Render an invoice as a PNG to embed in email bodies without forcing a PDF attachment.
The Invoice Image Generator renders an invoice as a PNG sized for the email body, typically 600 pixels wide to match the dominant email template width. The image embeds inline in the email so the recipient sees the invoice the moment they open the message, rather than needing to download a PDF attachment first. The same generator outputs a matching PDF for the cases where the recipient needs the formal document, which makes the PNG a preview rather than a replacement for the attachment.
The use case is specifically email deliverability and previewing. Most invoicing tools attach a PDF and leave the email body blank, which means the recipient sees nothing in the message preview, has to download an attachment to see what they have been sent, and sometimes loses the email to spam filtering because attachment-only messages score poorly. Embedding the invoice as an image in the body fixes all three: the preview shows the amount and the due date, the recipient sees the invoice without downloading anything, and the email scores better with filters because it has substantive body content.
Pass the invoice number, the issue date, the due date, the line items, the totals, the tax breakdown, and the payment details as a JSON payload. The renderer treats every field as required where the invoice category needs it (line items, totals, dates) and optional where the field varies by jurisdiction (VAT number, registered office address).
Choose from the built-in templates (minimal, traditional, modern bordered, or branded) and set the brand colour and logo. The template controls the layout and the typography, and the brand details overlay the chosen template without changing its structure.
The same render produces a PNG at 600 pixels wide (for email body embedding) and a PDF at A4 (for the formal attachment). Both render from the same source data, so any change to the underlying invoice produces a matching pair without configuration drift.
Copy the hosted PNG URL into the email HTML as an <img> source with explicit width and height attributes. Most email clients display the image inline immediately, and recipients see the invoice in the body without needing to download the attachment first.
Agencies, accountancies, and service businesses that send dozens of monthly invoices benefit from embedding the invoice in the email body. Clients see the amount and the due date the moment they open the email, the open and pay times shorten measurably, and the same email also carries the PDF as the formal record.
SaaS platforms that bill monthly with usage-based line items benefit from showing the breakdown inline rather than expecting the customer to download a PDF. The embedded image shows which line item drove the increase from last month, which removes a class of support ticket and surfaces the value the customer received.
Marketplaces that pay sellers on a regular cycle benefit from sending a payout statement that shows the breakdown inline. The seller sees the gross, the fees, and the net at a glance, and the same image acts as a permanent record they can search in their inbox later.
Hospitality venues and event businesses that send invoices to corporate clients benefit from a branded inline invoice that signals professionalism. The corporate client forwards the email to accounts payable, the inline image survives the forward (where attachments sometimes get stripped), and the invoice moves through the AP queue faster.
Membership organisations that renew annually benefit from a renewal email that includes the invoice inline. The member sees the renewal amount and the period covered without needing to open an attachment, the renewal rate lifts measurably, and the email body provides natural surface area for a renewal call-to-action.
White body with a thin brand-coloured header band, line items in a clean table, totals right-aligned, and payment details at the bottom. The default for software and modern service businesses.
Full-width branded header with the logo and the company details, then a classic bordered table for the line items and totals. Suits established service businesses and professional firms.
Summary box at the top with the period covered, the total due, and the due date, followed by the line-item breakdown grouped by product or feature. Built for usage-based and subscription billing.
Email clients render the image faster when the dimensions are declared in the HTML, and the layout does not shift as the image loads. Set width="600" and height="(actual height)" on the img tag, and the email preview pane sizes correctly even before the image data arrives.
The alt text serves both accessibility users and the cases where the recipient's email client blocks remote images. A useful alt text reads something like "Invoice 2026-0148 from Acme Ltd, total £1,240.00, due 30 June 2026", which carries enough detail that the recipient can act on it without seeing the image.
The image in the body is a preview, not the formal document. Accounts payable departments need the PDF for their records, tax authorities expect the PDF on audit, and the recipient may forward the email to a different person who needs the attachment. Send both, and the recipient picks whichever they need.
The hosted CDN URL for the rendered invoice stays valid for as long as the source data does not change, which means the inline image continues to work months or years later when the recipient searches their inbox for an old invoice. Avoid hosting the image at a URL that you rotate or expire, since the historical email loses its preview.
The image and the PDF should both be rendered at the moment the invoice is issued and stored against the invoice record in your database. Re-rendering on the fly when the recipient opens the email is slower, costs more, and risks the rendering settings drifting away from the version the recipient first saw.
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The Invoice Image Generator runs on the HTML to Image API. Call the same renderer from your own code with a free account. 25 renders a month on the free tier. See the pricing page for higher-volume plans.