Why must I allow SketchBook to access my photos, media, and files?

When you download SketchBook, a dialog appears asking to allow access to your photos, media, and files. We get people asking why we need access to these a lot, and for good reason. Who wants to give access to content on their phone?

Let's start with the obvious. We are not storing or sharing any of the content on your phone. Here's what we are accessing and why:

• Photos - When you want to use images from your device for Import Image, the app needs to access your photos to import them into the app.

• Media - When you want to use the Scan Sketch tool, the app needs to access to your camera to take a picture of what you want scanned.

• Files - When you want to save or retrieve your sketches or other images from your device, the app needs to access your files to locate the image or be able to navigate your file structure to save the image where you want.

We hope this helps to explain why we do this and puts you a bit more at ease.

Collection of usage information

Collecting usage information is limited to overall workflows and usage of commands at a general level.We look at what tools were used or used in combination. Is a tool never used? Is there a tool that is always used? This kind of thing.

Does SketchBook collect my personal information?

No. However, some Autodesk applications may, so Autodesk adopted GDPR (General Data Privacy Regulations) as the global standard for our privacy program. This means we must use your data responsibly and need your permission in order to use it. For more information on this, see GDPR at Autodesk: A Global Approach to Protecting Customer Data.

Why collect any data?

The collection of certain data helps us understand which tools are used during a SketchBook session. This helps us understand where we can improve the app.

Turning off data collection

Since there is a preference in the app that enables the collection of usage information, we have provided a way to turn it off. We understand you may not want to share this information, so here is how to turn it off:

1. Tap and select Preferences.
2. Tap the box next to Help Improve Our Products to uncheck it. This stops the collection of usage information.