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Redacting videos

Evidence.com provides the ability to redact what can be seen and heard in video evidence files. The redaction tools enable you to create redacted versions of video evidence files without affecting the original file.

In Evidence.com, a redaction is a set of information that tells Evidence.com what to redact in a video. You can create a redaction with either Evidence.com redaction tool:

You can also upload a third-party redacted video.

When you have completed creating or editing a redaction manually or with Smart Tracker, you can extract a redacted video.

An extracted video is a video evidence file that Evidence.com creates from a clip or a redaction. Evidence.com never alters the original video evidence file when you create a clip or a redaction.

The clips and redactions features complement each other. If you have a long video and need to share a redacted segment, it is recommended that you first create a clip, extract a video from the clip, and then redact the extracted video.

Skin Blur redaction cannot be done on clips.

Manual Redaction

Manual redaction allows you to create and control the size, shape, and placement of redaction masks precisely, frame by frame. You can also create and configure audio masks in order to mute the sound of specific video evidence-file segments.

For videos that are longer than about five minutes, it is recommended that you use assisted redaction.

Manual Redaction Workflow

When you use manual redaction, the process for creating a redacted video evidence file involves the procedures identified in the following steps.

  1. Follow the steps in Create a Redaction Manually.
  2. Use the redaction to make a new, redacted video evidence file. Follow the steps in Extract a Redacted Video from a Redaction.
  3. Wait for Evidence.com to notify you by email that the extracted video is available.
  4. Review the extracted video carefully, to ensure that it is redacted correctly. You can access the extracted video from a link provided in the notification email. For additional information, see View Videos Extracted from Clips and Redactions.
  5. If you found redaction issues in the extracted video, edit the redaction as needed in order to correct the issues, and then return to step 2.

    To edit the redaction, follow the steps in Edit a Redaction.

  6. If the extracted video is correctly redacted, use the extracted video as needed. For example, you can share it with others or download it, as you would any other video evidence file.

Manual Redaction Concepts

Creating a redaction manually involves working with several important concepts.

  • Object—Organizes mask segments that redact the same actual object. A redaction contains one or more objects. Manual redaction supports two types of objects:
    • Video object—Organizes mask segments that redact one visual object. A video object contains one or more mask timelines.
    • Mute object—Organizes mask segments that redact portions of the sound in the video evidence file. The Mute object contains one mask timeline.
  • Mask—Defines a rectangular area in a continuous segment of video frames that are redacted. Masks in a video object have three dimensions:
    • Height, defined by the mask frame.
    • Width, defined by the mask frame.
    • Duration, defined by the start and end handles of the mask segment.

    Manual redactions allow small height and width, for better redaction of small objects.

    Masks in the Mute object have only duration and therefore have a mask segment only and do not have a mask frame.

  • Mask timeline—Represents all frames in the video and enables you to place the mask segment precisely where you need it. Each mask timeline has one mask segment.
  • Mask segment—Defines the continuous series of frames that the mask redacts. A mask segment has a start and an end handle.
  • Mask segment handle—Defines the start or end frames of a mask segment.
  • Mask frame—Defines the rectangular area redacted by a mask in a video object. Masks in the Mute object do not have mask frames.
  • Mask frame handle—Enables you to change the size and shape of the mask frame.
  • Blur level selector—Enables you to specify how blurry the area inside a mask should appear in a video file extracted from a redaction. The selector supports four level of blur:

Manual Redaction Controls

Manual Redaction Controls
1 - Mask frame 4 - Video object 7 - Mask segment
2 - Mask frame handle 5 - Mute object 8 - Mask segment handles
3 - Blur level selector 6 - Mask Timeline 9 - Start and end times for the currently selected mask segment

Smart Tracker Assisted Redaction

Smart Tracker assisted redaction brings intelligent, automated support to your agency’s video redaction workload. Using assisted redaction, you can easily create a redaction that tracks up to 10 objects in a video. For each object, you specify a start and end frame. On each start frame, you place and size a redaction mask.

When you are done preparing an assisted redaction, Smart Tracker tracks the masked objects automatically and Evidence.com sends you a notification email when it has finished creating the redaction.

It is recommended that you closely verify redactions created by assisted redaction. If you need to make corrections, Evidence.com enables you to edit the redaction manually.

Smart Tracker Assisted Redaction Workflow

When you use assisted redaction, the process for creating a redacted video evidence file involves the procedures identified in the following steps.

  1. Follow the steps in Create a Redaction with Assisted Redaction.
  2. Wait for Evidence.com to notify you by email that Smart Tracker has finished creating the redaction.
  3. Review the redaction and edit it as necessary.

