What are the best SVG conversion tools and guides for BIMI logo creation?
Michael Ko
Co-founder & CEO, Suped
Published 20 Jul 2025
Updated 16 Aug 2025
7 min read
Getting your brand logo to display in email inboxes using Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) can significantly enhance your email marketing efforts and build recipient trust. However, the technical requirements for the logo file, specifically the Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format, are quite precise. It isn't as simple as uploading any SVG file, as BIMI demands a specific profile known as SVG Tiny Portable/Secure (SVG Tiny P/S).
Many designers and marketers find themselves navigating a maze of specifications when trying to convert their existing logos or create new ones for BIMI. Standard SVG export options from common design software often include additional markup or features that are not permitted within the strict BIMI SVG Tiny P/S guidelines, leading to validation errors and preventing your logo from displaying.
I've personally seen how frustrating this can be, with designers thinking their perfectly good SVG file should work, only to discover the subtle nuances of BIMI's requirements. Thankfully, there are tools and guides specifically designed to help bridge this gap, ensuring your logo meets all the necessary criteria.
Understanding BIMI SVG requirements
The core of BIMI's logo requirement lies in the SVG Tiny P/S profile. This is a highly restricted subset of the broader SVG 1.2 Tiny specification. The purpose of this strictness is to ensure security, prevent malicious code execution, and guarantee consistent rendering across various email clients and devices. It excludes many common SVG features, such as scripting, external references, and certain interactive elements, which are standard in general web usage.
This means that even if your logo is a vector graphic saved as an SVG, it's highly probable that the raw file will contain elements not allowed by the BIMI specification. Design software often adds metadata, layer information, or specific styling attributes that, while harmless in a web browser, will cause a BIMI validator to reject the file. This is why a simple save as SVG is usually not enough.
Why BIMI requires strict SVG
The Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) standard aims to prevent brand impersonation and enhance user trust. By requiring a specific, stripped-down SVG format, it minimizes the risk of attackers embedding harmful scripts or creating misleading visual elements within the logo itself. This stringent requirement is a security measure to maintain the integrity of your brand's visual representation in the inbox. You can learn more about the BIMI requirements and implementation.
Understanding these underlying requirements is the first step. The goal is to produce an SVG file that is as lean as possible, containing only the essential vector path data and color information, stripped of any extraneous code. This ensures compliance and helps your logo render correctly across all supporting email clients.
Core tools for BIMI SVG creation
For designers, Adobe Illustrator is often the starting point. It allows for the creation of vector-based logos and has an Export to SVG Tiny 1.2 feature, which is the closest standard option to what BIMI requires. However, this export still necessitates further refinement. Many users find that even after exporting, manual edits to the SVG code are needed to remove non-compliant elements and ensure the baseProfile attribute is set correctly to tiny-ps.
The BIMI Group itself has released a suite of graphic conversion tools to aid in this process. These tools are designed to take a general SVG Tiny 1.2 file and convert it into the specific SVG Tiny P/S format, addressing common non-compliant elements automatically. While these tools perform essential clean-up, they generally expect a mostly correct SVG to begin with, meaning simple images are preferred over complex designs with many layers or effects.
When using these tools, or even manually editing, always ensure your SVG includes a <title> tag within the <svg> element, providing a descriptive name for your logo. This is a crucial element for BIMI validation. For more details on preparing your logo, check our guide on how to set up BIMI logos and troubleshoot issues.
What the BIMI Group tools do
The official BIMI Group conversion tools are designed to perform necessary adjustments to an SVG Tiny 1.2 file to bring it into compliance with the SVG Tiny P/S profile. They primarily fix the baseProfile attribute, remove prohibited elements like external links or scripts, and streamline the SVG code. It's important to note that these tools are not a magic bullet for poorly constructed SVGs. Your initial SVG should be simple, square, and well-formed before using them.
Beyond standard tools: refining your BIMI SVG
Sometimes, even after using conversion tools, manual inspection and editing of the SVG code are necessary. This typically involves opening the SVG file in a plain text editor and carefully removing any unsupported tags or attributes. Common culprits include style tags, script elements, or embedded raster images. It's a meticulous process, but it ensures full compliance.
