Okay, a naive newbie question here, but is the masking of the license plate numbers done so it makes for a cleaner, less cluttered photo, or for some security/theft prevention reason?

I'm pretty sure this has been discussed before, but I think it's a security thing so that nobody can track you down.

Do you mask your license plate when driving in public? No? Then someone can track you down.

I'm with you mate. Not sure I've ever understood the practice either. Besides I only have the basic Adobe Photoshop (free download) and I don't think I can do it anyway.

Well, it's alot easier for thieves to lurk forums for pictures with exposed license plates than to roll the streets. Also, with picture threads almost everyone shows off what they have so the thieves will know what they're going after.

^^exactly
on some area specific forums, your photos will be deleted if the plates are not masked
people show off their cars/mods, after which some people try to find it, and take them

^^^exactly x 2
I never understand when a guy posts pics of his $3,000 stereo install then leaves his plate on the photo. It would take less than 10 minutes to get an address and hell, you could even Google Earth to see if the guy parks his car outside...

"Don't try this at home"

Wow, I've never thought of it that way.

Next time I post pictures of my car, I'll make sure to mask my plate!

you should always mask out you plate # when you post pics. If I were a asshole I would be stealing cars left and right with the program I use at work. I can get your address, SS#, bank account #'s, & your job address with you plate #. It's a crazy world so be carefull.

Wow, I did not know that. That's crazy.

its the same reason why we don't put our full names for our forum name, just one more way to deter people from getting information on us that we don't want.

No one will track down your car unless you are rocking on Volks, mad JDM shit, and extreme engine mod. Again, if you have all of those above, you will probably posting on the forum, to share with us. You never know who's seeing the picture, and what will they do with it. Blocking the license plate can effectively setup the first security gate as to not shown the Location of yours; and they can track where you live too.

I agree with masking plates for security, its a must.

But how about removing your plates before snapping the photo....

Well, people sometimes remove the front license plate for photos and unless they're taking pictures at home, I don't think they would bother bringing a screwdriver to remove the rear before photoshooting. Editing it out is less work. The rear plate also doesn't have as much of a visual impact on the car as the front license plate does. Heck, I even dare to say the rear looks kinda "funny" without the rear plate as if something is supposed to be there.

But back on topic, I think it's safe measure to block out your license plate before posting pics. Other local members around you could spot your car and even if they don't do anything, they could talk about it with their friends and who knows where that might go.

I used to swap plates before taking any photos. I used the dealer's thin plastic plate, covered it with black vinyl sticker, then put on the car model on the plate. And that plate is only for photoshoot. I don't do that anymore, because I was thinking about changing what is on the photoshoot plate, and I haven't done it. So I just photoshopped it out now.

Here are some examples of the photoshoot plates.

You've won me over thats for sure!

What specific program or say version of Adobe Photoshop do you need to block them out. I have the free download and I'm no expert at all but I cant find the toold to do it.
Thanks heaps in advance!

Werd people could steal your shit!! My cousins girl works at a Jersey Dmv and she can look up anyones plate so im sure tha there are thieves associated wit the Dmv or know someone.

I use paint =]

Yea... paint works just as well as photoshop for this job; just scribble over the whole plate haha