    You can access the video evidence file from a link provided in the notification email.

    You may need to edit the redaction for various reasons:

    • To correct the duration placement of masks
    • To change the blur level of masks
    • To add the Mute object and place mask segments as needed in order to redact audio.

    To edit the redaction, follow the steps in Edit a Redaction.

    Note: You may find it easier to skip step 3 and focus on reviewing the extracted video in step 6.

  4. Use the redaction to make a new, redacted video evidence file. Follow the steps in Extract a Redacted Video from a Redaction.
  5. Wait for Evidence.com to notify you by email that the extracted video is available.
  6. Review the extracted video carefully, to ensure that it is redacted correctly. You can access the extracted video from a link provided in the notification email. For additional information, see View Videos Extracted from Clips and Redactions.
  7. If you found redaction issues in the extracted video, edit the redaction as needed in order to correct the issues, and then return to step 3.

    To edit the redaction, follow the steps in Edit a Redaction.

  8. If the extracted video is correctly redacted, use the extracted video as needed. For example, you can share it with others or download it, as you would any other video evidence file.

Smart Tracker Assisted Redaction Concepts

Using assisted redaction and Smart Tracker technology to create a redaction shares many concepts with manual redaction. The following information explains assisted redaction concepts that differ those described in Manual Redaction Concepts.

Because Smart Tracker technology automatically tracks objects in the video file, the assisted redaction feature represents an object and its timeline with one control, eliminating the need for you to create multiple mask timelines per object.

  • Object—Enables you to redact one actual object in the video. An assisted redaction object contains only one object timeline. Assisted redaction supports up to 10 objects.

    Assisted redaction supports redaction of video objects only. If you need to redact any portion of the audio track of a video evidence file, you can do so by editing the redaction that assisted redaction creates for you.

  • Object timeline—Represents all frames in the video and enables you to place the mask segment precisely where you need it. Each object timeline has one mask segment.

Smart Tracker Assisted Redaction Controls

Assisted Redaction Controls
1 - Mask frame 4 - Mask segment
2 - Mask frame handle 5 - Mask segment handles
3 - Object and object timeline 6 - Start and end times for the currently selected mask segment

Redaction Workflow Comparison

The following figure shows the process for redacting a video manually and for using Smart Tracker assisted redaction.

Create a Redaction Manually

Administrators and users who are allowed the Redact permission can use the manual redaction tool to create a redaction for a video evidence file that is in a file format supported by the media player.

  1. On the View Evidence page, below the video player, click Redactions.

    The Create New Redactions button appears below the Redactions tab. If any redactions already exist, they are listed below the buttons.

  2. Click Create New Redactions.

    The Create a New Redaction dialog is shown.

  3. Click Manual Redaction.

    The controls for editing a manual redaction appear below the media player. Evidence.com creates the first object for you. Within the object is one mask.

  4. For each additional object that you want to redact, click New Redaction. For example, if you need to redact three faces, you can add two more objects.

    Each new object appears at the bottom of the list of objects. Each new object contains one mask segment.

    If you need to delete an object, at the right end of the object, click Delete.

  5. If you want to redact any portion of the audio track, click Audio Mute.

    The Mute object appears below the video objects. The Mute object contains one mask segment.

  6. For each video object or the Mute object, create and configure mask segments, and for video objects, place the mask within each segment.

    Use as many mask segments as needed in order to redact the object. The following table lists the actions for configuring mask segments and masks.

    Action Method
    Add a mask segment to an object At the right end of the object, click Add Mask.
    Delete a mask segment from an object
    1. If the mask segment is not blue, click the mask segment. Blue indicates that the mask segment is selected.
    2. Click Delete Selection.
    Move a start or end mask segment handle

    To place a mask handle approximately at the frame you need:

    1. On the mask timeline, hover the mouse pointer over the mask segment handle that you want to move.
    2. Press and hold the mouse button.
    3. Drag the handle left or right, as needed.
    4. Release the mouse button.

