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Difference between background image and background colour

Payal Arya
  • Updated

When designing your signature template, it is essential to understand the pros and cons of using a background image vs background colour:

  Pros Cons
Background image
  • Scope for interesting designs.

  • Allows for patterns, gradients and shapes.

  • Creates a new depth in signatures.

  • Isn't affected by dark mode.

 

 

 
  • Renders as a bitmap image that can be removed on forward/reply emails.

  • Quality can vary depending on monitor resolution.

  • The table used must be the same size and height as the background image.

  • Alignments are done using padding. This can look odd in the signature designer.

  • Hyperlinks may not work in Outlook with client-side signature.
Background colour
  • Does not render as a bitmap image.

  • Allows for extra depth and intrigue to the design.

  • Easy to fill a cell or a table.
  • Sometimes, a white box appears in the Outlook preview when the email is received.

  • Some colours can become dull or muted in dark mode.

  • May not be able to create the more elaborate designs as easily.


To explain this concept better, let's assume you have a two-tone signature type similar to this:

  • If you want to make it into a user photo or a logo overlapping the design, then
    the design will use a background image.

    For ease of use, the image must include both or one of the colours similar to this:
  • If the user photo is moved upward, and shrunk in size, then a background colour can be used instead. This is because the user photo is not overlapping two colours. You will still need to use tables to lay out the information the way it is.

    However, the top half will have a background colour set in the table cells, similar to this:
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