How to Add a Background to an Email Using Outlook

You can use background colors and pictures on your Outlook email.

Microsoft Outlook can send emails as plain text or as HTML. If you choose to send an HTML email, you can use the stationery function. If you use stationery in your HTML emails, you can add backgrounds and colors, as well as logos and other design elements. Outlook comes with a variety of stationery themes, or you can create your own personal stationery. Stationery can be applied to all outgoing emails or you can apply it on a message-by-message basis.

Instructions

Apply Stationery to All Emails

1. Open Microsoft Outlook. Click "File," then "Options."

2. Click "Mail." Click "Stationery and Fonts."

3. Click the "Personal Stationery" tab. Click "Theme."

4. Click a theme from the "Choose A Theme" menu. A preview of the theme will display in the main window. Themes marked as "(Stationery)" include images that will appear as the background of the emails. Click "OK." Click "OK" again to set the stationery as default for all outgoing emails.

Apply Stationery to One Email

1. Open Outlook. Click the "Home" tab and click "New Items."

2. Click "Email Message Using." Select "More Stationery."

3. Highlight a theme from the "Choose a Theme" menu. Themes that have "(Stationery)" at the end include graphic elements. A preview of each theme or stationery will display when you highlight it.

4. Click "OK." A new email message will open with the stationery. Compose your email and click "Send," then "Send/Receive All Folders" from the "Home" tab.

Create Custom Stationery

1. Open a new email message. Click "Options," then "Page Color" to select a new background color for your stationery. Click "Insert," then "Picture" if you want to add a background picture to the custom stationery.

2. Click "File," then "Save As." Type "%appdata%\Microsoft\stationery" in the address bar at the top of the "Save As" window.

3. Type a name for your custom stationery in the "File Name" text field and select "HTML" from the "Save As File Type" drop-down menu. Click "Save." Your custom stationery will be available in the "Choose A Theme" menu.

References

• Microsoft Office: Apply Stationery or Backgrounds To E-Mail Messages
• Microsoft Office: Create Stationery For Email Messages