# Blackout Bard: Blackout Poetry — Creativity in Neurodiversity > Create blackout poetry by selecting and highlighting words from existing text. (iPhone/iPad app by UberYogi.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackout-bard-blackout-poetry/id1071970550 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [UberYogi](https://appshunter.io/developer/537977282) - Category: Education, Lifestyle - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.10/5 from 9 App Store ratings · 6 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 9+ - Requires: iOS 16.0 · 34 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2016-06-09 - Data updated: 2026-08-02 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackout-bard-blackout-poetry/id1071970550/reviews.md ## What is Blackout Bard? Carve out new meanings from any text. Select and highlight words to create a fresh expression, or blackout words to reveal a hidden message. Blend with your own artwork. Surprise yourself with the poetry hiding in plain sight. It’s creativity, minus the pressure! This form of creative writing is also known by various names such as "Blackout Poetry", "Found Poetry", "Erasure Poetry", "Caviardage Technique", "Redaction", etc. Create with a tap: Easily select words to form new phrases Blackout or dim: Hide the unused words with various options Themed templates: Choose from a set of carefully curated templates to set the perfect mood for your writing Use your own images: Import your own photos to serve as the backdrop for your creations Use Curated Fonts which adapt: We've selected a range of fonts, including options for users with special needs, such as those with low vision, dyslexia etc ensuring the app is accessible to everyone. Text scales as per device settings. Interact using Voice Over: For low vision users Distribute Content & Settings via QR Codes: Automate preliminary setup tasks such as curating content, styling, export options etc. This reduces overwhelm and decision fatigue with certain individuals Share with ease: Export your art to your image gallery or as a pdf; Share it on social media Language-friendly: The app works with any language script that uses a space as a word separator. This process is a powerful cognitive exercise that stimulates the brain and enhances your ability to "unlearn" conventional thinking. By working within the constraints of a pre-existing text, you are forced to explore possibilities outside your usual creative boundaries, often resulting in artwork that is remarkably different from what you would create on a blank canvas. Pre-existing text lowers anxiety and decision fatigue, since the writer only has to select words, not invent them from scratch. Blackout Poetry gives room for self-expression without relying on social or verbal language. Hence, this technique is being used by therapists in their workshops with Hikikomori (persons who exhibit extreme withdrawal from society) & autistic individuals. The app can be used by writers and non-writers alike. The experience is quite calming and meditative. Great insights arise, to reflect upon. Tap away, flirt with words and create magic! Fill your lull moments with creativity! Visit us at https://blackoutbard.wixsite.com/bbard ## Key features - Select and highlight words - Blackout or dim unused words - Themed templates - Import custom images - Accessible curated fonts - Voice Over interaction - Share creations easily ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Classic | $0.99 | one-time | | Fun | $0.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (6 of 6) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackout-bard-blackout-poetry/id1071970550/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Great App! *2026-01-02* I think this app is great in terms for neurodivergent individuals as its accessibility and its design is easy to understand as well as appealing. I also like the Qr code feature from the app as it allows more application into more ethical scenarios like in a classroom setting or easy transferring of a writing piece from one person to another. Overall this app is great in my opinion! ### 5/5 — Helpful! *2024-10-16* Just a simple, blessedly free way to get ideas flowing ### 5/5 — updated review *2021-07-19* develeper update has made this a really fun app to use **Developer response:** We were not in a position to maintain the app for the past 4 years, but now, Blackout Bard has been refreshed with all the fixes based on user feedback. Hope this addresses your concerns. Thank you for your feedback and patience. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2020-07-08* This app seems great for its purpose but it keeps crashing for simple things. **Developer response:** We were not in a position to maintain the app for the past 4 years, but now, Blackout Bard has been refreshed with all the fixes based on user feedback. Hope this addresses your concerns. Thank you for your feedback and patience. ### 3/5 — Keeps Crashing *2019-09-22* This app is ok, but continuously crashes whenever I try to block out the extra words. **Developer response:** We were not in a position to maintain the app for the past 4 years, but now, Blackout Bard has been refreshed with all the fixes based on user feedback. Hope this addresses your concerns. Thank you for your feedback and patience. ### 3/5 — Really Good, but has Flaws *2018-09-04* I really, really like this app and the features. However, the directions are worded confusingly and checking the help didn’t clear up anything I was wondering. The images exported are extremely fuzzy and blurry, have