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Use your own image or open the bundled sample.
Surveillance Poster Maker
Frame images with machine-vision tracking boxes, CCTV overlays, and forensic annotations.
Runs locally No upload
Check this browser
Facts
- Category
- Subject
- Works with
- Image + optional subject layer
- Exports
- PNG / JPEG
- Runs in
- Your browser, and the SHADR iPhone app
- Your images
- Processed on your device, not uploaded
- Cost
- Free in the browser
Turn tracking graphics into an image-making language.
Surveillance Aesthetic is a free browser tool that frames an image as security-camera footage, with tracking boxes, labels, a timecode and a degraded picture.
Shape
Build the result with System, Auxiliary box, and Object Treatment, then refine the remaining controls in real time.
Export
Render PNG / JPEG output and download it directly to your device.
Use it for
- CCTV and machine-vision posters
- Forensic editorial layouts
- Interface-inspired campaign systems
Key controls
- SystemChoose CCTV, Original, and Night Vision, plus 3 more variations.
- Auxiliary boxChoose Off, Sparse, and Dense, plus 1 more variation.
- Object TreatmentChoose Annotation enhancement, Preserve Original, and Mosaic, plus 1 more variation.
All controls4
- TitleWrite the text used in the composition.
On the Web
- Define object regions manually instead of using automatic subject extraction.
In the iPhone app, automatic subject extraction is available.
Get the iPhone appHow Surveillance Aesthetic works
The tool restyles a photo as if it came from a monitoring system. System sets the look (CCTV, Original, Night Vision, Forensic, Thermal image or Black site), and Noise, Scan and Compression (0–100%) degrade the picture. Auxiliary box (Off, Sparse, Dense or Alert) adds boxes around parts of the image, Frame Style chooses their style (Corner Marks, Full Frame, Crosshair or Archive) and Number of auxiliary frames (1–8) how many there are. Annotation, Confidence (35–99%) and Grid dress the overlay.
Text is yours to set: Title, Label and the Timecode shown when Timestamp is on. Object Treatment chooses what happens to a subject (Annotation enhancement, Preserve Original, Mosaic or None). The boxes and labels are graphic overlays: the tool does not recognise or identify anyone.
Choosing a photo
Photos of people, streets, rooms or vehicles from a distance read as footage most easily.
Settings worth changing first
- System: CCTV, Original, Night Vision, Forensic, Thermal image or Black site.
- Auxiliary box (Off, Sparse, Dense or Alert) and Frame Style (Corner Marks, Full Frame, Crosshair or Archive).
- Noise (0–100%, default 16%), Scan (0–100%, default 18%) and Compression (0–100%, default 18%).
- Title, Label and Timecode.
Presets
Cold White Monitoring, Night Vision Tracking, Forensic Files, Thermal image alarm and Black site coding.
Before you start
What does the Surveillance Aesthetic tool do?
It restyles an image as security-camera or machine-vision footage: grainy and compressed, with tracking boxes, labels and a timecode. It does not detect or identify anyone; the overlays are graphic.
How do I add tracking boxes?
Choose Auxiliary box (Off, Sparse, Dense or Alert), then a Frame Style (Corner Marks, Full Frame, Crosshair or Archive) and set Number of auxiliary frames (1–8). Annotation controls how many annotations are drawn.
Can I change the text and timecode?
Yes. Edit Title, Label and Timecode; Timestamp turns the timestamp on and off.
What can I export?
PNG or JPEG at 1400, 2200 or 3200 pixels on the long edge. The photo is processed in the browser and is not uploaded.
What changes on the Web?
Define object regions manually instead of using automatic subject extraction.
Continue with SHADR on iPhone after you create in the browser.
Get the iPhone app