1. Who we are
Kakure Pixel Studio operates this website and is responsible for the personal information described in this policy. Privacy questions and requests can be sent to support@kakurepixel.com or through the Contact page.
2. Information we handle
Contact inquiries
The Contact page prepares a message in your email app. Nothing is sent to Kakure Pixel Studio until you press Send there. If you send the message, we receive the name, reply email, topic, message, and any other information you choose to include.
Free Starter signup
As of this policy date, Free Starter delivery is still being connected. The public page does not display an email field, save or send an email address, activate a download, or create a marketing subscription. Before delivery and email signup go live, this policy and the page notice will be updated with the provider and live processing details. The signup will ask only for an email address. Submitting it will request the Starter Pack and signs the reader up for occasional Kakure Pixel Studio emails, as stated beside the submit button. Each update will include a one-click unsubscribe link.
Technical information
When a page is requested, hosting and security providers may process routine technical information such as IP address, browser and device type, requested URL, referring page, timestamps, and diagnostic or security events. This information is used to deliver and protect the website, not to build advertising profiles for Kakure Pixel Studio.
Puzzle-code abuse prevention
When the four-character backup-code form is used, the site creates a one-way hash from limited network and browser signals and stores the unsuccessful-attempt count and time. This temporary record is used only to pause repeated guessing after five failures. It is routinely removed after one day and is not used for advertising or cross-site tracking. Scanning a valid Puzzle QR does not use this manual-entry attempt counter.
Optional artwork feedback
After revealing an available Hidden Japan or Starter Pack puzzle, you can optionally select “I’d love more like this.” When you do, the Companion sends the puzzle identifier, your vote, and a random browser identifier to Kakure Pixel Studio. The identifier is converted to a one-way hash before storage; it is used to prevent the same browser from counting more than one vote for that artwork. We do not ask for your name or email address with this feedback. Selecting the button again removes that stored vote.
My Pen Palette usage
When My Pen Palette is opened or updated, the site records the entry source, the number of main and alternative colors configured, the time, and the same one-way-hashed random browser identifier. This supports aggregate counts of palette openers, registrations, registration rates, and 23-color completion. Pen names and pen-brand text entered in My Pen Palette are never transmitted or stored in this analytics record.
Completed-artwork views
The Companion records a completed-artwork view only after the artwork is loaded, at least half visible, and the page remains in the foreground for about two seconds. The record contains the puzzle identifier, time, and the same one-way-hashed random browser identifier described above. This lets Kakure Pixel Studio compare total views, repeat views, unique browsers, and anonymous vote rates. It does not identify a person, and clearing browser data or using another browser or device may create a new identifier.
Print Again security
When you request an eligible Puzzle through Print Again, the site checks the matching Puzzle code and creates a random, short-lived download token for that Puzzle only. A one-way hash of the token, the Puzzle identifier, limited network-and-browser security signals, and creation and expiry times are stored temporarily to authorize the file and limit abnormal request bursts. The token does not contain your name or email address and is not used for advertising or cross-site tracking.
After the private printable PDF is successfully retrieved for a download response, the site records the Puzzle identifier, time, and a one-way-hashed random browser identifier. This supports aggregate counts of total downloads, unique browsers, repeat downloads, and Reveal-to-download rates. A button tap that does not successfully retrieve the PDF is not counted. Unique-browser totals are estimates of browsers or devices, not verified people.
3. How and why we use information
- To understand and reply to an inquiry you choose to send.
- To provide, maintain, troubleshoot, and secure the website.
- To compare anonymous artwork reactions and plan future collections.
- To prevent misuse and comply with applicable legal obligations.
- To authorize and protect a requested Puzzle-specific Print Again download.
- Once activated, to deliver the Free Starter requested by the reader and to send the occasional Kakure Pixel Studio emails described on the signup form, each with an unsubscribe option.
Where data-protection law requires a legal basis, we rely on your request or consent, our legitimate interest in operating and securing the site and answering messages, and legal obligations where applicable. Consent can be withdrawn for future processing at any time, without affecting earlier lawful processing.
4. Browser storage, cookies, and analytics
The Starter Pack Companion and printed-book Hidden Japan Companion use the same first-party local storage record for My Pen Palette and prepared-pen choices. They use different records for Starter Pack progress and printed-book progress, so completing a free Starter Puzzle does not change the book's Reveal or review-request history. The printed-book Companion also stores the short codes for Puzzles actually opened in that browser and does not download codes for unscanned Puzzles. These items are not cloud-synced. Clearing browser data, changing browsers, or using another device may remove them or make them unavailable.
The Companion also remembers which Print Again buttons were used in that browser so a returning control can read “Download Again.” This local indicator is not proof of a purchase or a completed download and is not synchronized to another device.
Artwork feedback uses first-party local storage to remember your selection and a random browser identifier. When you tap the feedback button, the limited feedback information described above is sent to Kakure Pixel Studio. This feature does not use an advertising cookie or track your activity across other sites.
The password-protected studio report can exclude the current owner browser from these measurements. Activating that setting removes the hashed-browser Reveal views, artwork votes, Print Again download events, and My Pen Palette usage already stored for that browser and prevents future measurements while its first-party exclusion setting remains in local storage.
Short-lived session storage supports interface functions such as the return-to-Companion banner and a brief repeat-action guard on the Contact page. Kakure Pixel Studio does not currently enable optional analytics or advertising cookies. Hosting and security providers may use technologies that are strictly necessary to deliver and protect the site. If optional analytics or advertising technology is added, this policy and any legally required consent controls will be updated before activation.
6. Retention, security, and your choices
Inquiry emails are kept only as long as reasonably needed to reply, maintain appropriate business records, resolve disputes, and meet legal obligations. Technical logs follow the retention settings of the relevant hosting or security provider. Active artwork reactions are retained for product-planning analysis and are deleted when you tap the selected button again. Device-local Companion data remains under your browser's control until you edit or clear it. Print Again authorization tokens expire after a few minutes and expired token records are routinely removed. Anonymous successful-download events are retained only as reasonably needed for aggregate product analysis.
We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards, but no online transmission or storage method can be guaranteed completely secure. Depending on the law that applies, you may have rights to ask for access, correction, deletion, restriction, portability, or to object to certain processing. You may also withdraw marketing consent and complain to your local data-protection authority. To make a request, email support@kakurepixel.com. We may need to verify the request before acting on it.
7. Children and policy updates
The site is designed for an adult color-by-number audience and is not directed to children. If we learn that personal information from a child was submitted without the consent required by applicable law, we will take reasonable steps to delete it.
This policy may change as the Free Starter, analytics, sales links, or service providers are activated. The effective and last-updated dates at the top will identify the current version. Material changes will be highlighted where appropriate.