Images in Announcement Emails

[karen_bowden]

Why can we add images to an announcement, but the images do not display in the emails? After all, pictures say a thousand words. Most of my announcements in a course are dependent on the accompanying images. And nothing in the email says to click View Announcement to see the entire message including images.

[ericwerth]

Hi  @karen_bowden   I have noticed the same behavior in relation to images in announcements.  I am not sure why this happens, but perhaps it is a safety feature?

In our emails, there is a link at the bottom to view the full announcement in Canvas with images (see below).  Is this not part of the emails you receive?

 Thanks!

[karen_bowden]

Thanks, Eric. Yes, View Announcement is in small letters at the end of the email as shown above. However, this is not a solution for me and many others. Nothing in the email states that there might be images, videos, etc. in the email. End users may be puzzled as to why the text in the email makes no sense. Some will figure out to click View Announcement - we can only guess and hope.

I'm thinking to add to every announcement: "This announcement contains images. If you want to see them click View Announcement below." IMHO This should not be necessary.

[dwilkinsboise]

I appreciate knowing that, but that's not a solution, it's a work around.  The same issue was in Blackboard - I was hoping for better from Canvas. 

Hey Canvas team - images need to be in context in the original message.  The link removes the spontaneity for the reader and puts one more barrier in place for student learning.

[Bobby2]

I've noticed it too  @karen_bowden  A bit of a surprise, but glad I know now.

ericwerth‌'s tip of using the 'view announcement' option was helpful.

I hope people click on it!

[karen_bowden]

My point exactly. We have to "hope" people notice and click on View Announcement. 

[ericwerth]

Hi  @karen_bowden   I agree that the information in the email notification about the announcement can be confusing.  I noticed that for emails sent through our regular email system it will often say something along the lines of, "Images have been removed for your safety.  To see the full message, click here."  I liked the feature idea that stefaniesanders posted above and voted this up.  It has received good support but hopefully others who read this thread and feel similarly will add their votes as well!

[Stef_retired]

 @karen_bowden ‌, the feature idea requesting this enhancement to external notifications for announcements is currently open for voting at Formatting of Announcement Notifications.

[dw8]

Has anyone resolved this issue? The "solution" to click on the "view announcement" message in tiny letters at the bottom of the email isn't helpful at all. I send an announcement weekly, and images are a critical part of that announcement, particularly in a fully asynchronous online course. Students are not going to click on the button at the bottom of the email, and they're definitely not going to click on an announcement in Canvas they they've already seen in their inbox--they really just need the image displayed as I created in the announcement. I'd be grateful for some kind of workaround to this basic problem. (I tried to vote, but voting was closed, and I've tried to submit this reply but it keeps disappearing...)

[and-hu]

Just sent an announcement to 150 students with images demonstrating different parts of the Canvas site and none of them showed up in the email. Lovely. Now it looks like I messed up by writing "The image below:" and there not being an image below, not that Canvas is woefully missing this feature (but they added confetti, though)!

The least that could be done is adding some text where the image has been stripped that says "Image removed, View full Announcement in Canvas" or something. Anything but just a blank spot that makes the instructor look tech-inept. 

[kbear1]

Totally agree.  This is a basic, essential feature, and we have been complaining about this problem for literally years, and nothing has been done about it.  Canvas has continually demonstrated that they do not care one bit about improving their product.  Once they have universities signed to a 10-year contract, why would they?

[lbarbee4]

Just adding my voice. Yes! I like to add cartoons and memes, just to be more personal, and occasionally I add images that help with assignments. Can we please get this fixed?

[pcatasti]

Someone may have flagged this question as solved, but what remains unsolved is Canvas unwillingness to keep developing its product.

With Blackboard at least the company was receptive to improvement. Canvas is a great LMS, but what you see is what you get.

[eleanor_kippax]

Adding to this that this issue is not solved but needs to be ASAP!

[LoganKageorge]

This is still an issue 3 and a half years after Karen's original post. 😒

[hagedorn]

it is very sad that Canvas is so unwilling to include an obvious need here and let one send images via an announcement email. Canvas was a good product, but I am recommending that schools use another system since Canvas has stopped improving their system.

[BColganBall]

It's frustrating to see comments going back years and no change has been made regarding the formatting and images in announcement emails. I include pictures in all of my announcements and I know most of our students are not going to click on "View Announcement". Please improve this function in Canvas!

[dw8]

I've inquired about this issue before, and I just want to note that Canvas is the only LMS I've used that doesn't allow me to attach images to announcements. My workaround has been to create distribution lists for my students and simply email everyone, but creating the list is time-consuming, and then of course the announcement isn't stored inside the course. The inability to add images means that the content is immediately and dramatically impoverished. It cannot be that hard if the other LMS are able to achieve it. Please, Canvas, add this basic, important functionality now.

[mykassem]

adding my voice after realizing that this is a 5 years old issue . 

[LarsSorensen]

Just piling on.  Amazed this is on going after five years.  Canvas does sneaky annoying things to make you return to their ecosystem.  They're like the old Soviet Union, making things inconvenient unless you return to the motherland for a check-in.  I don't expect this to ever get fixed.  Silly.  We have a CMS with low self-esteem.

[lynn_cormiersay]

I'm going to pile on as well - this is very problematic when communicating with students - would love to see this receive more attention from Canvas - in a world more so now than ever where images are used to communicate this needs to be addressed.  

[CCarlson2025]

I agree. I've been asking for this for 6 years. Student engagement strategies and best practices indicate not being able to do so is ridiculous. And clearly people want it!

Canvas, let's do better!

[MrDesai]

Five years later, and still no solution! Not even an explanation like "we looked into this, here's why we can't change it". Very disappointing. 

[ChadwickYoung]

This continues to be a problem.  Canvas team, please correct.

[CCarlson2025]

Hi!

I'm circling back to this to see if you ever found a solution. I see your question is from years ago, but I have been asking for this as well. Thanks!

[lbarbee4]

Crickets.... 🙄

[lynn_cormiersay]

CANVAS, are you even reading this feed? In a world full of images you fail on this basic function! Instead I have to send emails to my students with an embedded image so they can see it!  

[hagedorn]

Personally, I think Canvas now dominates the education market, so it doesn't see a need to invest in continued improvement.   It's like Blackboard was, when Canvas became the new kid on the block and took over the market.  There's a real opportunity for another upstart in the education tech market to replace Canvas as they have so many issues stuck in the 2010s and they aren't willing to evolve.   It's really too bad as I used to really like Canvas. 

[lbarbee4]

Yes, unfortunately it seems that way.

[ChrisEngland]

I am CONSTANTLY having to mention in maybe half of my announcements to check the Canvas Announcements (or the link at the bottom of the email) to see the images I've included. Having those in the email by default (or a flag to turn them on/off) would be wonderful!