Expert: Kamal Krishna - 6/6/2007

Question
QUESTION: I created a flyer in photoshop and it needs to be sent as a mass mailing with the page linked to our website. How do I create the link in imageready and still be able to view the page when I send it through email? Also, if you know, how do I send the page so it opens automatically instead of as an attachment?

ANSWER: Hi Julia,
so you want to create an html newsletter kinda thing right.

Here's the way i do,

i design the entire flyer in photoshop,

Method 1:
a)then copy the entire image (copy merged(shift+ctrl+c) recommended for copying all the layers.
b)now i compose a new email (works with gmail, outlook and hotmail) and paste(ctrl+v) in the 'body' area of the email.
c)now i select the image and choose 'Hyperlink' option usually found on the top toolbar of the email options.
d) there i type in the desire url.
e) Now your email is ready, which is not only goes as an in-line message but also has a url. :-)

Method 2:
a)if its too big, i take it to image ready and create slices and save it as an html(ctrl+shift+alt+s)  there itself.
b) now that i have the flyer as an html page, i open it in dreamweaver or frontpage (or notepad if you are comfortable), and link the entire or part of the image with the desire url (<a> tags u know..)
c)Here's the trick part, i open this url in the internet explorer, i select the entire page (ctrl+a) and copy(ctrl+c) it.
d)then i compose a new email (works with gmail, outlook and hotmail) and paste(ctrl+v) in the 'body' area of the email.
c)Now your email is ready to be sent, its an in-line message and also has a url. :-)

I hope i didnt make the situation more confusing, feel free to ask me for clarification.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The second method works great until I actually send the email.  I send it to myself and it then open it and it has broken images.  All that comes up when I open the email are the slice boxes with the broken image box in the top left corner.  Do I need to save this file in a certain spot for it to open on the web?

Answer
Hi Julia,
ok here's the trick.

Once you have it as an html page, upload all the images onto a web server.

Then change the path of the images accordingly. (eg: images/slice01.jpg to http://www.somewebsite.com/images/slice01.jpg)

check if you can see the images by previewing the html file in the browser again, your images should load one after another slowly.

Now repeat the same method of copying from the browser and sending the e-mail :-)

*note: Its recommended that the width of the design is not more than 650px. This helps your design not to break and loose the alignment.

Let me know for further guidance.