How to Add an Image to an E-mail Signature

If you're tired of having an ordinary email signature, try spicing it up with an image. You may use any of your choice--anything from a static photograph to an animated one. You don't have to be creative to add the image to your email. Depending on the email software, you can also switch between images, using one image for composed messages and another for forwards and replies. It's all up to you.

Instructions

Preparing the Image for Email

1. Find the image you want to add to your email signature. It should be in a graphics format such as a GIF, JPG or PNG.

2. Upload the image to the web (or utilize an existing image already on the Internet if you have permission to use it from its current location). To upload your image files to the web, you may use free image hosting through websites like Photobucket by signing up for a free account.

3. Log in to your account and click on the "Upload images and videos" button. Then follow the wizard. Your photo will be displayed. Click on the photo and copy the "direct link" from the left pane under "Share this image."

4. Open a text editor such as Notepad. Click "Start," then "All Programs," then "Accessories," and finally "Notepad." Copy the following HTML code and paste it into your text editor:

   <img src="http://www.some-web-host.com/images/imagefilename.gif" /><br /><br />
   Your name and signature<br />
   Your contact information<br />

5. Replace the information after img src=" with the actual web location for your image (or the direct link you copied in Step 3). Leave "<br />" intact. Also, replace the text for your name, signature and contact information with the actual text you want for your signature line.

6. Click "File," then "Save." Name the file "signature.html" so it'll be treated as a web file.

Adding the Image Signature to Outlook Express

1. Open Outlook Express. Click "Tools," then "Options" and select the "Signatures" tab from the "Options" dialog box.

2. Click "New" and choose the "File" option under "Edit Signature" to make it active. Select "Browse" and change "Files of type" to "HTML Files."

3. Locate the "signature.html" file you created and open it. Click on "OK" to apply your changes.

Adding the Image Signature to Microsoft Outlook

1. Open Microsoft Outlook. Select "Tools," then "Options." Click the "Mail Format" tab and then on the "Signatures" button.

2. Click on "New" and enter a name for your signature. Pick "Use this file as a template" to make it active, then click on "Browse." Find the "signature.html" file and open it. Select "Next " and "Finish" to complete the addition.

3. If you want to use a different image for your replies and forwards, repeat Step 2, but be sure to choose a different file. You would need to have uploaded different image files to the web and added the correct image link to the signature file.

4. Click "OK" to close the "Create Signature" dialog box and return to the "Options" dialog box. Go to "Signature for replies and forwards" and choose the second signature. Then click "OK." Now, test your image by composing an email. You must be connected to the Internet to see the image you've created.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not delete the signature file once it's created. Your email will search for it each time you compose, reply to or forward an email message.

References

• Joobi: Adding an Image to an Email

Resources

• Free Image Hosting at Photobucket