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Illustrations in email marketing: formats, sizes and examples
A good illustration makes an email recognisable before anyone reads a word. Getting it to look right in every inbox takes a few rules.
By Abdullah NomanOctober 23, 20263 min read
Short answer: use PNG images (not SVG) in email, export at twice the display width, keep the main illustration around 560 to 600 pixels wide, give every image alt text, and choose illustrations with a light or transparent-safe background so they hold up when an email client switches to dark mode.
Where illustrations help in email
| Illustration idea | |
|---|---|
| Welcome | A friendly picture of the product's main object |
| Onboarding step | The setting the user should open next |
| Feature launch | The new feature as a single object |
| Re-engagement | An empty inbox or paused state |
| Receipt or success | A small check or celebration image |
Formats and sizes
- PNG: works in practically every client. SVG does not display in most, including Gmail.
- Width: most email templates are 600 pixels wide; export a 1200-pixel PNG for sharp results on high-density screens and set
width="600". - File size: keep each image well under 1 MB so emails load quickly on mobile.
Dark mode
Some clients invert or darken colours automatically. Illustrations on their own light background card hold up best. Avoid transparent images with thin dark lines, which can disappear on a dark background.
Accessibility and deliverability
- Write alt text that carries the message, because many clients block images by default.
- Keep a healthy balance of text and images; an email that is a single image is harder to read and more likely to be filtered.
- Never put the key call to action only inside an image; use a real button.
Prompt for an AI email builder
Write a welcome email for new users of [product] with a Liniqo illustration at the
top (PNG, 1200px wide, shown at 600px), a short message, one button and alt text.
Keep the layout simple so it works in Gmail and Outlook.Questions
Can I use SVG in emails?
Not reliably. Gmail and many other clients do not display SVG, so use PNG for email illustrations.
What size should an email header image be?
Display around 560 to 600 pixels wide and export at double that width for sharp results.
How do I keep images readable in dark mode?
Place illustrations on their own light background card, and avoid transparent images with thin dark lines.
