Privacy Policy
Last updated: February 28th
Tinkersynth is a 1-person show: It's created and run by me, Josh Comeau. I like when my privacy is protected and respected, and can assume the same is true for you. This policy describes what data I collect and how it's used, and it does so in plain English, because that's the world I wish we lived in.
Personal Data collected
The main method of personal data collection happens when you purchase artwork created through the Tinkersynth machines.
Tinkersynth never collects information like your credit card number. We use Stripe for our payment processor, and we delegate the hard work of collecting and protecting sensitive information to them.
I do collect your name and email. If you are purchasing a package that includes a physical print, I also collect your shipping address.
We also offer a , for your convenience. This form collects a name, email address, and message, and is sent directly to my email inbox by my server. This data is not persisted in any database.
Non-Personal Data collected
Tinkersynth uses to track events. The philosophy behind this collection is to understand how the product is used. Note that it is not at all connected to any personally-identifiable information. Upon the first connection from a device, a random UUID is generated and used as an identifier. This information is never connected to your name, email, etc.
Examples of non-personal data collection include:
- Number of visits
- Button clicks
- Initiate checkout
- Errors
Social Trackers
Tinkersynth does not use Google Analytics, nor do we use the Facebook or Twitter SDKs. We don't like how major platforms like these will follow you around the internet, painting a clearer and clearer visit with every page you visit.
This page instead uses for general page analytics. Fathom is a paid service that protects user data and doesn't share it with any major platforms.
Data Usage
There are two products available through Tinkersynth, which can be purchased separately, or combined into a pack: source images or fine art prints. The data usage depends on which item(s) are selected.
For source images, the artwork is produced on a server, and download links are sent in an email to the email address provided, using the first/last name within that email.
For fine art prints, your first/last name and shipping address are used to ship the artwork purchased. I share this information with the printing shop, as they handle order fulfillment. For prints, I also use the first/last name and email address to send a confirmation email, once the print has shipped.
Our contact form uses the contact data collected to respond to your inquiry.
I may reach out to you via email, in a personal non-automated way, to ask for your feedback once you've received your artwork. This is not a newsletter, or any sort of bulk mail. I'm just keen to hear what folks do with the art they buy. I may request photos of the art, to display on the Tinkersynth homepage. Of course this is entirely voluntary, and if you'd rather never hear from me, please just reply to my email and let me know. I'll disappear like a phantom.
The above usages are exclusive. I have no newsletter, and if I do create one later, existing customers won't be auto-subscribed. I won't sell any of the data I've collected. I'm not here for that.
The non-personal analytics information collected is used exclusively by me, Josh Comeau, to understand how Tinkersynth is being used, to educate future product changes.
Cookies & Local Storage
Tinkersynth doesn't use cookies at all.
Tinkersynth does use localStorage, an alternative storage mechanism, to track a few things:
- A random UUID which identifies the current device, generated on first visit
- The current settings for the Slopes machine (this is a convenience for the user, so that their work isn't destroyed when navigating away from the page).
- Checkout settings, like which size and format is selected, for the convenience of the user.
- The number of page-loads from this device. This is used to tweak the experience (for example, the loading screen is less elaborate after the 4th visit).
Contact
If anything about this policy is unclear, please reach out. Send an email to me@joshwcomeau.com, or use the handy .