CMC Simulator
Preview a Common Mark Certificate logo in the inbox.
Preview how your logo would look beside your mail with a Common Mark Certificate, a CMC. Unlike a VMC, a CMC does not need a registered trademark, it verifies a logo that has been in prior public use. Everything here runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
The CMC Simulator shows you roughly how your brand logo would appear next to your messages in a supporting inbox once BIMI is configured. A Common Mark Certificate (CMC) is the newer, lower-cost relative of the Verified Mark Certificate (VMC): it lets organisations whose logo is not a registered trademark still display a brand indicator, by proving control of the mark through prior use rather than trademark registration. This preview renders your image/svg+xml file in a mock message list so you can sanity-check cropping, contrast and how the mark reads at small sizes.
Why a preview matters
BIMI logos are shown in a tight, usually circular frame at low resolution. A logo that looks crisp on a website can become an illegible blob in the inbox. Previewing first saves you a slow round-trip of editing DNS, waiting for caches to expire, and asking a colleague to check Gmail. It also reminds you that the indicator only appears once the underlying authentication is in order.
How to act on what you see
If the logo is unreadable, simplify it: a bold, centred glyph on a solid background reads far better than detailed lettering. Then confirm the rest of the chain is ready, because no simulator replaces real configuration:
- Your domain must publish DMARC at enforcement (
p=quarantineorp=reject); see how to enforce. - The SVG must be Tiny-PS profile; validate it with the BIMI Logo Validator.
- You need a hosted certificate (CMC or VMC) referenced by the
a=tag for Gmail and Apple Mail to render the mark.
Getting from preview to live display can be fiddly across mailbox providers; our done-for-you service can handle the BIMI rollout end to end.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a CMC and a VMC?
A Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) requires a registered trademark for the logo, while a Common Mark Certificate (CMC) verifies control of the mark through prior use and so suits unregistered logos, government bodies and non-profits. Both are referenced from your BIMI record's a= tag.
Will my logo display in every inbox?
No. BIMI support varies by provider. Gmail and Apple Mail require a VMC or CMC before displaying a logo, whereas some providers show a self-hosted SVG without a certificate. The simulator is an approximation, not a guarantee of how any single client will render it.
Does the simulator change my DNS or send any email?
No. It only renders the SVG you provide in a mock inbox layout. Nothing is published, and no message is sent. To go live you must add a BIMI TXT record and host a certificate.
Why does my logo look cropped or off-centre in the preview?
Most clients place the mark inside a circular or rounded frame, so artwork that fills the corners gets clipped. Keep important detail within a centred safe zone and use a solid background fill rather than transparency.
Do I still need DMARC enforcement to use a CMC?
Yes. BIMI of any kind only takes effect when the sending domain publishes DMARC at p=quarantine or p=reject with sufficient coverage. A CMC does not bypass that requirement; see how to enforce.