Summary
BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) allows brands to display their logos next to authenticated emails in supporting inboxes. A critical component of BIMI implementation is the SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) file that contains your brand's logo. This file must adhere to very specific technical requirements to ensure proper display and validation. While some non-compliant SVG files might appear to work in certain email clients, relying on this can lead to inconsistent logo display or future issues as mailbox providers (MBPs) update their rendering processes. Understanding and adhering to the precise SVG P/S (Portable/Secure) profile and validating your files are essential steps for reliable BIMI adoption.
Key findings
- SVG profile: BIMI logos must be SVG files that strictly conform to the SVG Tiny 1.2 Portable/Secure (P/S) profile. This includes specific attributes and restricted elements.
- Disallowed elements: Elements such as <style> tags and 'gradientTransform' attributes are typically not allowed within the BIMI SVG P/S specification and will cause validation failures.
- Mailbox provider rendering: Some mailbox providers may convert SVGs to raster formats, which can inadvertently mask non-compliant elements, making a faulty SVG appear to work. This is not a guarantee of future display.
- Validation tools: The BIMI Group provides an RNC schema for validating SVG P/S compliance, which is crucial for identifying and correcting errors. Validators accurately flag issues even if the logo currently displays.
- Impact on display: Non-compliant SVGs, even if they initially display, may cease to do so unexpectedly, as observed with Yahoo Mail, emphasizing the need for strict adherence.
Key considerations
- Strict compliance: Always ensure your SVG files strictly adhere to the SVG Tiny 1.2 P/S profile. Do not rely on visual appearance alone.
- Validate consistently: Utilize the official BIMI validation tools and RNC schema to thoroughly check your SVG files before deployment and periodically thereafter. You can learn more about this process in our guide on how to validate BIMI records.
- Simplify designs: Avoid complex graphic features like intricate gradients or styles that are difficult to implement within the restricted SVG P/S profile. Consider flattening designs to simpler, single colors if necessary.
- Manual editing: Be prepared to manually edit your SVG files using a text editor to remove any non-allowed elements or extraneous code that automated conversion tools might leave behind. For additional troubleshooting, see our guide on troubleshooting SVG issues.
- Ongoing monitoring: Recognize that mailbox providers can change their rendering behavior. Regularly check your BIMI logo display across different clients to catch any new issues promptly.
What email marketers say
Email marketers often face practical challenges when creating and validating BIMI SVG files. A common point of confusion arises when a logo with non-allowed elements still displays correctly in some inboxes, leading to questions about the necessity of strict compliance. Marketers frequently share experiences with conversion tools that don't fully clean up SVG code and resort to manual editing to achieve the required standard. The discussion often revolves around balancing design complexity with BIMI's technical restrictions, particularly concerning features like gradients. Creating a BIMI logo requires attention to detail.
Key opinions
- Perceived functionality: Many marketers observe their BIMI logos displaying correctly even with non-compliant SVG elements, leading to a temptation to leave them as is.
- Conversion tool limitations: Some conversion tools provided for BIMI SVG creation may not fully strip out all non-allowed elements, leaving marketers to identify and fix these issues manually.
- Manual editing preference: Marketers often find that direct editing of SVG files in a basic text editor is the most effective way to clean up extraneous or disallowed code.
- Gradients and complexity: Implementing gradients in BIMI SVGs is challenging due to the strict specification, sometimes requiring laborious workarounds or simplification.
- Inconsistent display: Even if a logo displays for a time, non-compliance can lead to its sudden disappearance in certain mailboxes, highlighting the need for vigilance.
Key considerations
- Prioritize validation: Always validate your SVG against the official BIMI RNC schema, even if it appears to be rendering correctly, to ensure long-term stability. You can also explore SVG conversion tools for assistance.
- Design for simplicity: Opt for simpler logo designs that are less likely to include problematic SVG elements or complex graphical features unsupported by the BIMI profile. Consider recommended SVG dimensions.
- Direct code review: Regularly inspect the SVG code itself to identify and remove any disallowed attributes or elements. This is often more effective than relying solely on automated tools.
- Anticipate changes: Be aware that mailbox provider rendering behavior can evolve, meaning a currently working non-compliant SVG might fail in the future.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks observes that despite their BIMI logo containing non-allowed elements like 'GradientTransform' and 'Style', it continues to display across various mailbox providers that support BIMI. This raises a question about the strictness of enforcement versus apparent functionality. They mention creating the logo with a working group's conversion tool but still encountering these issues, indicating a potential gap in the automated clean-up process.
Marketer view
Marketer from Certera.com advises that all BIMI logos must be created using vector graphics, strictly prohibiting embedded bitmap formats like JPEG or PNG. This vector-based requirement ensures scalability and clarity across diverse display sizes and resolutions. To verify compliance, one should thoroughly inspect the SVG file's structure and content to confirm it adheres to these fundamental vector rules.
What the experts say
Experts in email deliverability and BIMI implementation underscore the importance of strict SVG P/S compliance, even if a logo appears to render correctly. They explain that mailbox providers often re-process SVGs, which can hide underlying non-compliance, but this doesn't negate the need for adherence to the specification. The consensus is that while some design elements like gradients might be technically possible within SVG, they must strictly follow the defined profile or be simplified to avoid validation errors. Experts also highlight the reliability of the BIMI validator in flagging discrepancies.
