Understanding and Solving Email Layout Issues in Outlook Desktop Client
Creating visually appealing email templates can be challenging, especially when dealing with email clients that render HTML differently. A common scenario involves designing an email that primarily features a large image with interactive buttons placed on specific areas, achieved by slicing the image into segments and overlaying links on each part. While this approach works smoothly across most email clients, Outlook’s desktop application often introduces unexpected layout problems, notably unwanted spaces between image slices.
The Challenge
In a typical setup, an email designer slices a large banner image into multiple parts, arranging them within a table layout. Links are embedded within the slices that contain button text, creating a seamless appearance across various email platforms. The core of the implementation might look like this:
“`html
 |
 |
“`
Despite meticulous coding, the Outlook desktop client may add unexpected gaps or spaces between these slices. These rendering issues stem from Outlook’s reliance on the Word rendering engine, which interprets HTML and CSS differently than web browsers.
Common Causes of Spacing Issues
- Default Image Spacing: Outlook may insert default spacing around images, often due to the image’s vertical alignment or border properties.
- Whitespace in HTML: Unintended whitespace or line breaks in HTML code can translate into gaps.
- Table Cell Defaults: Table cells may have default padding or spacing that needs explicit control.
- CSS Compatibility Limitations: Some CSS properties are ignored or poorly supported in Outlook.
Strategies to Fix the Layout
- Remove Default Spacing and Borders:
Add inline styles to eliminate spacing:
html
<img src="slice1.png" alt="Button 1" style="display:block; border:0; outline:none; text-decoration:none;">
- Set Vertical Alignment:
Ensuring images are vertically aligned can help:
“`html
“`
- **Use Table
