Image tips for editing emails on desktop

Arrange and format images within your email on a desktop or laptop computer to make the most impact

Images communicate a concept more quickly than text alone, especially when used in the right layout. Emails with three images or less — not including your logo or social media icons — see much higher click rates. Placement and quality are everything. Be strategic and only use a picture if it adds something to your content. 

• Using text with images
• Positioning and formatting your images
• Designing with mages in mind

Did you know? The Constant Contact mobile app has a robust set of image editing tools so you can add images to your Library, edit them, and then insert them into your email, all through your mobile device.

Using text with images

Use text with your images to maximize their visual impact:

• Add text to an image - Protect the clarity of text in your image by layering text on the picture with in-editor tools after you've added it to your email. If you add text before you upload it to your Library, the text can appear stretched or grainy.
• Wrap text around an image - If the image is related to specific text, try wrapping the text around the image to make it look unified.
• Add a caption - Give clarity to an image by adding a caption to describe who is in your picture or what is happening.
• Use descriptions -  Because some email programs don't display images, always add an image description. Image descriptions are also picked up by screen readers for the visually impaired!
• Text-to-image ratio - Avoid sending an image-only email, as it can trigger spam filters. Make sure any images you add are balanced with an appropriate amount of text. A good rule of thumb is one image for about 20 lines of text.
  
  
   

Positioning and formatting your images

You'll know when your image is in the right spot because it will look balanced. Images draw the eye, so keep the image related to the content around it for a nice flow.

• Size - Don't just take the one-size-fits-all approach! Resize the image to fit neatly into the block.
• Crop - Make your subject stand out by cropping out the unnecessary parts of the picture.
• Padding - Create a margin of space around your image to draw the eye right to it. Adding spacers above or below the image can give you more distance when you need it too.
• Border - Prevent your image from fading into the background by adding a border in a contrasting color or adjusting the background color in your block.
• Side-by-side images - Place two images next to each other in your block by creating a dual-column layout. When viewed on a mobile device, the images stack with the left image appearing on the top.
  
  
   

Design tip: Sometimes the appearance of an image can be improved through better design in other parts of the email. Check out our tips for making your pictures pop!

Designing with images in mind

The type of image is related to how you use it within your email:

• Logo - Your logo can help your contacts recognize you and improve email results. Wherever you place your logo, make sure you  link it to your website.
• Background image - Background images can make your content pop off the screen, but not all email clients or mobile devices display them. Changing the background colors is an easy way to add your branding.
• Thumbnail - You can take a screenshot to create a smaller image of a document. Then add it to your email and link it to the full version. If you are using a PDF, it's easy to create an entire email from an image of its first page. You can even crate a thumbnail of the PDF when you import it to the Library!
• Promotion or call-to-action - If you're using an image to point your readers to take action, make sure that your image links to the most relevant webpage. For example, if you're highlighting an item for sale, link to a product detail page for the item instead of your homepage where the reader would have to hunt for the link.
• Button - Sometimes text links can get lost, but buttons are a great way to make the link stand out as a call-to-action. If you don't want a standard rectangle you can control the radius through the Buttons option on the Design tab. Using a custom image as a clickable link can add an extra design detail too.
  
  
   

Did you know? Emails display differently across devices. A layout that looks perfect on desktop may appear cramped or reshuffled on mobile. Check out our mobile best practices to ensure your contacts always get the best possible viewing experience.

Questions?