Privacy Policy
This policy covers the 8-Bit Photo Converter website and the 8-Bit Studio mobile app. Both process images on your device without automatically uploading them to us. Their storage, advertising and privacy choices are described separately below.
Who we are
8-Bit Photo Converter is the free browser tool at 8bitphoto.co.uk, alongside our browser game, guides, palette references and gallery. We also make 8-Bit Studio, a mobile camera, editor and photo puzzle. You can contact the developer through our contact page.
8-Bit Photo website privacy
This section applies to the converter, 8-Bit Slide, the 8-Bit Text Generator and other pages on this website. You do not need the mobile app or an account to use them.
Photos and browser storage
When you select an image, pixelation and palette conversion run locally using your browser's Canvas API. The converter and game do not upload your source image to us or send it to our analytics or advertising services. The active image is held in page memory and is discarded when you close or reload the page. Downloads remain wherever you save them.
8-Bit Slide stores best scores in your browser's local storage. The 8-Bit Text Generator draws names locally and keeps your recent names, with their colour settings, in local storage so you can reopen them; names are not uploaded, added to the page address or sent to our analytics or advertising services. We also store your website cookie choice there so you do not have to repeat it on every page. You can remove these records through your browser's site-data settings. The website does not keep anything from the mobile app's local Library or its current draft.
Website cookies and your choices
Our cookie banner lets you accept or reject non-essential analytics and advertising storage and sends that choice to Google Consent Mode. Storage and personalisation signals default to denied unless you previously accepted. You can revisit your choice here:
Google's scripts load when you visit a page. Declining cookies does not stop every network request: consent-aware tags may send consent signals and measurements without cookies. Browser settings can also block or remove cookies and other site data. See Google's explanation of Consent Mode.
Google Analytics, AdSense and other website requests
We use Google Analytics to understand website use, including pages visited, device/browser information, referring pages and approximate region. Depending on your consent, cookies and identifiers may be used to distinguish visits. These services can process online identifiers and technical information even when reports show aggregate statistics.
Google AdSense supports website advertising. Google and its advertising partners may process identifiers, IP-derived approximate location and ad interactions for ad delivery, measurement, personalisation where permitted and fraud prevention. They may use cookies or similar technologies according to applicable choices. This website advertising is separate from AdMob in the mobile app.
You can also review Google's advertising controls and the Google Analytics opt-out add-on. Read how Google uses information from partner sites and apps and Google's Privacy Policy for its data handling and choices.
Our hosting provider may receive technical request information such as IP address, browser details and timestamps to deliver and secure the site. The pages also request fonts from Google Fonts; loading an external resource exposes connection details such as your IP address to that provider. These requests do not contain your selected image.
8-Bit Studio mobile app privacy
8-Bit Studio turns a photo into the picture a ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 or Teletext screen would have shown, keeping each machine's real limits. It also plays a Spectrum screen loading from cassette with the real tape audio, offers a live camera seen through each machine, includes the same converter as this website, and has a sliding-tile puzzle. It has no account system and no automatic photo-upload service. The website's browser-cookie and Google Analytics setup does not describe the app.
Photos are converted on your device
Photos and camera frames are converted on the device. Nothing is uploaded. There is no account and no image backend, so we do not receive, store or process your pictures at any point.
Camera, selected photos and permissions
Camera access is used for the live camera. The system photo picker opens when you import an image, and photo-library permission is requested where needed to choose or save images. Converting an imported photo does not change the original. The app does not request precise location, and it does not request microphone permission.
The Library and the current draft
Saved pictures and loading GIFs are kept in the app's local Library on your device. Saving also copies the picture to the device's own photo library where the operating system allows it.
The app keeps one local draft: the current photo and each machine's settings, so they survive a restart. Settings has “Forget the current photo”, which clears that draft. Pictures already in the Library, and the originals in your device's Photos, are kept.
Upgrading from the earlier Unity version of the app copies its existing photos into the new local store. Uninstalling removes the app's local data, subject to your device's backup and restore behaviour; copies you saved or shared elsewhere remain where they are.
Saving and sharing
Sharing uses the system share sheet and hands over only the exported PNG or GIF. The receiving app or service applies its own privacy policy. Your device's backup or photo-sync services may store app data and exported pictures according to your device and account settings. We do not operate a cloud photo service for the app.
Mobile advertising
The app uses Google AdMob. There is one compact anchored banner, on the home screen only. It is absent from every other screen, and it is the only advertising in the app.
Google's advertising SDK processes identifiers, IP-derived approximate location, app and ad interactions, and crash and diagnostic information, for advertising, analytics and fraud prevention. This matches the Data safety declarations on the Android app's Google Play listing; iOS is covered by the App Store privacy information instead. Your source photos are never supplied to AdMob.
See Google's Privacy Policy, Android advertising SDK disclosure, iOS advertising SDK disclosure and limited-ads explanation. Testing versions may use test ads, which still involve SDK network and diagnostic processing.
Mobile consent and tracking choices
Regional advertising choices use Google's User Messaging Platform, and a Privacy Options entry appears in the app's Settings where Google requires it. Reopen it to review those choices, including applicable US sale or sharing opt-outs.
On iPhone, Apple's tracking permission prompt applies where required, and is separate from regional advertising consent; denying it is respected even if you gave other advertising consent. Android has no equivalent app-level prompt; advertising-ID controls are in Android settings.
Declining advertising consent or tracking does not restrict the app. Every creative feature remains available regardless of these choices. Camera and photo-library permissions remain under your device's controls.
Android tester recruitment
The Android app is in closed testing, and the Test the Android app page explains how to join. Joining the tester group means Google processes your account and email address for group membership and for distributing the test build.
As the developer, we can see tester email addresses in the tester group's member list, and tester and install numbers in Google Play Console. Those addresses are used only to distribute the test build. They are not used for marketing, not added to a mailing list, and not shared with anyone else.
You can leave at any time. Opening the opt-in link you joined with gives you the option to stop being a tester, which ends your access to the test build, and you can leave the tester group from the group's own membership settings. Leaving does not remove pictures already saved on your device. Google's handling of the group and of Play distribution is covered by Google's Privacy Policy.
TestFlight beta testing on iOS
iOS is still distributed through TestFlight. Apple automatically collects crash logs and usage information for TestFlight versions and shares testing reports with the developer. Reports can include device, app-version and invitation details, and your name or email depending on how you joined. Feedback and screenshots you submit are also shared. We use these reports to improve the app. See Apple's TestFlight privacy information.
Your rights & contact
This section applies to both products. We are based in the United Kingdom. We rely on consent where required for analytics or advertising storage and personalisation, and on legitimate interests in operating, securing and improving our services and responding to support requests.
Under applicable data protection law, you may have rights to access, correct or delete personal data, restrict or object to processing, request a portable copy, and withdraw consent. These rights depend on the circumstances. You can raise a concern with the Information Commissioner's Office. Clearing local storage does not itself delete information already held by service providers.
Support messages and external services
If you contact us, we receive the details you provide so we can respond, such as your contact information, message and any attachments. Use our contact page or the external form at rsw.io/contact. The form's own website privacy information applies when you use it. Please identify the website or mobile app and avoid sending personal photos or other unnecessary information.
External sites, advertising providers, device backups and apps you choose to share with have their own data-handling and retention practices. Follow their privacy links and account controls for details. Contact us about data you have supplied directly to us or about this policy.
Children and policy changes
These products are intended for a general audience and are not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. Contact us if you believe a child has provided personal information to us.
We may update this policy as the website or app changes. The revision date appears at the top of this page.