How to Write an Email with DALL-E

DALL-E, developed by OpenAI, is primarily an AI image generation tool. Although it does not directly write text emails, it can significantly enrich your email communications by creating custom visuals, tailored illustrations, and striking graphic elements. In this tutorial, you will learn how to leverage DALL-E to design professional images that accompany your emails: banners, concept illustrations, promotional visuals, or header images. By combining DALL-E with your usual email client, you will transform ordinary emails into visually memorable communications that capture recipients' attention and enhance the impact of your message. Discover how to integrate generative AI into your email workflow.

Prerequisites

1.Have an OpenAI account with access to DALL-E (via ChatGPT Plus or the API)
2.Have an email client that supports image insertion (Gmail, Outlook, etc.)
3.Know the subject and purpose of your email before starting
4.Have a general idea of the desired visual tone (professional, creative, promotional)

Steps

Define the Purpose of Your Email and the Necessary Visual

Before using DALL-E, clearly identify the type of email you are writing (newsletter, prospecting, invitation, follow-up) and the role the image will play. Determine whether you need a header banner, an explanatory illustration, a product visual, or an infographic. This planning step is essential to craft an effective prompt and get a relevant image on the first try.

Tip: List 2-3 keywords describing the emotion or mood your email should convey (trust, urgency, friendliness) to guide your prompt.

Write a Precise Prompt to Generate Your Visual

Access DALL-E via ChatGPT or the OpenAI API and write a descriptive prompt to generate the ideal image. Be specific about the style (photographic, illustration, flat design), colors (consistent with your brand palette), subject, and composition. The more detailed your prompt, the more usable the result will be for your professional email.

Create a professional banner in 600x200 pixels, modern flat design style, with blue and white tones, depicting [YOUR_TOPIC]. The image should be clean, without text, suitable for a professional email header.

Tip: Always specify 'no text' in your prompt if you plan to add text yourself, as DALL-E handles typography poorly.

Select and Refine the Generated Image

DALL-E will offer one or more variations. Examine each image considering whether it reinforces your email's message. If the result is not suitable, rephrase your prompt by adding or removing details. You can also request variations of an image you partially like, or use the editing function (inpainting) to modify a specific area of the image.

Generate 3 variations of this image with slightly different moods: one warmer, one more corporate, one more dynamic.

Tip: Download the image at maximum resolution. For an email, a width of 600 to 800 pixels is optimal for proper display on most email clients.

Write the Text Content of Your Email

With your visual ready, write the body of your email ensuring the text and image complement each other. Structure your email with a catchy subject line, an introduction that contextualizes the visual, a clear message body, and a precise call to action. If you use ChatGPT alongside DALL-E, you can ask it to write the email text consistent with the generated visual.

Write a professional email of 150 words for [GOAL]. The tone should be [DESIRED_TONE]. The email accompanies an image depicting [DESCRIPTION_OF_DALL-E_VISUAL]. Include a catchy subject line and a clear call to action.

Tip: Ensure your email works without the image as well (some email clients block images by default). The text must stand alone.

Assemble and Send Your Enriched Email

Integrate the DALL-E generated image into your email client. In Gmail, use the inline image insertion option. In Outlook, drag and drop the image into the message body. Add alternative text (alt attribute) describing the image for accessibility. Send yourself a test email to check the rendering on desktop and mobile before sending it to your recipients.

Tip: Compress your image to under 200 KB to prevent your email from being filtered as spam or loading too slowly.

Common mistakes to avoid

✗Asking DALL-E to generate readable text in the image — typography rendering is often approximate and unprofessional
✗Using images that are too heavy or too high resolution, which slows down loading and may trigger anti-spam filters
✗Neglecting visual consistency between the generated image and your brand's graphic identity (colors, style, tone)
✗Forgetting to check the email's rendering on mobile, where images may be resized or hidden
✗Relying solely on the visual without writing a standalone and convincing text content

FAQ

Can DALL-E directly write the text of an email?

No, DALL-E is exclusively an image generator. For text writing, use a language model like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. DALL-E comes in as a complement to create the visual elements that enrich your emails.

What image formats does DALL-E generate for use in emails?

DALL-E generates images in PNG format. For email use, it is recommended to convert to JPEG to reduce file size, or keep PNG if you need transparency. Aim for a width of 600 to 800 pixels and a file size under 200 KB.

Can I use images generated by DALL-E for commercial purposes in my emails?

Yes, according to OpenAI's terms of use, images generated by DALL-E belong to you and can be used for commercial purposes, including in marketing or prospecting emails. However, check the terms in effect at the time of your use.

How do I maintain visual consistency across multiple emails?

Create a base prompt that you reuse by only changing the subject. For example, set the style (flat design), colors (hex codes of your brand guidelines), and format. Save your effective prompts to reuse them and maintain a consistent visual identity.

How to use this prompt

Copy the prompt with the button above.
Paste it into ChatGPT, Claude or your favorite AI assistant.
Replace the bracketed variables with your details, then refine the result.

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