Email Marketing Graphics

Email might feel old-school, but it's still one of the highest-ROI marketing channels. And the visual at the top of your email? That's often what determines whether someone keeps reading or hits delete.

This guide covers how to create email graphics that grab attention and drive clicks.

Email Graphic Types

Email Header (3:1)

The branding strip at the top of your email. Usually includes your logo and sets the visual tone. Think of it as your email's header bar.

Use for:

• Consistent branding across email campaigns
• Newsletter headers
• Transactional email branding

Keep in mind: Headers should be simple. Logo, maybe a tagline, brand colors. Don't try to communicate too much here.

Email Hero (3:2)

The main visual that appears below your header. This is your chance to make a statement—the image that should stop someone from scrolling and make them want to read more.

Use for:

• Campaign announcements
• Product launches
• Event promotions
• Feature spotlights
• Newsletter main visuals

Keep in mind: The hero needs to work with your headline. They should complement each other, not compete.

Email Banner (4:1)

Slim promotional strips that can appear anywhere in your email. Good for CTAs, secondary promotions, or section dividers.

Use for:

• Call-to-action strips
• Promotional offers
• Secondary messages
• Section breaks with visual interest

Newsletter Image (16:9)

Smaller graphics for individual items within a newsletter. If you're featuring multiple articles, products, or topics, each one gets its own image.

Use for:

• Article thumbnails
• Product features
• Event listings
• Content roundups

Email Design Constraints

Email is technically challenging. Graphics that look great on your screen might break in someone's inbox. Here's what to know:

Width Matters

600 pixels maximum. Most email clients display emails at 600px wide. Anything wider gets resized and might look blurry or broken. Canvora's email formats are already optimized for this.

File Size

Smaller is better. Large images slow down load times and might not display on slow connections. Keep email graphics under 200KB when possible.

Alt Text Considerations

Many people have images disabled by default. Your email should still make sense without the graphics loading. Don't put critical information only in images.

Mobile Preview

Over half of emails are opened on mobile. Your graphics should look good on a small screen. Big text, simple compositions, and clear focal points.

Creating Effective Email Graphics

For Announcements

You're launching something, sharing news, or making an announcement. The email graphic should create excitement.

What to include:

• The main announcement or headline
• Visual excitement (but not clutter)
• Your branding
• A sense of what's new/exciting

Input example:

Announcement: New reporting dashboard now live

Key message: Track your performance with real-time analytics

Details:
- Live data updates
- Custom report builder
- Export to PDF and Excel
- Mobile-friendly interface

CTA: Explore the new dashboard

For Newsletters

Newsletter graphics should entice people to keep reading. They're a visual hook for the content below.

What to include:

• The theme or main topic
• Visual interest without giving everything away
• Consistent with your newsletter branding

Input example:

Newsletter: Monthly Marketing Digest - November Edition

Theme: Preparing for Q4 and holiday campaigns

Topics covered:
- Holiday marketing timeline
- Email optimization tips
- Social media trends
- Case study: Last year's top performers

For Promotions

Promotional emails need graphics that communicate value and create urgency.

What to include:

• The offer (discount, deal, limited time)
• Clear value proposition
• Urgency elements if applicable
• Strong visual hierarchy

Input example:

Promotion: Black Friday Sale - 40% off all plans

Offer: 40% discount on annual subscriptions
Urgency: This weekend only (Nov 24-27)
Value: Save up to $200 on Pro plan

CTA: Claim your discount

For Product Updates

You've shipped something new. The graphic should showcase the update and make people want to try it.

What to include:

• What's new
• Why it matters (benefit, not just feature)
• Visual representation if possible

Input example:

Product Update: New collaboration features

What's new:
- Real-time co-editing
- Comment threads on any element
- @mentions and notifications
- Team workspace sharing

Benefit: Work together seamlessly, wherever your team is

Email Graphics from Documents

You can generate email graphics directly from existing content:

From Reports

Upload your report and generate an email hero announcing the findings. Canvora will extract the key message and create a compelling visual.

From Presentations

Take your slide deck and generate email graphics for sharing the presentation or promoting an upcoming talk.

From Product Docs

Turn feature documentation into email graphics for product update announcements.

Best Practices

Keep text minimal. Email graphics should complement your email copy, not replace it. A headline and maybe a subheadline—that's often enough.

High contrast is essential. Inboxes are busy. Your graphic needs to stand out. Strong contrast between text and background ensures readability.

Stay on brand. Email is a direct touchpoint with your audience. Use your brand kit to maintain consistency with your website and other materials.

Test across clients. If possible, preview your emails in Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail. They all render differently.

Consider dark mode. Many email clients now have dark mode. Graphics with transparent backgrounds or very light colors might not look as intended.

Common Email Campaigns

Welcome Sequence

• Email 1: Welcome header with brand introduction
• Email 2: Feature highlight graphic
• Email 3: Social proof / testimonial visual
• Email 4: Getting started checklist graphic

Product Launch

• Teaser email: Mystery/anticipation graphic
• Launch email: Big announcement hero
• Feature email: Detail showcase graphics
• Reminder email: Last chance banner

Newsletter

• Header: Consistent branded header
• Hero: Theme visual for this issue
• Section graphics: Individual article/topic thumbnails
• CTA banner: Subscription or engagement prompt

Re-engagement

• We miss you: Emotional/friendly hero graphic
• What's new: Updates showcase
• Special offer: Incentive banner

Ready to create email graphics? Head to Create Visual, select Email Header, Hero, or Banner formats, and create graphics that make your emails stand out.