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Change the background color and pattern in an email

Article: 000014522
Updated: March 11, 2025

Use the Design tab to change your email's background colors, and add or remove a background pattern



Changing the background color and pattern is an easy way to brand and style your email. If your background pattern is transparent, your background color shows too, so don't be afraid to experiment with different combinations to find one you really like!

Note: The outer background isn't always displayed when viewing your email on a mobile device. Make sure to preview the mobile view of your email to make sure it has the branding you intend.


Change the background color

The color of your email's background can be changed to match your branding and can help make the main content in your email really pop.

  1. Click the Design tab.
  2. In the Backgrounds & borders section, click on a color swatch to change the color of each background type. Placing your cursor over a color in the palette lets you preview it in your template:
  • Outer background - Surrounds the entire email and includes the background pattern, if you choose to use one.
  • Inner background - Sits within the Outer Background and contains all of your email content. Whatever color you choose will show through any transparent images you have in your email.
    Light Bulb IconDesign tip: You can access additional customization options and choose to use an image for the inner background of your email!
  • Feature layout background - Applies to any pre-built layout that includes a background color in its design.

    Email Design tab, Backgrounds & Borders menu expanded, Outer Background, Inner Background, and Feature Layout Background color swatches
     
  1. Click either: 
  • Basic - Click on a color to select it and apply it to your template.

    Email Design tab, Backgrounds & Borders menu expanded, Basic color palette options
     
  • Advanced - Enter a specific HEX color value and click Apply.

    Email Design tab, Backgrounds & Borders menu expanded, Advanced color palette options and Apply button
     

 

lightbulb iconDesign tip: For additional control over the colors in your email, try changing the background color of an individual block to make the content stand out even more. If you later change the block color globally through the Design tab, the block keeps its custom color.

 


Change the background pattern

If you want to add some more interest to your email background, it's easy to add a pattern or custom background, change it, or remove it:

  1. Click the Design tab.
  2. In the Borders & backgrounds, click the pencil icon to change the outer background pattern.

    Email Design tab, Backgrounds & Borders menu expanded, and Outer Background option with Edit Image icon
     
  3. Select a pattern or image for your email background:
  • Use a default option - Scroll to find a pattern you like and then click on it to apply it to your email.
    Note: If the background you choose is an image, like the wood planks or grass, you won't be able to change its color.

    Background Patterns menu expanded with default pattern selected
     
  • Use an image from your Library - To add a custom background, click Select Custom. Then select an image from your Library and click Insert. By default, images appear as tiles behind your email. The best background images appear seamless so you can't tell where one tile ends and the next begins.

    Insert Image overlay, Library tab selected, background image selected, and Insert button
     
  • Remove a background image - Click No Pattern to remove the background pattern or image. This leaves only the background color showing.

    Background Patterns menu expanded, and No Pattern option selected
     
  1. Click the back arrow to return to the Design tab.

    Background Patterns menu expanded with custom image selected, and Back button
     
  2. (Optional) To customize how the pattern or image fills the background:
  • Click the tile icon to have the image tile horizontally and vertically. This option keeps your image at or near its original size and is good for patterns.

    Email Design tab, Backgrounds and Borders section expanded, custom outer background selected, and Tile icon
     
  • Click the center icon to disable tiling and have the image centered and aligned to the top of the email.

    Email Design tab, Backgrounds and Borders section expanded, custom outer background selected, and Center icon
     
  • Click the image icon to disable tiling and have your image span the full width of the background.

    Email Design tab, Backgrounds and Borders section expanded, custom outer background selected, and Image icon
     

 

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