Images in messages.
WHAT CONSTRAINS EMAIL
Images blocked by default in many clients Narrow width on phones Limited layout support File size affecting delivery
WHAT THAT MEANS
The message must work with images off.
WHAT TO DO
Put essential information in text, not in images.
WHY
An email that is one large image shows nothing to many recipients, and is treated as suspicious.
WHAT WIDTH TO DESIGN FOR
Around six hundred pixels, displayed at half that on phones.
WHAT THAT REQUIRES
Text within images large enough to survive scaling.
WHAT ALTERNATIVE TEXT TO SUPPLY
For every image, describing what it shows.
WHY
It appears when images are blocked, and is read aloud by screen readers.
WHAT FILE SIZE TO TARGET
As small as possible, since recipients pay for the data.
WHAT TO AVOID
Background images, which many clients ignore Complex layouts Unusual fonts, which will not load Animated images with essential content in later frames
WHY THAT LAST POINT
Some clients show only the first frame.
WHAT TO TEST
On several clients, including at least one phone.
WHAT TO KEEP CONSISTENT
Header, colours and typography across every send.
WHAT TO PLACE AT THE TOP
The point, before anything decorative.
