> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.peoplevine.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.peoplevine.com/products/control-panel-overview/communications-overview/email-builder-v2.md). # How to Use Email Builder v2 Email Builder v2 is the current way to design email newsletters in the Control Panel — a block-and-column builder with a starter-template library. It runs **alongside** the original (v1) builder: new accounts default to v2, and existing clients can switch to it at any time. > **Note**: v2 and v1 emails are built in **different systems**. An email created in v1 cannot be opened or edited in v2, and vice versa. Existing v1 emails are unaffected. This article covers designing the email. For choosing the audience, previewing, approving, and sending, see: [How to Build & Send an Email Newsletter](/products/control-panel-overview/communications-overview/build-send-email-newsletter.md). ### Before you begin (Prerequisites) * **Permissions**: You must be an **Administrator**, **Supervisor**, **Manager**, **Support**, or **Account Rep**. See: [How to Manage Users and Permissions](/products/control-panel-overview/admin-overview/manage-roles-permissions.md). * **Builder enabled**: v2 must be turned on for your account via the **Enable Newsletter Builder 2.0** company setting. See: [How to Configure Company Settings](/products/control-panel-overview/admin-overview/configure-company-settings.md). New accounts have it on by default. ### Open the v2 builder 1. Navigate to [**CONNECT > Manage E-mails**](https://control.peoplevine.com/newsletters?message_type=email) and click **COMPOSE E-MAIL NEWSLETTER**. > **Note (Pro Dash):** Navigate to **CONNECT > Group Messaging > View E-mail Newsletters**, then start a new newsletter. 2. In the **builder version** dropdown, select **V2**. 3. Give the email a name and click **Continue** to open the builder. ![Composing a new newsletter — selecting V2 in the builder version dropdown](/files/28OBwQT4z4BsyTBZgQWh) 4. Choose a **starter template** to begin from, or click **CREATE FROM SCRATCH** for a blank email. ### The builder interface The builder has three areas: * **Left panel** — the block and layout library; pick a column layout and add blocks. * **Canvas** — the centre, where the email takes shape. Click any element to select and edit it. * **Right panel** — settings for whatever you've selected. Use the **breadcrumbs** at the top of this panel to move up and down the layout hierarchy without hunting on the canvas. ![Email Builder v2 interface — left block/layout library, centre canvas, right settings panel](/files/I5RlkIlqi9zDqfIlJuN6) ### Build the email * **Layout** — every email is a five-level hierarchy: **Body → Main → Block → Column → Block type**. A *Block* is a full-width row; *Columns* exist only in two- and three-column layouts. Select a level to control its background, border, corner radius, padding (and width, for columns). * **Blocks (Singles)** — add content elements: **Heading** (H1–H6), **Text** (with inline links), **Image** (upload or URL, alt text, clickable link, full-width-on-mobile option), **List**, **Button** (label, URL, colors, size, corner radius), **Link**, **Spacer**, **Divider**, and **Social** (footer social icons). Heading and Text blocks support **First name / Last name** personalization variables. * **Block sets** — pre-built combinations (e.g., *Heading + Text*, *Image + Text*) that drop in as a group in the correct structure; every block stays independently editable. Sets are filtered by the column layout you've selected. * **Reorder and reuse** — reorder blocks with the up/down arrows on each block (there is no drag-and-drop), and duplicate a block with its copy button. To reuse a whole design, **duplicate the newsletter**. * **Change template** — click **Change template** at the top of the builder to switch to a different starter template or start over. Switching **replaces your current content**, so it asks you to confirm first. ### Key differences from the v1 builder If you've used v1, these work differently in v2: * **Email-safe fonts only** — a fixed set of web-safe fonts, no custom fonts. Font sizes are even numbers only and there is no **Justify** alignment — both keep rendering consistent across email clients (especially Outlook). * **No HTML/code view** — you can't edit raw HTML. * **No layouts or global header/footer** — v2 has no newsletter layouts; style each email directly and build headers/footers per email (the **Social** block helps with footers). * **No saved custom blocks** — you can't save a block or group as a reusable component. To reuse a design, **duplicate the newsletter**. * **Fixed 600px body width** — the email body is 600px wide (the email standard) and can't be changed. * **Image limits** — `.png`, `.jpg`, and `.gif` only, **1MB max**. Images aren't scaled beyond their original width, so start with a wide source image (600–1200px). Background images aren't supported — bake any text into the image itself. See: [How to Optimize Images for Email Campaigns](/products/control-panel-overview/communications-overview/optimize-email-images.md). * **Links are validated automatically** — special characters such as ampersands (`&`) are converted for you, so links won't break the way they can in v1. > **Tip:** v2 doesn't use Peoplevine templates or newsletter layouts — but you can still get the same result. Build an email with the layout you plan to reuse, save it with a clear template name, then **duplicate it** each week or month (or whenever you need that layout) instead of rebuilding it. ### What Happens Next * Once the design is ready, continue to audience, preview, approval, and sending — see: [How to Build & Send an Email Newsletter](/products/control-panel-overview/communications-overview/build-send-email-newsletter.md). * **Next step**: [Communications Overview](/products/control-panel-overview/communications-overview.md) · [How to Optimize Images for Email Campaigns](/products/control-panel-overview/communications-overview/optimize-email-images.md). *Last updated: 2026-07-12* --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. 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