Image may not appear in message received with Outlook Express or Outlook (246186)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5 for Windows
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 for Windows 98 SP 2
  • Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
  • Microsoft Outlook 2002
  • Microsoft Outlook 2000
  • Microsoft Outlook 98
  • Microsoft Outlook 97

This article was previously published under Q246186
For information about the differences between Microsoft Outlook Express and Microsoft Outlook e-mail clients, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

257824 OL2000: Differences Between Outlook and Outlook Express

SYMPTOMS

When you open an e-mail or news message with Outlook Express or Outlook, images in the message may not be displayed. An image may appear as a box with a red X in it.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the message was sent using CMYK color format. The CMYK format uses the four process colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) used in four-color printed reproduction.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, the sender should send the message using RGB color format. The RGB format uses the primary colors in color video (red, green, and blue).

MORE INFORMATION

Typically, images are encoded in a three-channel RGB format. It is possible, in some programs, to create images that are encoded in four-channel CMYK color format. Windows is unable to display images that are not in three-channel RGB color format.


Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:3/7/2006
Keywords:kbgraphic kbprb KB246186