top of page

Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 18, 2026

A-A-RON ENGRAVED (www.a-a-ron-engraved.ca) is run by Aaron McLean, a sole proprietor in Penhold, Alberta, Canada. This policy explains what information we collect, what we don't, and what your choices are. We follow Canada's privacy law for businesses (PIPEDA) and Alberta's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) where they apply.

The short version: the free tools run in your web browser. Your photos, words and designs stay on your device. We count how often the tools are used, but those counts are anonymous. If you accept cookies, Google Analytics helps us see how visitors find and use the site, and the Meta (Facebook) Pixel helps us measure and show our Facebook and Instagram ads. If you don't accept, neither one runs. A few tools ask outside services for things like maps, fonts and AI models; those services see a normal web request from your browser.

1. Your photos and designs stay on your device

The free tools do their work inside your web browser, on your own computer or phone. When you add a photo, type a name or make a design, it is not uploaded to our site and we don't store it.

The AI features (for example in Image to Depth Map, Image to Outline, Engrave Preview, Lithophane Maker and Layered Cutouts) download an AI model to your browser and run it there. Your photo is not sent to us or to the AI model's host.

2. What we collect

Anonymous usage counts

To learn which tools are useful, each tool page adds one to a daily counter when something happens, such as:

  • the tool was opened;

  • a sample was tried, or your own photo or design was used;

  • a file was downloaded (and what type, such as SVG or LightBurn);

  • a link was copied or a design was shared.

Each counter only holds the date, the tool, the kind of action, a short label (like the file type) and a total. We do not record your name, your words, your photos, the places you search, your IP address or any ID for you, and our counters don't use cookies.

Google Analytics (only if you accept)

We use Google Analytics to understand how people find and use the site, for example which pages are visited, how long people stay, roughly where visitors are (country or city level) and what device and browser they use. We also have Google's advertising features turned on, which can add general information such as age range and interests (from people signed in to Google who allow it) and lets us build audiences of past visitors for Google ads. It uses cookies and runs only if you accept cookies in our cookie banner.

Google processes this information for us under its own policies, and it may be stored outside Canada (see "Where your information goes"). Google Analytics does not get your photos, the words you type into the tools or your designs. You can block it on any website with Google's opt-out browser add-on, and control ad personalisation in Google's My Ad Center. Learn more in how Google uses information from sites that use its services.

Meta (Facebook) Pixel (only if you accept)

We use the Meta Pixel, and Meta's Conversions API through our website host Wix, to measure visits from our Facebook and Instagram posts and ads, and to show our ads to people who have visited the site. It records things like the pages you visit and the browser you use, and sets a marketing cookie. It runs only if you accept cookies in our cookie banner. When you have accepted, Wix may also send the same kind of visit events to Meta directly from its servers.

Meta processes this information under its own policies, and it may be stored outside Canada (see "Where your information goes"). It does not get your photos, the words you type into the tools or your designs. You can control the ads you see in your Meta ad preferences and read the Meta Privacy Policy.

Changing your cookie choice

You can change or withdraw your choice at any time with the "Settings" link in the cookie banner or the "Cookie settings" button on the site. You can also clear cookies in your browser.

If you email us

If you email us, we receive your email address and whatever you write. We use your email only to reply to you, and for orders, to handle your order. We don't send newsletters or marketing email. If we ever start, we'll ask first, and every message will have an unsubscribe link.

Past engraving customers, site accounts and chat

Custom engraving is for past customers. If you order from us, or have in the past, we keep the details you gave for your order (such as your name, contact and shipping details, and what you ordered) to do the work, ship it, and keep our business and tax records. To do that we use:

  • Wix for past online orders and payments (our online store is no longer open; orders are now arranged by email). Payments were handled by the payment provider chosen at checkout; we don't see or store full card numbers.

  • Shippo to make shipping labels (your name and shipping address).

  • QuickBooks Online for our bookkeeping (order and payment records).

  • Fera holds product reviews that past customers chose to leave. The reviews widget is turned off on the site, so it doesn't run when you visit. Fera handles stored reviews under its own privacy policy.

  • Our referral program, if you choose to use it.

If you create an account or log in on the site (Wix Members), Wix keeps your login details and profile. If you message us through the site chat, we receive what you write and any contact details you give. Site chat is provided by Wix, which stores the conversation for us. You never need an account to use the free tools.

Our website host

The site is hosted by Wix.com. Like any website host, Wix receives technical information when you visit, such as your IP address and browser type, and it sets some cookies that the site needs to work and stay secure. Wix also gives us basic visit statistics (for example page views and the country of visitors) in our site dashboard. Wix handles this under its own policies. You can read more in Wix's cookie information and the Wix Privacy Policy.

3. What we don't do

  • We don't ask you to sign up or make an account to use the tools.

  • We don't upload or store your photos, words or designs.

  • We don't sell your personal information for money. But if you accept cookies, Google and Meta collect information about your visit for advertising (see section 2). Some US state laws call that "selling" or "sharing" personal information. You can stop it at any time by declining or changing your cookie choice.

  • We don't sell your photos, words or designs to advertisers or sponsors.

Ads and sponsors. Ads and sponsors help keep the tools free, so the site may show ads, sponsored tools or content, or links from sponsors and partners (some may earn us a commission). Sponsored tools and content are marked "Sponsored", and affiliate links are marked where they appear. If we add an ad network or partner that uses cookies or tracking, we will add it to this policy before it starts, and it will only run if you accept cookies. We may also advertise on Facebook, Instagram or Google (see the Meta Pixel and Google Analytics sections above).

