re :''I have selected a picture document as background to my e-mail '' What OS do you use? What version of Thunderbird? Did you do the following: * Open a new Write message. * 'Format' > 'Page colours & Background' * Click on 'Choose file' and locate saved jpg image * click on OK Is the image stored in a folder on your computer? You say 'picture document'; what extension eg: jpg, gif ? Is this an image you downloaded off a webpage or something you took using a camera etc ? What size is the image in kb ? Assuming you have saved the email in 'Sent' folder, select the email you sent, do you see the image ? Is the recipient viewing in 'Simple HTML' or 'Plain Text' ? If using either of those then the image will not be displayed. Instead it would appear as an attachment. They must be using 'Original HTML' in order to see the image.