Summary
Creating BIMI-compliant SVG logo files requires adherence to specific technical standards, primarily SVG Tiny Portable/Secure (SVG P/S). While graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator is essential for initial vector logo creation, it typically exports to SVG Tiny 1.2, which is close but not fully compliant with SVG P/S. This necessitates additional conversion steps, often involving specific tools provided by the BIMI Group or manual editing, to strip out unsupported elements and ensure strict adherence to the standard. Understanding these nuances is crucial for designers to produce a logo that displays correctly across supporting email clients.
Key findings
- Specific format: BIMI logos must be in SVG Tiny Portable/Secure (SVG P/S) format, which is a restricted subset of SVG Tiny 1.2, not a general SVG.
- Tool limitations: Most design software (e.g., Adobe Illustrator) does not directly export to SVG P/S, even when using SVG Tiny 1.2 profiles.
- Conversion necessity: Additional conversion tools or manual text editor adjustments are often required to achieve BIMI compliance by removing extraneous markup.
- Official tools: The BIMI Group provides specific graphic conversion tools designed to help make SVG files compliant.
- Text conversion: Any text within the logo must be converted to outlines or curves, as BIMI SVG does not support font embedding.
Key considerations
- Initial design: Start with a clean, simple vector logo design to minimize post-export issues.
- Software compatibility: While Illustrator is common, other tools like Inkscape (free) or Figma can also be used for creating the initial SVG. Regardless, expect to refine the file for BIMI.
- Validation: Always validate your final SVG file against BIMI specifications. For more details on this, check our guide on validating BIMI SVG files.
- Troubleshooting: Be prepared to troubleshoot discrepancies between software exports and the precise BIMI standard. Our article on troubleshooting SVG issues for BIMI can provide further assistance.
- Keep it updated: The fundamental process for creating these files has not changed, implying that existing guides and tools remain relevant, even if perceived as outdated by some designers.
What email marketers say
Email marketers often find themselves as intermediaries between technical email deliverability requirements and creative design teams when it comes to BIMI logo creation. Their experiences highlight the practical challenges of translating brand assets into the highly specific SVG P/S format, often involving iterative feedback loops with designers. Marketers frequently seek clear, actionable guides and validation steps to ensure the logo meets all criteria for successful display in the inbox.
Key opinions
- Designer feedback: Marketers sometimes receive feedback from designers that BIMI SVG conversion tools seem outdated, even when the underlying specifications have not changed.
- Seeking guidance: There is a demand for step-by-step guides that designers can follow to ensure their SVG files are BIMI-compliant.
- Vector importance: It is generally understood that the process involves taking an image and converting it to a vector format, which fundamentally does not become obsolete.
Key considerations
- Clarifying concerns: When designers express concerns about tools being out of date, marketers should seek specific feedback to understand the perceived issues.
- Providing resources: Marketers need to equip designers with comprehensive resources and direct guidance for BIMI SVG creation.
- Initial file quality: Emphasize that the initial SVG must be mostly correct before conversion tools can effectively make it BIMI compliant. Our guide on recommended SVG dimensions and creation offers more insight.
- Compliance over aesthetics: Marketers should prioritize technical compliance with the SVG P/S standard to ensure the logo displays, even if it means some design elements need to be simplified or adjusted. This is part of the broader BIMI implementation requirements.
- Trademark requirement: Remember that a BIMI logo requires a registered trademark to be displayed in most major email clients, adding another layer of complexity beyond just the SVG file itself. More information on VMC and BIMI setup is available here.
Marketer view
An Email Geeks marketer suggests that the fundamental process of converting an image to a vector format for BIMI remains consistent and does not inherently become outdated. This implies that while specific tools may evolve, the core graphic design principles for creating scalable logos are enduring.
Marketer view
An Email Geeks marketer observes that designers occasionally express that BIMI logo conversion tools seem outdated. This highlights a need for marketers to delve deeper into the specific reasons for such perceptions rather than immediately accepting the tools as obsolete.
