How to Deploy BIMI for free (only works with some providers)

[Duckpaddle]

Being cheap, I discovered that while some email providers require that $$$ certificate, some don't. So I set about deploying my bimi for free.

• Make a tiny SVG file, or steal one.
• Deploy it to your website, perhaps in a folder named bimi
• Edit your DNS records
• Test with https://bimigroup.org/bimi-generator/

Stealing an SVG file​

The archetype BIMI svg file is the one used by CNN.com as they were the first to implement BIMI.

I just downloaded their file, found from their DNS record and loaded it into a text editor. I discovered they used a canvas of 967.5 by 967.5.

I used my favorite vector editor, Adobe Illustrator to make my logo and save it as an tiny SVG file with dimensions of 1000 by 1000 pixels. If you use anything with a font, change it to a shape.

Then I opened my svg file in a text editor.

I copied the “meat” of the cnn svg file’s definition, replacing my svg header:

<svg version="1.2" baseProfile="tiny-ps" id="Layer_1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" viewBox="0 0 967.5 967.5" xml:space="preserve">

<title>CNN</title>

I then changed the CNN in the <title> to my company name.

I saved the file as example-bimi.svg

Deploy the file​

I copied example-bimi.svg into my web site deployment. Following the SAN’s institute example I made a folder off the root and named it bimi to host this file.

Edit you DNS records​

For the plumbing to work you need to add a text record to your DNS.

The record name must be: default._bimi

The record should hold this text:

v=BIMI1; l=https://example.com/bimi/example-bimi.svg

Testing with the bimigroup.org​

I opened the web site bimigroup.org and under “resources” dropdown, found the bimi Inspector.

This is the best one as it gives exact error messages for problems it finds.

Also BIMI assumes you have configured your email MX, SPF, and DMARC in your DNS. This tool will check these as well.