    To move a mask handle one frame at a time:

    1. If the mask segment is not blue, click the mask segment. Blue indicates that the mask segment is selected.
    2. Use the keyboard controls, as needed:
      • The “a” key — Move the start handle to the left, one frame at a time.
      • The “s” key — Move the start handle to the right, one frame at a time.
      • Left Arrow key — Move the end handle to the left, one frame at a time.
      • Right Arrow key — Move the end handle to the right, one frame at a time.
    Move both mask segment handles together
    1. On the mask timeline, if the area between the mask segment handles is not blue, click between the handles.
    2. Hover the mouse pointer over the blue area between the start and end handles.
    3. Press and hold the mouse button.
    4. Drag the handles left or right, as needed.
    5. Release the mouse button.
    Move mask segment handles to specific times
    1. If the mask segment is not blue, click the mask segment. Blue indicates that the mask segment is selected.
    2. In the Start box, enter the exact time in minutes and seconds, in mm:ss format, where you want the start handle.
    3. In the End box, enter the exact time in minutes and seconds, in mm:ss format, where you want the end handle.
    Move a mask frame in a mask segment
    1. If the mask segment is not blue, click the mask segment in order to ensure that you are moving the correct mask frame.
      In the player, the frame for the selected segment is red.
    2. In the media player, click the mask frame in order to select it.
    3. Click and hold the frame, avoiding the handle at the lower-right corner of the frame.
    4. Drag the frame to where you want it.
    5. Release the mouse button.
    Shape a mask frame
    1. Click the mask segment in order to ensure that you are shaping the correct mask frame.
      In the player, the frame for the selected segment is red.
    2. At the lower-right corner of the frame, click and hold the handle.
    3. Drag the corner to where you want it.
    4. Release the mouse button.
    Change the blur level of a mask
    1. Click the mask segment in order to ensure that you are setting the blur level for the correct mask.
      In the player, the frame for the selected segment is blue.
    2. Click the blur selector until the blur level you want is selected.
      You can select Light, Normal, Heavy, or Blackout.
  7. When you have finished configuring the redaction, click Done.

    The Redactions tab reappears. The new manual redaction appears in the list of redactions. The redaction you created is available in the list of redactions until you delete the redactions.

Edit a Redaction

You can edit the objects, mask segments, and mask frames of a redaction. Regardless of the origin of a redaction — created manually or created with assisted redaction — editing a redaction is the same process.

  1. On the View Evidence page, below the video player, click Redactions.

    Existing redactions are listed below the Redactions tab.

  2. In the list, find the redaction that you want to edit and then click  (edit).

    The controls for editing a manual redaction appear below the media player, including any objects and mask segments that the redaction contains.

  3. If you need to add or remove objects, use methods provided in the following table.
    Action Method
    Add a video object Click New Redaction.
    A new object appears in the list of objects. Each new object contains one mask segment.
    Add the Mute object

    Click Audio Mute.

    The Mute object appears below the video objects.
    Delete an object At the right end of the object that you want to add a mask segment to, click Delete.
    The object and any mask segments it contained are removed from the redaction.
  4. If you need to edit mask segments or masks, use the methods provided in the following table.
    Action Method
    Add a mask segment to an object At the right end of the object, click Add Mask.
    Delete mask segment from an object
    1. If the mask segment is not blue, click the mask segment. Blue indicates that the mask segment is selected.
    2. Click Delete Selection.
    Move the start or end mask segment handle

    To place a mask handle approximately at the frame you need:

    1. On the mask timeline, hover the mouse pointer over the mask segment handle that you want to move.
    2. Press and hold the mouse button.
    3. Drag the handle left or right, as needed.
    4. Release the mouse button.

    To place a mask handle precisely at the frame you need:

    1. If the mask segment is not blue, click the mask segment. Blue indicates that the mask segment is selected.
    2. Use the keyboard controls, as needed:
      • The “a” key — Move the start handle to the left, one frame at a time.
      • The “s” key — Move the start handle to the right, one frame at a time.
      • Left Arrow key — Move the end handle to the left, one frame at a time.
      • Right Arrow key — Move the end handle to the right, one frame at a time.
    Move both mask segment handles together
    1. On the mask timeline, if the area between the mask segment handles is not blue, click between the handles.
    2. Hover the mouse pointer over the blue area between the start and end handles.
    3. Press and hold the mouse button.
    4. Drag the handles left or right, as needed.
    5. Release the mouse button.
    Move mask segment handles to specific times
    1. If the mask segment is not blue, click the mask segment. Blue indicates that the mask segment is selected.
    2. In the Start box, enter the exact time in minutes and seconds, in mm:ss format, where you want the start handle.
    3. In the End box, enter the exact time in minutes and seconds, in mm:ss format, where you want the end handle.
    Move a mask frame in a mask segment
    1. If the mask segment is not blue, click the mask segment in order to ensure that you are moving the correct mask frame.
      In the player, the mask frame for the selected segment is red.
    2. In the media player, click the mask frame in order to select it.
    3. Click and hold the frame, avoiding the handle at the lower-right corner of the frame.
    4. Drag the frame to where you want it.
    5. Release the mouse button.
    Shape a mask frame
    1. Click the mask segment in order to ensure that you are shaping the correct mask frame.
      In the player, the mask frame for the selected segment is red.
    2. At the lower-right corner of the frame, click and hold the handle.
    3. Drag the corner to where you want it.
    4. Release the mouse button.
    Change the blur level of a mask
    1. Click the mask segment in order to ensure that you are setting the blur level for the correct mask.
      In the player, the frame for the selected segment is blue.
    2. Click the blur selector until the blur level you want is selected.
      You can select Light, Normal, Heavy, or Blackout.
  5. When you have finished editing the redaction objects, mask segments, and mask frames, do one of the following actions:
    • If you want to save all your edits to the redaction, click Done.