When choosing an SVG converter or editing tool, prioritize those that give you control over the export settings, specifically allowing you to select SVG Tiny 1.2 or similar profiles. While Adobe Illustrator is widely used, other vector graphic editors like Inkscape or Figma can also produce suitable base SVGs, though they may require similar post-export cleanup. Consistency in dimensions, typically a square aspect ratio (e.g., 48x48 or 100x100), and converting all text to outlines (paths) are also critical considerations for BIMI readiness. Our guide on BIMI SVG dimensions and creation provides further detail.
Common pitfalls
Embedded styles: Inline CSS or <style> blocks that are not allowed.
Raster images: Including JPG, PNG, or GIF files within the SVG.
Interactive elements: Such as hyperlinks or scripts.
Missing title tag: The required <title> element.
Incorrect viewBox: Not matching the logo's aspect ratio or being non-square.
Best practices
Simplify logo: Keep your logo design as simple as possible.
Convert text to paths: Ensure all fonts are converted to outlines.
Solid background: Use a solid background color, not transparent.
Square aspect ratio: Design your logo within a square canvas.
Validate rigorously: Use a BIMI SVG validator to check compliance, then refer to our guide on validating BIMI SVG files.
It's worth noting that the SVG standard itself is maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), and their documentation can provide deeper insights into SVG structure, though BIMI's requirements are a specific adaptation.
Ensuring BIMI success
Beyond the SVG file itself, successful BIMI implementation hinges on strong email authentication, particularly DMARC enforcement. Your domain must have a DMARC policy set to p=quarantine or p=reject for BIMI to work. Additionally, for most major mailbox providers like Google and Yahoo, a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) is required to display your logo. This certificate links your logo directly to your authenticated domain, providing an extra layer of trust and verification.
The entire process, from creating the SVG to setting up DMARC and obtaining a VMC, forms a comprehensive strategy for enhancing your brand's presence in the inbox. While it may seem daunting, each step is crucial for achieving the desired outcome of a prominently displayed logo. Our resource on BIMI requirements and supported providers offers more insights.
Challenge
Root cause
Solution
Logo not displaying
SVG not BIMI-compliant
Use a vector editor like Adobe Illustrator to export to Tiny 1.2, then use BIMI Group tools.
Validation errors
Prohibited elements (scripts, external links)
Manually edit SVG code in a text editor to remove unsupported markup.
Logo appears distorted
Incorrect viewBox or non-square dimensions
Ensure logo is square and viewBox matches (e.g., 0 0 100 100).
It's important to continuously monitor your BIMI implementation, especially if you change your logo or update your DNS records. Regular validation ensures your logo continues to display as intended.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Always simplify your logo design as much as possible before starting the conversion process, removing unnecessary gradients or effects.
Use a dedicated BIMI SVG validator early and often to catch errors before they become larger issues.
Ensure your SVG file has a solid background color, even if it appears transparent in your design software.
Common pitfalls
Assuming any SVG export from design software is BIMI-compliant without further conversion or validation.
Forgetting to include the required <title> tag within the SVG code, which is essential for BIMI validation.
Including interactive elements like JavaScript or external links within the SVG, leading to immediate rejection.
Expert tips
Manually opening and inspecting the SVG code in a text editor is often necessary for fine-tuning compliance.
Even between Adobe products, discrepancies can arise in SVG rendering, necessitating careful review.
The official BIMI Group conversion tools are designed to fix specific issues and streamline the process, but the input SVG needs to be mostly correct.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says nothing has changed with the BIMI conversion tools or required software since they were first published, indicating their continued relevance.
June 21, 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says there can be discrepancies between SVGs rendered by design tools like Illustrator and the exact BIMI standard, due to supplemental markup that causes validation issues, even between different Adobe products.
June 21, 2023 - Email Geeks
Key takeaways for BIMI logo creation
Creating a BIMI-compliant SVG logo is a crucial step in deploying Brand Indicators for Message Identification and enhancing your email marketing with visual brand recognition. While it involves specific technical requirements, the process is manageable with the right tools and guidance. Your primary vector design software, coupled with the BIMI Group's conversion tools and careful manual verification, will be your best assets.
Remember to always validate your SVG file against the BIMI specifications and ensure your domain's DMARC policy is robust. By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to displaying your brand's logo prominently in your recipients' inboxes, building trust and improving deliverability.
Google and 
Yahoo, a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) is required to display your logo. This certificate links your logo directly to your authenticated domain, providing an extra layer of trust and verification.
Adobe Illustrator to export to Tiny 1.2, then use 
BIMI Group tools.
