How to hide sensitive information in a screen recording on Mac
Most demos and tutorials touch something that should not go public: an API key in a terminal, a real customer name in a support ticket, an inbox in the corner of a window. Cropping it out means re-recording. Blurring the whole screen ruins the demo. Drishti Studio adds a Mask track instead: draw a region on the frame, pick how it should look, and set exactly which seconds of the timeline it covers. Everything outside the region records and plays back normally.
A track, not a filter
A mask in Drishti lives on its own timeline track, the same way a camera cue or a sound effect does. That matters because sensitive information is rarely on screen for the whole recording. You place a mask exactly where a secret appears and let the rest of the frame stay untouched, rather than choosing between showing everything or blurring everything.
The position holds, even if you reframe later
A mask is anchored to the recording itself, not to the output frame. Add a mask, then change your mind about the export aspect ratio, switching to 9:16 for Reels or 1:1 for LinkedIn, or move the camera into a side-by-side layout, and the mask stays over the exact same spot. Nothing to redraw, nothing to double check pixel by pixel.
Why this works
Masks are applied to the source recording before any zoom, crop, or layout transform runs, the same way Drishti anchors the cursor. The coverage is tied to the content itself, not the output frame, so it survives any reframing after the fact.
Three ways to cover something
| Style | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Blur | Soften a region so the content underneath is unreadable, while the shape and motion behind it still read. |
| Pixelate | The strongest hide for text. Use it for anything you cannot risk being reconstructed, like a full API key. |
| Highlight | The opposite job: keep a region bright while the rest of the frame dims, to draw the eye to something instead of hiding it. |
Blur and Pixelate never fade in
A hiding style that faded in would expose the secret for the length of the fade. Blur and Pixelate cut on and off instantly for that reason. Highlight is an accent, not a hide, so it is the only style that fades smoothly.
How to mask a region, step by step
- Open the recording in the editor and move the playhead to where the sensitive content first appears.
- Choose Add Blur Mask, Add Pixelate Mask, or Add Highlight Mask from the Mask menu in the timeline toolbar.
- Drag directly on the preview to draw the region over exactly what needs to be covered.
- Change the style anytime by selecting the pill and picking a different option in the inspector.
- Drag the pill edges on the timeline to cover the full stretch the content is visible, then play it back to confirm the coverage.
Give yourself a margin
Draw the region slightly larger than the sensitive content itself. If a window drifts, an inbox scrolls, or your cursor nudges something mid-recording, a tight region can expose an edge for a frame or two. A small margin costs nothing and removes the risk.
What people usually mask
- API keys and tokens visible in a terminal or a code editor
- Real customer names, emails, or ticket contents in a support tool
- Account numbers, invoices, or anything with real financial data
- An inbox, calendar, or notifications panel that happens to be in frame
- A teammate’s name or face in a shared internal tool
None of this requires planning the whole recording around what might leak. Record naturally, then go back and mask the specific seconds that need it. Because masking happens after the fact, in the editor, you do not need to remember to hide something in the moment while you are also trying to narrate a clean take.
Nothing leaves your Mac to get masked
Drishti renders locally on your Mac. The recording, the mask, and the export all happen on your machine, so a sensitive clip is never uploaded anywhere to be processed before you decide it is ready to share.
Frequently asked questions
Does masking work on a moving or scrolling region?
Yes. Drag the mask pill edges to cover the full stretch of timeline the sensitive content is visible, and draw the region with a small margin so a scroll or a window nudge does not expose an edge near the boundary.
What is the difference between Blur and Pixelate?
Both hide the region completely and never fade in or out. Blur softens the area so it reads as an intentional stylistic cover. Pixelate uses classic redaction blocks, which is the stronger choice when the content is text you cannot risk being reconstructed, like a full API key.
Can I use masking to highlight something instead of hiding it?
Yes. The Highlight style keeps a region bright and dims the rest of the frame, drawing the eye to it. It is the one mask style that fades smoothly, since it is an accent rather than a privacy hide.
Do I have to plan what to mask before I start recording?
No. Masking happens afterward, in the editor. Record your walkthrough naturally, then add a mask over any stretch that needs to be covered before you export.
Does the recording get uploaded anywhere to apply the mask?
No. Drishti renders entirely on your Mac. The recording, the mask, and the final export happen locally, so sensitive footage is never sent to a server to be processed.
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