When working with images in the Playground newsletter editor, users may encounter challenges such as sideways or rotated images, disappearing pictures in the editor, or size-related limitations. This article outlines steps to address these common issues and offers best practices for handling images.
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When adding images to newsletters, a few common issues can come up. Here’s what typically causes them:

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Images can appear incorrectly oriented because of hidden metadata or unusual aspect ratios. Even if the image looks correct on your computer, it may rotate when uploaded.

Sometimes an image may temporarily disappear while you’re editing the newsletter. In most cases, it will still appear correctly in test emails and once the newsletter is sent.

Very large image files or extreme pixel dimensions can cause upload errors or formatting issues. Resizing the image before uploading usually resolves this.
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Sideways or rotated images are usually caused by hidden orientation data in the file or by unusual image dimensions. Even if the image looks correct on your computer, email editors sometimes read the metadata differently.

If the image is extremely tall or narrow, try resizing it so the width is larger than the height. As a general rule, keeping images under 1500 × 1500 pixels helps prevent upload and display issues.

If you don’t have editing software, you can a free online tool here.
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Hidden metadata which is background file information, is often what causes rotation issues. To reset it, open the image in any basic editor, rotate it slightly, then rotate it back and save it again. You can also export or re-save the image as a PNG file, which often clears the orientation data.

If you don’t have editing software, you can a free online tool here.

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Cropping the image to a common ratio like 4:3, 3:2, or 1:1 can prevent the system from trying to auto-adjust or flip it.
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If you don’t have editing software, you can a free online tool here.
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After making changes, upload the updated file to your newsletter again to confirm the issue is resolved.
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Sometimes an image may briefly appear in the newsletter editor and then disappear. In most cases, this is just a browser display issue and does not affect the final email.

If this happens, try opening the newsletter in a different browser to see if the image stays visible. You can also reduce the image file size before uploading, since very large files can sometimes cause temporary display glitches in the editor.

Before making further changes, send yourself a test email. If the image appears correctly in the test, the issue is only within the editor and won’t affect what families receive.
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To ensure compatibility and optimal rendering in Playground newsletters, follow these guidelines:

This happens due to misinterpreted orientation metadata or extreme aspect ratios. Resize or crop the image and adjust the metadata to fix this.

This issue is likely browser-related. Send a test email to ensure the images render correctly for recipients.

Playground supports image files up to 2 MB. By following these tips and troubleshooting steps, you can effectively resolve image issues and enhance the visual appeal of your newsletters.