Tracery
Draw it for real. Tracery puts any picture over your paper so you can trace it with your own pencil, using your camera, AR, or your screen as a lightbox.
Contact · FAQ · Privacy Policy
How to Use
- Pick a picture. Choose a photo, open an image from Files, snap a new photo, type some Lettering, or start from one of the built-in line drawings.
- Make it a guide. Choose Photo, Pencil, Outline or Ink, adjust the detail, and pick a guide color. Subject only hides a busy background behind a person, pet or object.
- Choose how to trace. Camera: prop your phone 8–12 inches above the paper. AR: pin the picture to your desk or a wall and move freely. Lightbox: lay thin paper on the screen.
- Line it up and lock it. Drag, pinch and twist to fit the picture to your paper, then tap Lock. Hold the lock badge to unlock.
- Draw. Watch the screen as you trace. Turn on the grid to check proportions, and record a time-lapse of your paper as you go.
Contact
Found a bug, have a question, or want to suggest a feature? Email us. We usually reply within a few days.
FAQ
Which mode should I use?
Camera is the steadiest for long drawings: set your phone on a glass, a mug or a stack of books with the camera facing down. AR lets you hold your phone or move around, and also works on walls for murals. Lightbox is quickest for small pieces: turn the brightness up and trace through thin paper laid on the screen.
The picture drifts in AR mode.
AR needs a little texture to hold on to. Give it good light, move your phone slowly until the surface is found, then tap to place the picture. Plain white paper on a plain white table is the hardest case; a desk with some pattern around the paper helps. Tap the circular arrow to place it again.
The outline has too many little marks.
Lower the Detail slider, or turn on Subject only to hide the background. Photos with a clear subject and even light give the cleanest lines.
I can’t tell my pencil lines from the guide.
Switch the guide color to red or blue under Style, so your graphite stands out against it.
What does the time-lapse record?
It records your paper through the camera, without the guide on top, sped up about 15 times. Save it to Photos or share it when you stop.
Tracery asks for camera access.
Camera and AR modes show your paper through the camera. The video is shown on screen and only recorded if you tap Record. You can change this in Settings → Apps → Tracery.
Which devices are supported?
iPhone and iPad with iOS 17 or later. AR mode needs a device that supports ARKit world tracking. Subject only uses Apple’s on-device image analysis and appears when a clear subject is found.
Privacy Policy
Last updated: October 2026
Tracery (“the App”) is provided by an independent developer (“we”). This policy explains how the App handles information.
Information We Collect
We do not collect any personal information. The App has no accounts, no sign-in, no ads, no analytics and no tracking, and it does not connect to the internet.
Your pictures
The App only reads the photos and images you choose or take with it. They are processed entirely on your device to make tracing guides. Copies of the pictures you choose and your guide settings are kept on your device so they appear under Recent. They are never uploaded, sent to a server or shared with us or anyone else. You can remove a picture from Recent at any time by touching and holding it.
Camera
Camera and AR modes use the camera to show your paper on screen. Nothing from the camera is saved unless you tap Record to make a time-lapse, and that video stays on your device until you choose to save or share it.
Saving to your photo library
When you save a time-lapse, the App asks for permission to add it to Photos. This permission only lets the App add new items. It cannot read or change the photos already in your library.
Purchase
The App is purchased through the App Store. Apple processes the payment, and we do not receive your name, email address or payment information. Please see
Apple’s Privacy Policy for details.
Children’s Privacy
We do not collect, store or share any personal information from anyone, including children under 13.
Deleting Your Data
Deleting the App removes its saved pictures and settings from your device. Time-lapses you saved to Photos stay in your library until you delete them there.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy when the App changes. Updates will be posted on this page with a new “Last updated” date.
Questions about this policy? Email us at tajimaru1209@gmail.com.