      Evidence.com saves the changes to the redaction.

    • If you do not want to save any edits to the redaction, click Cancel.

      Evidence.com discards any changes made to the redaction.

    The Redactions tab reappears.

Create a Redaction with Smart Tracker Assisted Redaction

Administrators and users who are allowed the Redact permission can use Smart Tracker assisted redaction to create a redaction for a video evidence file that is in a file format supported by the media player.

Assisted redaction supports redaction of video objects only. If you need to redact any portion of the audio track of a video evidence file, you can do so by editing the redaction that assisted redaction creates for you.

  1. On the View Evidence page, below the video player, click Redactions.

    The Create New Redactions button appears below the Redactions tab. If any redactions already exist, they are listed below the buttons.

  2. Click Create New Redactions.

    The Create a New Redaction dialog is shown.

  3. Click Smart Tracker.

    The assisted redaction controls replace the media player. Evidence.com creates the first object timeline for you. The timeline has one mask segment.

  4. For each additional object that you want to redact, click New Redaction. For example, if you need to redact three faces, you can add two more objects.

    Each new object timeline appears at the bottom of the list of objects. Each new object contains one mask segment.

    If you need to delete an object, click the object in order to ensure that it is selected, and then click Delete Selection.

  5. For each object, set the start and end frame, and then place and size the mask frame.

    For best results, it is recommended that you size mask frames so that they are 20 to 30% larger than the actual object that you want to redact.

    Action Method
    Move the start or end mask segment handle

    To place a mask handle approximately at the frame you need:

    1. On the mask timeline, hover the mouse pointer over the mask segment handle that you want to move.
    2. Press and hold the mouse button.
    3. Drag the handle left or right, as needed.
    4. Release the mouse button.

    To place a mask handle precisely at the frame you need:

    1. If the mask segment is not blue, click the mask segment. Blue indicates that the mask segment is selected.
    2. Use the keyboard controls, as needed:
      • The “a” key — Move the start handle to the left, one frame at a time.
      • The “s” key — Move the start handle to the right, one frame at a time.
      • Left Arrow key — Move the end handle to the left, one frame at a time.
      • Right Arrow key — Move the end handle to the right, one frame at a time.
    Move both mask segment handles together
    1. On the object timeline, if the area between the mask-segment handles is not blue, click between the handles.
    2. Hover the mouse pointer over the blue area between the start and end handles.
    3. Press and hold the mouse button.
    4. Drag the handles left or right, as needed.
    5. Release the mouse button.
    Move mask segment handles to specific times
    1. If the mask segment is not blue, click the mask segment. Blue indicates that the mask segment is selected.
    2. In the Start box, enter the exact time in minutes and seconds, in mm:ss format, where you want the start handle.
    3. In the End box, enter the exact time in minutes and seconds, in mm:ss format, where you want the end handle.
    Move the mask frame in a mask segment
    1. If the mask segment is not blue, click the mask segment in order to ensure that you are moving the correct mask frame.
      In the player, the mask frame is red.
    2. In the start frame, click and hold the mask frame, avoiding the handle at the lower-right corner of the frame.
    3. Drag the frame to where you want it.
    4. Release the mouse button.
    Shape a mask frame
    1. Click the mask segment in order to ensure that you are shaping the correct mask frame.
      In the player, the mask frame is red.
    2. At the lower-right corner of the frame, click and hold the handle.
    3. Drag the corner to where you want it.
    4. Release the mouse button.
  6. When you have finished configuring assisted redaction, click Done.

    The Redactions tab reappears. The new redaction appears in the list of redactions.

    Smart Tracker begins processing the redaction.

    When processing is complete, Evidence.com sends you a notification email.

Extract a Redacted Video from a Redaction

Extracting a video from a redaction is how you create a redacted video, which you can share or download as needed. After you create a redaction, you can extract a new video evidence file at any time. Extracting a redacted video from a redaction creates a new video evidence file that is redacted exactly how you specified when you created and edited the redaction. Video evidence created by extracting a redacted video appears in evidence searches. The video from which a redacted video was extracted is known as the parent video.

