Equinux has updated Mail Designer for the Mac to version 1.2. Designs can now be exported as an HTML document.

The new HTML export plug-in will create a folder containing a HTML document and associated images. Users can also choose to export their design with a custom image URL, which makes it easy to send newsletters with mail services while externally hosting the images.

The 1.2 update also makes numerous improvements to the tools built-in to Mail Designer; for instance, it makes it easier to create emails with multiple column layouts, image placeholders and custom backgrounds. Layout blocks can now be duplicated via a menu bar command and have all been adjusted in width so they can be combined more easily.

Background image compatibility has also been improved, so backgrounds look better in Outlook, Gmail and Thunderbird. Mail Designer 1.2 also adds support for Mac OS X 10.7 (“Lion”) features, including full-screen mode and resume.

Equinux is releasing a software development kit for Mail Designer. Third-party developers can now start developing their own plug-ins to integrate their apps and services with Mail Designer. Interested developers should visit http://www.equinux.com/goto/maildesignerSDK .

Mail Designer allows users to create individual mail designs for newsletters, offers, invitations or personal emails that can be sent to customers, colleagues or any larger group of recipients. Each design can be saved as a template and sent through Apple Mail. To keep things simple, a variety of predefined layout blocks including headlines, text objects and multicolumn layouts can be dragged, dropped and rearranged, says equinux CEO Till Schadde. Numerous textures and background patterns are also included.

Artists, agents and businesses can integrate their own cooperate designs into Mail templates and integrate dynamic content. Mail Designer includes graphics, text-objects and dynamic and customizable text and image placeholders. With tools, rulers and guides, users can create customer newsletters, and each mail design can be saved as a template that can be used repeatedly.

Mac users who already use Stationery Pack, Stationery Pack 2 or Stationery Pack Business Edition can edit the templates in Mail Designer. Mail Designer is also fully compatible with equinux Stationery Collections: Birthday Cards, Summer Spirit Cards or even the entire Season’s Greetings Collections.

Mail Designer 1.2 is a free update for existing customers. Mail Designer can be purchased as a download in the equinux online store (http://www.equinux.com), on the Mac App Store for US$69.95 or as a boxed version from Apple retailers. The Mail Designer 1.2 update will be available soon on the Mac App Store. Equinux also offers Mail Designer together with Stationery Pack Business Edition, a collection of more than 200 business email templates for $99.95.