Create Your First Email
A deep dive into starting an email from scratch, configuring global canvas dimensions, and setting up headers and footers.
Key Takeaways
- Set the standard 600px email container width for maximum email client compatibility.
- Configure email metadata including subject line, preheader text, and background color.
- Build a modular layout: Header, Hero, Body, and CAN-SPAM compliant Footer.
- Ensure all images have explicit dimensions and descriptive alt text.
Configuring Canvas & Document Settings#
When you open a project, clicking anywhere on the neutral canvas background opens Document Settings in the right-hand panel:
- Email Width: Default is
600px. This is the universal standard for email design, balancing readable line lengths on desktop with fluid scaling on mobile devices. - Canvas Background: The outer background color visible on widescreen desktop inboxes (for example,
#f1f5f9). - Email Content Background: The inner card background color for your content sections (typically
#ffffff). - Subject Line & Preheader: Enter your preview subject and inbox snippet text. The preheader is automatically injected as hidden text at the very top of the generated body so inboxes display it next to the subject line.
The Anatomical Structure of a Robust Email#
High-converting, compliant email templates follow a standard structural flow:
By separating each zone into its own Section, you can give the Header a distinct background color, keep the Body clean white, and style the Footer with muted typography and compliance links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 600px the recommended email canvas width?
600px has been the cross-client email standard for decades. Desktop reading panes in Outlook, Apple Mail, and webmail providers are typically 600px–700px wide, preventing awkward horizontal scrollbars while preserving optimal reading length.
Where does the preheader snippet appear in inboxes?
The preheader appears directly next to or beneath your subject line in the recipient’s inbox preview list. PostBrix injects it at the top of the body with zero font size so it remains invisible inside the rendered layout.