a color reversal, so it does not simply make every background white. It also does not mirror or rotate the image.

Why is nothing changing?

Check that Invert colors is on. With Invert selected areas, you need at least one rectangle. With Keep selected areas unchanged, a box covering the entire picture protects every pixel, so the result will look unchanged.