What the experts say
Experts in email deliverability and BIMI standards offer authoritative insights into the technical specificities of SVG P/S. They clarify misconceptions about tool obsolescence and emphasize that current design software often introduces additional markup that requires post-export cleanup for BIMI compliance. Their perspectives underline the importance of starting with a well-formed SVG and using the official BIMI Group conversion tools, along with manual validation, to ensure the logo meets stringent requirements for display.
Key opinions
- Tools are current: The BIMI Group's SVG conversion tools and required software are not outdated; nothing has fundamentally changed in their operation since publication.
- Compliance focus: The conversion tools primarily aim to make non-compliant SVG files compliant with the specific BIMI P/S format, rather than being general vector creation tools.
- Markup issues: Design software like Illustrator often adds supplemental markup to SVGs that causes validation issues with BIMI's strict standards.
- Starting point: While conversion tools are helpful, the initial SVG file must be largely correct and well-formatted for the tools to work effectively.
Key considerations
- Specific feedback: If designers claim tools are outdated, more specific details are needed to address their concerns accurately.
- Basic structure: Ensure the SVG adheres to the basic required structure, including specifying version="1.2" and baseProfile="tiny-ps". Our article on BIMI SVG file requirements delves deeper into this.
- Video guides: Utilize existing video tutorials, such as the one from Matthew Vernhout, to provide visual, step-by-step direction.
- DMARC foundation: Remember that BIMI requires a properly configured DMARC record to function. Learn more about DMARC, SPF, and DKIM here.
Expert view
An expert from Email Geeks clarifies that the BIMI Group's official SVG conversion tools and their required software components have not undergone any significant changes since their initial release. This directly addresses the notion that these tools might be obsolete.
Expert view
An expert from Email Geeks explains that the primary purpose of the BIMI conversion tools is to take an SVG file that is not compliant with the BIMI standard and adjust it to meet the necessary specifications. They are not intended for the initial creation of SVG files from scratch.
What the documentation says
Official documentation and technical guides provide the definitive requirements for BIMI SVG logo creation. They consistently state that the logo must conform to SVG Tiny Portable/Secure (SVG P/S), a specific profile derived from SVG Tiny 1.2. These sources outline the steps, often starting with exporting from a vector editor like Adobe Illustrator and then applying further modifications or using dedicated conversion tools to meet the strict compliance rules, including the need to outline fonts and remove unsupported elements.
Key findings
- Mandatory format: The BIMI logo must be in SVG Tiny 1.2, specifically the Portable/Secure (P/S) profile, which has a limited set of allowed elements.
- Initial export: Adobe Illustrator is frequently recommended for exporting to SVG Tiny 1.2 as a starting point, being the closest profile to SVG P/S available directly in design tools.
- Conversion tools: The BIMI working group has released specialized graphic conversion tools to aid in saving logos as SVG P/S compliant files.
- Text as curves: Any text within the logo must be converted into curves or outlines, as BIMI SVG does not support various font types.
- Manual editing: Post-export, it's often necessary to open the SVG file in a text editor to remove unsupported elements or ensure correct XML structure.
Key considerations
- Cleanliness of SVG: Ensure the SVG is simple, scalable, and devoid of unnecessary elements or scripts, which are often automatically added by design software.
- Base profile: Verify that the SVG code explicitly includes baseProfile="tiny-ps".
- Validation tools: Utilize validation tools provided by the BIMI Group or other authoritative sources to confirm the SVG's compliance before deployment.
- Accessibility: The SVG logo must be hosted on a publicly accessible URL, served over HTTPS.
Technical article
Documentation from the BIMI Group states that the logo referenced in a BIMI record must be in a highly specific format: SVG Tiny 1.2, but further constrained to what is defined as SVG Tiny Portable/Secure (SVG P/S). This means it is a subset with even fewer allowed elements than standard Tiny 1.2.
Technical article
BIMI Group documentation advises using Adobe Illustrator to create SVG Tiny 1.2 files, as this is the closest profile available that approximates SVG P/S. Users should specifically utilize Illustrator's 'Export to SVG Tiny 1.2' feature to begin the process, acknowledging that further refinement will be needed.
Related resources
13 resources
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