[thelist] Optimum HTML size

[Ken Snyder]

ftarzwell at fayec.com wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have been requested to create an HTML email for a client (and yes, I have
> expressed the cons about using html email as a promotional tool - spam
> filters, plain text only email clients, etc - but they want it anyways).
> I have been given a HUGE pdf to create this html email from and been told
> to "keep it readable".
> The pdf is 300dpi (over 3000px wide and over 2000px in height) so when
> resized to a fairly good size the text becomes illegible.
> I would like to provide them with a definitive size to be used to create
> their html email materials but so far I have found conflicting information
> everywhere. Some say 460 width, some say 720 width.
> Does anybody know a definitive guide to optimum html email sizing?
> What is the standard size to be used in order not to have horizontal
> scrolls and what's the optimum image size for saving on bandwidth usage?
>
> Thank you in advance,
>
> FayeC 
>
>   
The whole point of HTML is to let the user agent decide how to present 
the info.  I'd recommend sending across all text as _text_ within the 
HTML email and scaling the images to allow the text to be comfortably 
read at 750 pixels wide.  Regardless of screen size, having lines of 
text too long is hard to read.  If the client is expecting to email out 
a pixel-perfect advertisement, maybe they should just attach the pdf?  
Or use the postal service?

- Ken Snyder