You can extract a redacted video from a redaction more than once. Each time you extract a redacted video, a new video file is created. If the title of the redaction is the same each time you extract a video from the redaction, the video files created have identical titles.

A video extracted from a redaction inherits the case IDs, categories, tags, and evidence location of the parent video. Inheriting this information helps ensure that extracted videos are associated with the correct cases and that the applicable evidence retention policy is enforced, including any restricted categories. In addition, Evidence.com applies the tag “AXONRedaction” to the video.

On the View Evidence page for a redacted video file, Evidence.com displays the title of the parent video file and provides a link to the parent video file.

  1. On the View Evidence page, below the video player, click Redactions.

    The list of redactions appears below the Redactions tab.

  2. In the list, find the redaction from which you want to extract a redacted video and then click Extract.
  3. On the notification message box, click OK.

    Evidence.com begins creating the new redacted video evidence file.

    When the extraction is complete, Evidence.com sends you a notification email.

Delete a Redaction

You can delete redactions at any time; however, you cannot recover a deleted redaction. In order to prevent the work required to recreate a rashly deleted redaction, it is recommended that you ensure that a redaction is never needed again prior to deleting it.

Redacted videos extracted from a redaction are not affected when you delete the redaction from the parent video.

  1. On the View Evidence page, below the player, click Redactions.

    The list of redactions appears below the Redactions tab.

  2. In the list, find the redaction that you want to delete, click , and then click Delete.

    Evidence.com deletes the redaction. It no longer appears in the list of redactions.

Skin Blur Redaction

With Skin Blur redaction, the user selects the level of skin blurring. Then, during processing, the redaction algorithm searches for skin tones throughout the video and blurs them to the selected level.

Skin blurring can only be used with the full-length video evidence file.

  1. On the View Evidence page, below the video player, click Redactions.

    The Create New Redactions button appears below the Redactions tab. If any redactions already exist, they are listed below the buttons.

  2. Click Create New Redactions.

    The Create a New Redaction dialog is shown.

  3. Select Skin Blur and click Next.
  4. Select the blur level you want to apply to the redaction and click Process.
  5. The file is sent for redaction processing. Click Okay to acknowledge this action.

    The redaction is added to the evidence redaction list with a processing status.

    When you receive notification that processing is complete, you can view the extracted redaction by clicking the email link or by going to the evidence, clicking the Redactions tab, and then clicking View for the file.

Upload a Third-Party Redacted Video

Users can upload a video as a child of an existing evidence file. This enhancement embraces any current workflows of your agency with respect to video redaction, while still enabling your use of Evidence.com digital evidence management workflows. 

Users can download the original piece of video evidence from the View Evidence page, redact that video with software outside of evidence.com, and then follow the steps below in order to upload the redacted video as a child of the original video evidence.

This feature helps you keep track of the redactions that you may have created outside of Evidence.com for specific video evidence. The uploaded redacted file inherits metadata from the original evidence. The parent-child relationship makes case organization, metadata management, and sharing easier. The uploaded redacted file appears under the Redactions tab clearly labeled as an uploaded redaction.

    1. On the View Evidence page, below the player, click the Redactions tab.

      The Create New Redactions button appears below the Redactions tab. If any redactions already exist, they are listed below the buttons.

    2. Click Create New Redactions.

      The Create a New Redaction dialog is shown.

    3. Select Redaction Upload and click Next.

      The Upload Redaction dialog box appears.

    4. Select the redacted video file that you want to import, using either of the following methods:
      • Find the file on your computer and then drag and drop the files onto the Upload Redaction dialog box.
      • Click Choose Files and then use the dialog box to find and select the file on your computer.

      By default, Evidence.com names the file “Redaction upload (original file name)”.

    5. If you want to change the title of the file, click in the Edit Title box and change the title as needed.
    6. Click Upload.

      Evidence.com uploads the file. When the upload finishes, the uploaded file is listed on the Redactions tab.

View Videos Extracted from Clips and Redactions

Evidence.com keeps track of evidence files extracted from a parent file. This helps ensure that you are viewing the correct evidence file. It may also be more convenient if you aren’t sure of the name given to an extracted file but do remember the name of the parent file.

    1. Open the View Evidence page of the parent file.
    2. Below the media player, click the Extractions tab.

      A gallery of extracted files appears below the Extractions tab.

    3. Click the extracted file that you want to view.

      The View Evidence page of the extracted file opens.

    4. Take the actions that you need. For more information, see Using the Media Player.
    5. If you want to return to the View Evidence page of the parent file, next to Parent file, click the title.