How do I add a background image to my newsletter?

You can add a background image at three levels:

1. On an individual letter — applies to just that one send.
2. On a template — applies to every letter created from that template going forward.
3. On a single section/block — applies to one content block, not the whole email. Works in both letter and template editors.

The control is the same everywhere: open the editor for the letter, template, or block you want to change and find the Background Image setting.

Before you start

• File type: JPG, PNG, or GIF.
• Size: keep it under ~1 MB so emails stay snappy.
• Dimensions: match your newsletter’s Desktop Width (set in the Styles tab, default 640px) for the cleanest result.
• Contrast: make sure body text stays readable on top of it.

You can also use a hosted image from the web — you just need its direct URL.

Option 1: One letter

Use this for a one-off look — a seasonal issue or sponsored edition.

1. Open the letter from Emails (an existing draft, or start one from a template).
2. In the editor’s right panel, click the Styles tab.
3. Under EMAIL STYLES, below Desktop Width, Mobile Width, and Background Color, find Background Image and click Choose an image.
4. Upload from Local Files or paste a Direct Link. The preview refreshes with your new background. Save the letter.

Option 2: A template

Use this when every letter created from the template should inherit the background.

1. Open Emails → Templates and click the template.
2. Open the Styles tab and set the Background Image the same way as above.
3. Save the template.

New letters created from the template start with the background; letters already created don’t update retroactively.

Option 3: One section (block)

Use this to put a background behind just one block — a hero panel or featured story. It works in both letter and template editors.

1. Click the block; the right panel switches to Block Settings.
2. Scroll to BACKGROUND IMAGE and expand it, then click Choose an image.
3. After uploading, pick an Image Fit:
   • Fit — the whole image is visible inside the block (may leave space at the edges);
   • Fill — the image covers the block completely (parts may crop);
   • Tile — the image repeats across the block.

Content displays above the image. If your image has no transparency, the block’s background color won’t be visible; for best results use images matching your newsletter’s Desktop Width.

A note about Outlook

Background images may not display in Outlook desktop, which falls back to your Background Color. Set a background color that complements the image so Outlook readers still get a consistent look; for section-level images, a transparent Block Background Color lets the image show through.

Confirm it looks right

• Is all your text readable on top of the image?
• Does it look right at both desktop and mobile widths?
• Does the fallback Background Color still work if the image doesn’t load?

Then click Preview and schedule (letter) or Preview and activate (template) to step through the preview flow.

Removing a background image

Go back to where you added it — the Styles tab or Block Settings — and clear the image. The design falls back to your background color.

Troubleshooting

• Not showing for some readers: some clients (notably Outlook desktop) don’t render background images; they see your background color instead.
• Text hard to read: use a simpler image, or give individual blocks a solid Block Background Color so text sits on a clean surface.
• Stretched, cropped, or pixelated: try a different Image Fit for sections, or re-upload at a size closer to your Desktop Width.
• Template image missing on old letters: template changes only apply to new letters; set the image directly on existing letters.
• Nothing changed after choosing an image: the upload may have failed silently — try a smaller JPG or PNG.

Still stuck? Reach out to support. For the rest of the design toolkit, see How do I use the new design settings?