Key opinions
- Strict specification: The SVG Tiny 1.2 Portable/Secure (P/S) specification is precise, and all elements, including gradients, must conform to it to ensure consistent display.
- Rendering variations: Mailbox providers often convert SVGs to raster images or process them in ways that can make non-compliant elements appear to work, but this doesn't mean they are technically valid.
- Validation accuracy: The official BIMI validator accurately identifies errors like disallowed <style> tags or 'gradientTransform' attributes, regardless of the visual rendering. More guidance can be found in the BIMI Group's image resolutions guide.
- Risk mitigation: Relying on a visually functional but non-compliant SVG carries the risk of future display failures or inconsistent rendering across different email clients.
- Simplification advice: Simplifying SVG designs, possibly even to single-color logos, can resolve compliance issues and ensure wider compatibility.
Key considerations
- Adherence to RNC: Ensure your SVG files pass the RNC schema validation provided by the BIMI Group. This is the definitive test for compliance.
- Proactive correction: Even if your logo appears to work, address any validation errors immediately to prevent future display issues or inconsistent branding. See our BIMI FAQs.
- Understand MBP processes: Be aware that different mailbox providers may handle non-compliant SVG elements differently. What works in one may not work in another, or may stop working suddenly. Yahoo's requirements are outlined in more detail in our guide on BIMI SVG requirements and Yahoo brand recognition.
- Leverage tools: Utilize BIMI SVG conversion and validation tools, and be prepared to perform manual cleanup if automated tools fall short.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks clarifies that while some gradients can be implemented in SVG files for BIMI, more complex gradient types might not be supported within the defined SVG Portable/Secure (P/S) specification. They suggest that as an alternative, one could create gradients using individual line segments for each portion, though this method can be intricate. This highlights the limitations and workarounds required for graphical effects within BIMI's strict SVG profile.
Expert view
Expert from SpamResource suggests that adhering strictly to BIMI specifications is paramount for long-term deliverability success. They explain that even minor deviations in SVG files can lead to inconsistent logo display across various email clients, potentially undermining a brand's visual identity and trust. Ensuring full compliance from the outset can prevent future rendering issues.
What the documentation says
Official BIMI documentation and related technical resources provide the definitive requirements for SVG files. These documents specify that BIMI logos must adhere to a highly restricted SVG profile, SVG Tiny 1.2 Portable/Secure (P/S), designed for security and consistent rendering across various email clients. They highlight the importance of using the provided RNC schema for validation to ensure that no disallowed elements or attributes, such as external references, scripts, or certain complex transformations, are present. Adherence to these strict guidelines is crucial for successful BIMI implementation and reliable logo display.
Key findings
- SVG Tiny 1.2 P/S: BIMI mandates that logos be in SVG Tiny 1.2 Portable/Secure (P/S) format, a simplified and secure subset of SVG.
- RNC schema validation: The BIMI Group provides an RNC schema specifically for validating SVG P/S compliance, which is the authoritative method for checking your SVG file. This is crucial for validating your BIMI SVG.
- Restricted features: Disallowed elements and attributes include scripts, external references, bitmap images (unless embedded via data URI with specific content types), and complex transformations that could pose security risks or cause inconsistent rendering.
- Square aspect ratio: Logos must generally be square with a defined viewbox, optimizing them for various display environments.
- Plain background: Many guidelines suggest a plain or transparent background for optimal visibility and integration into different email client interfaces, particularly for BIMI logo display on Yahoo.
Key considerations
- Refer to official sources: Always consult the latest BIMI Group documentation and the SVG Tiny 1.2 P/S specification for the most accurate and up-to-date requirements. The SSL Store also provides guidance.
- Automated validation is key: Use the RNC schema or a BIMI-specific validator to programmatically check your SVG files for compliance, catching errors that might not be visually apparent.
- Simplify for compliance: If your logo design includes complex elements, consider simplifying them to meet the strict P/S profile and ensure consistent display.
- Security focus: Understand that the restrictions on SVG elements are primarily for security reasons, preventing malicious code or unexpected behavior in email clients.
Technical article
Official documentation from BIMI Group states that the compliance of an SVG file with the SVG P/S profile specification can be verified by running it against the SVG P/S RNC schema. This validation process is crucial for ensuring the SVG adheres to the technical requirements necessary for BIMI. Utilizing this schema helps brands confirm their logos meet the stringent standards for secure and consistent display.
Technical article
Official documentation from The SSL Store confirms that for a logo to be BIMI compliant, its image file must be in SVG format and satisfy specific formatting criteria. They provide a comprehensive set of guidelines that must be rigorously followed. These guidelines are essential to ensure the SVG file's technical integrity and proper rendering across various email environments that support BIMI.
Related resources
14 resources
Related pages
What are the requirements and implementation steps for BIMI?
How to set up BIMI and Google Promotion Tab logos, and troubleshoot SVG issues?
What are the recommended SVG dimensions for BIMI and how should I create the SVG?
What are the BIMI requirements for SVG files and Yahoo brand recognition?
How do I validate BIMI records and fix common errors?
What are the best SVG conversion tools and guides for BIMI logo creation?
A guide to validating your BIMI SVG and certificate
What are common questions and answers about BIMI email authentication?
What are the benefits and requirements of BIMI for email deliverability and branding?