4. What the tools save on your device

To be helpful, the tools remember some things in your own browser (using "local storage" and similar browser features). This information stays on your device. We can't see it. Examples:

  • Your laser ("aaron-my-laser"): the laser type, power and bed size you chose, and test results you saved, so every tool can suggest starting settings for your machine.

  • Your last design in each tool: your settings and, in some tools, the words or names you typed (for example the date and place on a star map) so you can pick up where you left off. Layout Studio may also keep a traced shape you added.

  • Handing a design to another tool ("aaron-handoff", "aaron-wrap-handoff", "aaron-jig-handoff"): when you use a "send to another tool" button, the photo, art or name is left in your browser for the next tool to pick up. The next tool removes the hand-off once it has read it, and most hand-offs older than 10 minutes are ignored and removed. The Tumbler Jig Maker keeps the cup (and the design, if you sent one) that it received, so it's still there when you come back.

  • Small preferences: things like units, view choices and which sections you opened.

  • Downloaded helpers: the AI models and map data you used may be kept in your browser's storage so they don't have to download again.

You can clear all of this at any time by clearing your browser's site data for www.a-a-ron-engraved.ca. Most tools also have a reset button.

Share links: Some tools can copy a link to your design. The design's settings (and any words you typed) are stored in the part of the link after the "#". Your browser does not send that part to our site, but anyone you give the link to can see it. Photos are not included in these links.

5. Outside services the tools contact

Some tools need files or data from other services. When that happens, your browser connects to that service directly. Like any website, the service can see your IP address and basic browser information. These services may be outside Canada and have their own privacy policies.

  • jsDelivr (cdn.jsdelivr.net). Used by: Most tools. What it's for: Code libraries and open-licence fonts (Google Fonts via Fontsource). What it receives: A normal request for the file.

  • Hugging Face (huggingface.co). Used by: AI photo tools. What it's for: Downloads the AI model to your browser. What it receives: A normal request for the model files. Not your photo.

  • Nominatim / OpenStreetMap (nominatim.openstreetmap.org). Used by: Street Map, Star Map, Layered Cutouts. What it's for: Finds the place you search for. What it receives: The words you type in the place search.

  • Overpass API (overpass-api.de, and overpass.kumi.systems as a backup). Used by: Street Map. What it's for: Gets the streets and buildings for your map. What it receives: The map area you picked.

  • OpenFreeMap (tiles.openfreemap.org). Used by: Layered Cutouts. What it's for: Roads and buildings for real-place maps. What it receives: The map area you picked.

  • Amazon Web Services (s3.amazonaws.com, Terrain Tiles). Used by: Layered Cutouts. What it's for: Land heights for real-place maps. What it receives: The map area you picked.

Map tools need to know which area to draw, so the services above learn the area you picked. If you add a route file (like a GPX file from your watch) to Layered Cutouts, the route itself stays on your device, but the map area around it is requested from these services.

Your device's share button: If you use a "Share" button, your phone or computer's own share menu opens, and you choose where it goes.

Links to other sites: Links such as our Facebook group take you to sites with their own privacy rules.

6. Where your information goes

Some of the companies we use store or process information outside Canada, mainly in the United States, and sometimes in other countries where they or their suppliers operate (for example Wix in Israel and the EU, and Meta and Google worldwide). This applies to Wix (website, store and chat), Google (Analytics), Meta (Pixel), Shippo (shipping labels), Intuit QuickBooks (bookkeeping) and Fera (stored reviews). We use them so the site, the store and our ads work. Information held in another country can be accessed by that country's courts and authorities under its laws. To ask about these providers, contact our privacy officer (section 12).

7. Children

The site is not aimed at children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect personal information from them. If you think a child has sent us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

8. How long we keep things and how we protect them

  • Anonymous usage counts contain no personal information. We keep them as long as they are useful.

  • Emails you send us: we keep them up to 2 years after our last contact, unless they're part of an order.

  • Order and payment records (past customers): we keep them for 6 years after the end of the tax year they relate to, because tax law requires it, then delete them.

  • Site accounts (Wix Members): until you ask us to delete your account, or after 3 years of no activity.

  • Chat messages: up to 2 years.

  • We use reasonable safeguards to protect what we hold. Our usage counters are stored in our Wix site's database, where only the site owner can see them.

If a security problem puts your personal information at real risk, we'll tell you and the privacy commissioner as the law requires.

9. Your rights

You can ask us:

  • what personal information we have about you;

  • to correct it if it's wrong; or

  • to delete it, where the law allows.

You can also withdraw your consent to us using your information, subject to legal or contract limits. To ask, email info@a-a-ron-engraved.ca. We'll reply within 30 days. If we need more time, we'll tell you why and when to expect an answer, as the law allows.

If you are not happy with our answer, you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada or the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta.

10. Visitors in the EU, the UK and Quebec

We use Google Analytics and the Meta Pixel only with your consent, and you can withdraw it at any time with "Cookie settings". We use order details to carry out your order, and keep records because tax law requires it. You have the right to see, correct or delete your information, to object to its use, and to get a copy in a portable form. You can also complain to your local data protection authority (in Quebec, the Commission d'accès à l'information).

11. Changes to this policy

If we change how we handle information, we will update this policy and the "Last updated" date at the top. If we start using a new kind of tracking or a sign-up for the tools, we will update this policy before it starts.

If the business changes hands. If we sell or transfer the site or the business, the information we hold may pass to the new owner, who must use it only as this policy describes.

12. Who is responsible for your privacy

Aaron McLean, the owner, is responsible for how this site handles personal information (our privacy officer). You can reach him at info@a-a-ron-engraved.ca with any question about this policy, including questions about service providers outside Canada.

13. Contact us

Aaron McLean, A-A-RON ENGRAVED
Penhold, Alberta, Canada
info@a-a-ron-engraved.ca

bottom of page