Images4 min read•Audience: Designers, Marketers
Image QA & Blocked Images Test
Ensure your email remains readable and compelling even when the recipient’s email client blocks images by default.
Key Takeaways
- Many enterprise inboxes (like Outlook desktop) disable images by default for privacy.
- Emails must communicate their primary value proposition even if zero images load.
- Verify that all images have descriptive alt text and background colors set beneath text.
The Blocked Image Test#
To test how your email appears when images are blocked:
- In the preview or in your inbox, disable image loading.
- Ask yourself:
- Is the core message still clear?
- Do call-to-action buttons still stand out? (They will if you use PostBrix bulletproof buttons instead of image-based buttons).
- Are alt text descriptions visible and informative?
SSL & Mixed Content Security Checks#
Always verify that every graphic loads over HTTPS:
- If an image URL uses
http://, modern webmail clients (like Gmail and Yahoo) will refuse to display it or display a security warning to the user. - The PostBrix Asset Manager strictly generates HTTPS URLs for all uploaded files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I style the appearance of Alt text when images are blocked?
Yes. Applying font family, font size, and color properties to the parent column styles the fallback alt text in webmail and Apple Mail.
Why do images look stretched or squished on Outlook?
Outlook desktop honors only the explicit HTML width attribute, ignoring CSS max-width. Ensure an explicit pixel display width is set on the Image block in PostBrix.