a white border, and can’t be cropped in the app. If you fix those things, it’ll be golden. I really like it. **Developer response:** We were not in a position to maintain the app for the past 4 years, but now, Blackout Bard has been refreshed with all the fixes based on user feedback. Hope this addresses your concerns. Thank you for your feedback and patience. ## Frequently asked questions about Blackout Bard ### What is Blackout Bard? Blackout Bard is a creative writing application that allows users to create blackout poetry by selecting and highlighting words from existing text. It also supports integrating personal artwork and offers accessibility features. ### How does Blackout Bard work? Users select words from a given text to form new phrases or poems, and then can choose to blackout or dim the remaining words. The app supports importing custom images as backdrops and offers various font options. ### Is Blackout Bard suitable for users with low vision or dyslexia? Yes, Blackout Bard includes curated fonts designed for users with special needs, such as low vision and dyslexia, and text scales according to device settings. It also supports Voice Over interaction for low vision users. ### Can I use my own photos with Blackout Bard? Absolutely. The app allows you to import your own photos to use as the backdrop for your blackout poetry creations, blending your visual art with your written word. ### What languages does Blackout Bard support? Blackout Bard is language-friendly and works with any language script that uses a space as a word separator, making it versatile for a global user base. ### How often is Blackout Bard updated? The latest version of Blackout Bard is 6.0, and it was last updated on December 17, 2025. This indicates a commitment to ongoing development and improvements. ### What is the age rating for Blackout Bard? Blackout Bard is rated for ages 9 and up, making it suitable for a wide range of users interested in creative expression and language-based art. ### Does Blackout Bard have ads? No, Blackout Bard is free to download and does not contain advertisements, providing an uninterrupted creative experience for its users. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 6.1 — 2026-08-01 Users can now save multiple drafts with unique titles from a single source text. ### 6.0 — 2025-12-17 We believe our app should be for everyone! This update brings a set of new features and improvements focused on inclusivity and accessibility: 1. Fonts which scale: The app now fully supports Dynamic Type, so you can adjust the font size from your device's settings 2. VoiceOver Support: We've made significant improvements to our accessibility labels and navigation flow, making it easier for VoiceOver users to navigate and interact with the app. 3. Fullscreen Mode: Need to focus? You can now enter into fullscreen mode which hides the toolbars, giving you a clean, distraction-free space. 4. One Scan Setup via QR codes: This frees up time during classroom / therapy sessions so you can focus on the creative task at hand. 5. Dark Mode is here! We've listened to your feedback and are thrilled to introduce a new dark theme that reduces eye strain. ### 5.2 — 2025-06-06 Bug fix for Help Menu when accessibility is ON for large font sizes ### 5.1 — 2025-05-26 Fine tuning / Bug Fixes for previous release (5.0): 1. New: 'Tap to Blackout Mode ' - where users first blackout words, leaving behind the rest. 2. Accessibility Fixes : Preservation of the UI Integrity for large Text Sizes when Accessibility is ON 3. Scanning improvements ( iPhone / iPad): Added support for scanning multiple paragraphs at one go 4. MacOS Compatible (Designed for iPad): Note: All features except Photo Wallpapers, Scanning & Drawing are supported ### 5.0 — 2025-05-12 1] Added an alternate method to create Blackout Poetry, i.e, 'Tap to Blackout Mode ' - where users first blackout words, leaving behind the rest. ( Switch to this optional method based on preference.) 2] Revised Accessibility 3] Scanning improvements ( iPhone / iPad): Added support for scanning multiple paragraphs at one go 4] MacOS Compatible (Designed for iPad): Note: All features except Photo Wallpapers, Scanning & Drawing are supported. ## Apps similar to Blackout Bard | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Daily Prompt: Writing Prompts](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daily-prompt-writing-prompts/id1448668946) | 4.7 (2,306) | Free | Education | | [Vocabulary - Learn words daily](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vocabulary-learn-words-daily/id1084540807) | 4.8 (210,975) | Free | Education | | [Daily chinese poetry learning](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daily-chinese-poetry-learning/id1208378471) | 4.6 (52) | Free | Education | | [Allpoetry Poetry.app](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/allpoetry-poetryapp/id6446605725) | 3.6 (15) | Free | Education | | [Brainsparker Creativity Coach](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainsparker-creativity-coach/id694087970) | 4.6 (1,348) | Free | Education | | [Poesi – Poetry Everywhere](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/poesi-poetry-everywhere/id1286385543) | 5.0 (1) | $2.99 | Education | ## Related topics [blackout poetry](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/blackout-poetry) · [blackout bard](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/blackout-bard) · [magnetic poetry](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/magnetic-poetry) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-02.*