Privacy Policy

Your images are processed in your browser and are not uploaded to DotBead.

Effective date: July 21, 2026

1. Scope

This Privacy Policy explains how DotBead (“DotBead,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) handles information when you visit dotbead.com or use the DotBead perler bead pattern generator. It applies to the website, generator, guides, and export tools that link to this policy.

2. Information we process

Images and pattern data

Images you select are decoded and converted locally in your browser. Pattern calculations, color matching, bead counts, previews, and PNG/PDF exports are also created on your device. DotBead does not provide an image-upload endpoint and does not intentionally receive your image pixels, filenames, generated patterns, palette selections, or material lists.

Technical and access data

When you request a page, our hosting infrastructure may automatically process limited technical data needed to deliver and protect the service, such as your IP address, browser and device type, requested URL, referral information, timestamps, response status, and security events. This information may be personal information under applicable law even though we do not use it to identify you directly.

Information you send us

If you contact us, we may receive your email address, message, and any other information you choose to include. Please do not send source images or sensitive personal information unless it is necessary for your request.

3. Cookies and browser storage

DotBead uses Google Analytics to understand aggregate website usage. Google Analytics may set identifiers such as the _ga cookie and process information including pages visited, referral source, approximate location, and browser or device type. It does not receive the images, patterns, palette selections, or exports processed by the generator. Your browser may also cache files required for normal site operation. You can remove stored cookies through your browser settings.

4. How we use information

We use the limited information described above to:

• deliver pages and operate the pattern generator;
• maintain reliability, diagnose errors, and prevent abuse;
• respond to questions and support requests;
• understand aggregate traffic and service performance without profiling images;
• comply with law and protect our users, service, and legal rights.

Where European or UK data protection law applies, our legal bases are our legitimate interests in operating and securing the service, performance of a service you request, compliance with legal obligations, and consent where the law requires it.

5. Sharing and selling

We do not sell personal information, share it for cross-context behavioral advertising, or use uploaded images for advertising or AI model training. We may disclose limited technical or contact data to service providers that host, secure, analyze, or support DotBead, including Google Analytics; when required by law or valid legal process; or when reasonably necessary to protect people, prevent fraud, or defend legal rights. Google handles Analytics data under its Privacy Policy.

6. Data retention

Image and pattern data processed in the browser remain under your control and normally disappear when the page or browser session ends, subject to browser caching. Hosting and security logs are retained only as long as reasonably necessary for operations, security, debugging, and legal obligations. Contact messages are retained as needed to resolve the request and maintain appropriate business records.

7. Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect information, including local image processing and encrypted HTTPS transport for website requests. No internet service or storage method is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. International data transfers

DotBead and its service providers may process technical or contact data in countries other than your own. Where required, we rely on recognized transfer mechanisms and safeguards appropriate to the destination and type of information.

9. Your privacy rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to request access, correction, deletion, restriction, objection, or portability of your personal information; withdraw consent; or appeal a privacy decision. You may also have the right to complain to your local data protection authority. We will not discriminate against you for exercising a privacy right. Because DotBead does not receive browser-processed image data, we cannot access, retrieve, or delete an image that never left your device.

10. Children’s privacy

DotBead is a general-audience creative tool and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, contact us so we can investigate and delete it when appropriate. Parents and guardians should supervise children’s use of online services and image files.

11. Third-party links

DotBead may link to third-party websites. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies, and we are not responsible for their content or handling of information.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when the service, providers, or legal requirements change. We will post the revised policy here and update the effective date. Material changes may also be highlighted on the website when appropriate.

13. Contact us

For privacy questions or requests, email [email protected]. Please describe your request and the jurisdiction you live in. We may need to verify your identity before acting on certain requests.