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Create Custom HTML Signatures in Gmail – Black Canvas

on November 20, 2011 in Tech for Life

Originally posted 2008-08-25 17:25:14.

One of the primary gripes about Gmail is the lack of HTML support in email signatures. And it sticks out like a sore thumb.

Obviously, Google has heard this complaint for a long time from it’s huge user base especially from the power users. And they haven’t still addressed this user request despite making other useful changes and incorporating some popular Greasemonkey scripts right inside Gmail such as the Label Colors.

Some of us have been relying on Greasemonkey scripts for Gmail to get HTML signatures and other features like Folders4Gmail, Gmail Macros, etc. But, it wasn’t very straight forward or user-friendly enough for widespread adoption.

Black Canvas’ Gmail Signatures Firefox extension is set to change all that. As soon as I tried it, I bid farewell to the Greasemonkey script I was using.In fact, this extension was born out of a previous Greasemonkey script.

Let’s see what Gmail Signatures can do for us:

  • Automatically inserts HTML signatures into your Gmail messages – works on Compose, Reply & Forward
  • If you use multiple Gmail address, create up to four signatures per email address
  • It can detect which address you are sending from and automatically add the respective signature
  • Real-time signature preview while editing the signature HTML (great for those unsure of html code)
  • Option to choose to have the signature inserted above or below the quoted text
  • Option to custom label four signatures for each email address
  • Support for special characters
  • Available in multiple languages

Here are some useful resources put together by the helpful author of this add-on Jerome Dane.

  • Getting started – with pictures
  • HTML tutorials – won’t help you learn HTML completely, but will help you enough to create a signature
  • Templates – a few samples that you could use to create your own HTML signature
  • Forums – if you had further questions, issues or even suggestions, visit the forums.

I would really like to see an export/import option for this useful Firefox extension so I can set this up and once and just import the settings into my other computers. I use 2 at work and 2 at home!

Something that was just used by power users who were comfortable with editing Greasemonkey script files, etc is now in reach of everyone who can take a few minutes to create a HTML signature.

Go ahead and try it. If you need help in creating one, let me know in the comments.

If you are a blogger and make use of FeedBurner, now you can even make use of Feedburner’s new Email Signature headline animator in your HTML signature that will show off your recent posts.

Completely Revised Top Firefox Extensions

As you may have noticed in the footer in the site, Top Firefox Extensions is the most popular post here. I took the much needed time last week to add some new categories and update with some of the best Firefox add-ons out there.

Of course, this list will be only as useful as you see it and I will appreciate it if you could take a moment to look over and suggest add-ons that you consider the best and something you can’t live without.

Let’s make it better and something you could come back to anytime when you need find some of the Top Firefox extensions.

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  • http://kitchenremodelproject.com/ Liora

    Yes i to agree with you that in gmail creating custom html signatures is drawback and google should have taken a step to resolve it for better usability.

    Lioras last blog post..Manchester, New Hampshire

  • http://www.meandmydrum.com Mark Sierra at MeAndMyDrum.com

    You found another cool one, buddy! I recently started using Stylish and their answer to making Gmail look better. I also recently started putting back in my signature after a while of not using it. Never did like the way Gmail handled the signature below the quoted text. But this feature looks promising.

    Stumbled! :)

    Mark Sierra at MeAndMyDrum.coms last blog post..What Do Comments Do For You? For Your Blog?

  • http://thenewsdose.com/2008/08/25/are-you-a-loser-on-internet/ Navi

    Thanks for informing about this extension. Although, I use Opera but still, it can be useful when Opera acts strange.

    Navis last blog post..Are you a loser on internet? Find Out!

  • http://www.puttingblogsfirst.com Muhammad Siyab

    Thanks a ton for this tutorial, K! Insert HTML into Gmail sigs seems a cool idea…

    Btw, i came here thru the problogger group project :D

  • http://www.whoismadhur.com Madhur Kapoor

    Thanks for this. Its time i too started using Gmail Signatures

    Madhur Kapoors last blog post..Control your Computer from anywhere using RealVNC

  • http://futurenestegg.com/credit-card-tricks/ Sandy Naidu

    Thanks for these tips…I don’t use google signatures mainly because I use my gmail only for personal purposes. But good to know though…

    Sandy Naidus last blog post..Top 5 Dirty Little Credit Card Tricks

  • http://www.shankrila.com K

    Liora, this should absolutely fill that gaping void in Gmail.

