Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for removing a visual object from a visual data stream. A live visual data stream containing present and subsequent images is received. A visual object is selected by defining a contour. A binary mask based on said contour is determined. Starting at the coarsest layer, regions outside the mask for replacing a region within the mask are selected. The region within the mask is replaced by content of the selected regions. The selecting and the replacing are successively repeated at each of the finer layers of the resolution pyramid finishing at the finest layer. The repeated replacing is also based on the content replaced at the next coarser layer. The step of determining a binary mask, calculating a resolution pyramid, and repeated selecting and repeated replacing are repeated for the received subsequent image. The repeated replacing is also based on the content replaced in the preceding image.