Custom HTML email signature with links and images - background image not working

Outlook has limited support for background images, especially when applied via CSS. Unlike Apple Mail, which supports CSS-based backgrounds, Outlook often ignores them or strips them out. Here are a few workarounds you can try:

1. Use a Table with a Background Image in VML (For Outlook)

Since Outlook doesn’t fully support background-image in CSS, you need to use Vector Markup Language (VML), which is Microsoft’s proprietary way of handling backgrounds:

<v:background fill="true" stroke="false"> <v:fill type="tile" src="https://yourdomain.com/background-image.jpg" /> </v:background> <table role="presentation" width="100%" style="background-color: #f5f5f5;"> <tr> <td> <p>Your Signature Content Here</p> </td> </tr> </table>

This method ensures that the background image is displayed in Outlook while other email clients render it normally.

2. Inline Background Image with TD Element

Instead of applying a background image via CSS, use an inline background attribute inside a <td> tag:

<td background="https://yourdomain.com/background-image.jpg" style="background-size: cover;"> Your signature content here </td>

While this method works in most clients, it may not be as reliable as VML in Outlook.

3. Convert the Background into an Embedded Image

If the background is essential, another approach is to flatten the background into a full image and embed text/logos inside the image itself. You can then use a regular <img> tag to display it.

Conclusion

Outlook’s email rendering engine (Word-based) does not support modern CSS fully, so using VML or inline table background attributes is your best bet. If possible, test your signature using tools like Litmus or Email on Acid to see how it behaves in different email clients.