How can I prepare a logo for BIMI/VMC without using Adobe Illustrator?

Summary

Preparing a logo for BIMI/VMC without Adobe Illustrator involves several steps and tool options. The logo must be a properly formatted SVG. If the logo is already in SVG format, direct editing in a text editor like Notepad is possible. The BIMI Group offers conversion tools. Alternatives to Illustrator include Inkscape, Affinity Designer, Sketch, GIMP, and online editors like Vectr or Boxy SVG. Optimizing SVGs with tools like SVGO helps reduce file size. Brand consistency through official colors and aspect ratios is crucial. Testing across email clients is essential for correct display. Logo complexity, especially gradients, can affect the editing process. Adhering to W3C specifications is key for proper rendering.

Key findings

  • SVG Requirement: The BIMI logo must be a properly formatted SVG.
  • Alternative Tools: Multiple alternatives to Adobe Illustrator exist: Inkscape, Affinity Designer, Sketch, GIMP, Vectr, Boxy SVG.
  • Direct Editing: SVG files can be directly edited in a text editor like Notepad.
  • Optimization: SVG optimization tools like SVGO can reduce file size and clean up code.
  • BIMI Conversion: The BIMI Group offers tools to convert logos to the correct SVG format.

Key considerations

  • Proper Formatting: Ensure the SVG is properly formatted to meet BIMI specifications, including dimensions and metadata.
  • Brand Consistency: Maintain brand consistency by using official brand colors and aspect ratios.
  • Testing: Test the BIMI logo across different email clients to ensure it displays correctly.
  • Complexity: The complexity of the logo can impact the ease of editing.
  • W3C Specs: Follow W3C specifications to ensure proper rendering of the SVG.

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

Preparing a logo for BIMI/VMC without Adobe Illustrator can be achieved through various methods. If you already have an SVG, Notepad can be used for edits. The BIMI Group offers a conversion tool. Inkscape, Affinity Designer, and Sketch are viable alternatives for vector editing. Online SVG editors like Vectr or Boxy SVG provide user-friendly interfaces. GIMP can export SVG files. SVG optimization tools like SVGO can reduce file size. Brand consistency, correct aspect ratios and testing across email clients are crucial. Logo complexity can affect the difficulty of the process.

Key opinions

  • Alternative Tools: Several alternatives to Adobe Illustrator exist for creating or editing SVG logos, including Inkscape, Affinity Designer, Sketch, GIMP, and online SVG editors.
  • Manual Editing: SVG files can be manually edited using a text editor like Notepad, allowing for direct adjustments to the code.
  • Optimization: SVG optimization tools can help reduce file size and clean up code, improving BIMI compliance.
  • BIMI Conversion: The BIMI Group provides tools to help convert logos into the correct SVG format.

Key considerations

  • Brand Consistency: Maintain brand consistency by using official brand colors and correct aspect ratios.
  • Logo Complexity: The complexity of the logo, such as the presence of gradients, can impact the difficulty of the editing process.
  • Testing: Test the BIMI logo across different email clients to ensure it displays correctly.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Digicert shares that Inkscape can be used as a free alternative to Adobe Illustrator for creating and editing SVG files for BIMI. This involves ensuring the logo meets the specific BIMI SVG requirements, such as being a vector graphic and having a square aspect ratio.

March 2021 - Digicert
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow explains that using SVG optimization tools like SVGO can help clean up and reduce the file size of SVG logos, which can be beneficial for BIMI compliance by removing unnecessary elements and code.

November 2022 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from alphr.com shares the steps for saving SVG files from GIMP. Explaining that you can export as SVG, advising it takes a few extra steps.

June 2021 - alphr.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from VMC Authority explains that Affinity Designer and Sketch are viable alternatives to Adobe Illustrator for creating BIMI-compliant SVG logos. These tools offer vector editing capabilities suitable for meeting the technical specifications required for BIMI logos.

April 2022 - VMC Authority
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that The BIMI Group offers a standalone conversion tool for SVG files.

January 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that it’s essential to test the BIMI logo across various email clients to ensure it displays correctly. Different email clients may render SVGs differently, so testing helps identify and resolve any display issues.

April 2024 - Litmus
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks mentions that you can save files as SVG from GIMP, advising that it requires a few extra steps and provides a link to instructions.

June 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that the difficulty of editing an SVG for VMC/BIMI depends on the logo's features, noting that gradients can make it more complex, and offers help if needed.

May 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that online SVG editors like Vectr or Boxy SVG can be used to prepare logos for BIMI without needing Adobe Illustrator. These tools provide a user-friendly interface for creating and modifying SVG files.

December 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid shares that when preparing a logo for BIMI, it’s important to ensure brand consistency by using the official brand colors and maintaining the logo's aspect ratio. This helps reinforce brand recognition in email inboxes.

July 2024 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests that if the logo is already in SVG format, it can be opened in Notepad for edits, offering assistance if needed.

July 2021 - Email Geeks

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

Preparing a logo for BIMI/VMC without Adobe Illustrator involves ensuring the logo is a properly formatted SVG. You can use tools like Inkscape as a free alternative, and the SVG file can be edited directly in a text editor for adjustments to color and code.

Key opinions

  • SVG Format: The BIMI logo must be in SVG format.
  • Alternative Tools: Inkscape is a recommended free alternative to Adobe Illustrator.
  • Manual Editing: SVG files can be edited directly in a text editor.

Key considerations

  • Proper Formatting: Ensure the SVG is properly formatted to meet BIMI specifications.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that it's possible to do most of the work with the SVG conversion tool and suggests opening the SVG file in a text editor to make edits, change colors, or clean up the graphic.

November 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that the BIMI logo needs to be a scalable vector graphic (SVG) and recommends using tools like Inkscape as a free alternative to Adobe Illustrator for creating and editing these files. Emphasis is placed on ensuring the SVG is properly formatted to meet BIMI specifications.

April 2024 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

Preparing a logo for BIMI/VMC requires a properly formatted SVG file. SVG files are XML-based and editable in a text editor, allowing adjustments to code, dimensions, and metadata. The BIMI Group provides SVG conversion tools, and the W3C specifications detail the required elements and attributes for correct rendering.

Key findings

  • SVG Requirement: A properly formatted SVG file is mandatory for BIMI logos.
  • Direct Editing: SVG files, being XML-based, can be directly edited in a text editor.
  • Conversion Tools: The BIMI Group offers SVG conversion tools.
  • W3C Specifications: W3C specifications provide details on the necessary elements and attributes for SVG formatting.

Key considerations

  • BIMI Compliance: Ensure the SVG file meets all BIMI requirements, including dimensions and metadata.
  • Accurate Rendering: Adhere to W3C specifications to guarantee the logo renders correctly.
Technical article

Documentation from Mozilla Developer Network explains that SVG files are XML-based, meaning they can be edited directly in a text editor. This allows for manual adjustments to the code to ensure the logo meets BIMI requirements, such as specific dimensions or the removal of unnecessary metadata.

June 2021 - Mozilla Developer Network
Technical article

Documentation from World Wide Web Consortium details SVG specifications that are critical to understanding how to properly format an SVG logo for BIMI, including the required elements and attributes for rendering the logo correctly.

April 2023 - World Wide Web Consortium
Technical article

Documentation from BIMI Group explains that to use a logo for BIMI, it needs to be a properly formatted SVG. It also recommends using their SVG conversion tools.

May 2024 - BIMI Group