    Mark, thanks a lot buddy and great to see you! This is especially great for bloggers to sport a link to their blogs/rss feeds/feedburner email signature, etc also for freelancers. Glad you found it useful!

  • http://www.shankrila.com K

    Navi, you are very welcome! :-) Opera is a great browser too but I just keep coming back to Firefox!

    Muhammad, welcome to ShanKri-la! Glad you found it useful.. :-)

    Madhur, I think it’s pretty cool to be able to display your site links in all your emails.

    Sandy, you are welcome!

  • http://www.andrewflusche.com/services/wills-and-estate-planning/ Andrew@Estate Planning Lawyer

    One thing I love about Gmail are the new tools that are constantly coming out for it. You sure don’t see that for Yahoo or Hotmail. Thanks for pointing this one out!

    Andrews last blog post..Trademark Registration Video Tutorial

  • http://losefree.com Chelle@Lose Weight for Free

    That is pretty neat. I don’t use my gmail account very often because it is missing a lot of features – will check this out though! Thanks for sharing it!

    Chelles last blog post..Back to School Tips for Diet and Exercise

  • http://blog.gettingrichthecertainway.net/brainwave-meditation Olivier @ brainwave meditation

    I have been waiting for this since a long time. I really like gmail, but my html signature that I used in thunderbird is one of the things I really miss. Thank for pointing me to the solution.

  • http://www.shankrila.com K

    Olivier, you are very welcome. This is the most elegant solution there is for HTML signatures in Gmail. I can’t thank the folks who created this. Long live Firefox community! :-)

  • http://www.meandmydrum.com Mark Sierra at MeAndMyDrum.com

    Maybe I’m missing something, but I can’t seem to get this to work. I see the buttons and dropdown menu in the message toolbar, and I thought I created the signature properly, but whenever I reply to a message, the default Gmail signature I have already set in preferences still shows at the bottom of the message. What do I do to get this plug-in to take my sig and place it where it should be?

    Mark Sierra at MeAndMyDrum.coms last blog post..This Is The Most Aggressive Sales Tactic I’ve Ever Seen

  • http://www.shankrila.com K

    Hey Mark, it works wonders for me and sorry to hear you have troubles with it. Have you tried maybe removing your default Gmail signature? Also, the options tab has a few options to position it where you’d like it in the message. If not, Black Canvas Forums might be of some help to you buddy. I hope it works for you.. it is incredibly useful when it does.

  • http://www.meandmydrum.com Mark Sierra at MeAndMyDrum.com

    I got it figured out! My meds wore off. Once I took another dose, the solution was staring me right in the face. :)

    Mark Sierra at MeAndMyDrum.coms last blog post..Time For A New Theme

  • http://www.shinesolar.net denver@solar panel

    This is a great tutorial.I mainly use Gmail at the moment.My customers told me my signature looks cool after i tried your method.Thanks a lot ,Thumbs up!

  • http://www.shinesolar.net denver@solar panel

    This is a great tutorial.I mainly use gmail at the moment.My customers told me that my signature is very cool after you use your method.Thanks a lot,Thumbs up!

  • http://freewebs.com/kwprofile kw

    My signatures never looked better and it was so easy to use

  • Vincent

    Ah… finally a tutorial that worked! Kudos!

  • http://www.shankrila.com K

    Glad it worked for you, Vincent! :-)

  • http://www.addvalue.com.au/ personalised items

    Having signatures on your email add is a great thing to do. Since this can help if someone wants to reach you. I often add my Skype ID, Contact Number on my signature.

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    Great post, I enjoyed ready reading it, Keep posting good stuff like this.

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    This is a great inspiring article.I am pretty much pleased with your good work.You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging. Looking to reading your next post. 

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    Thanks for sharing. I agree that Gmail has a weak spot when it comes to signatures. I’m glad that you posted this as this will fill in the gaps of Gmail’s signature issue.

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    v ery nyc article..xctly wt i ws lukin for…good job… from baap.me