On: This is not an image. It's an HTML table.

[TazeTSchnitzel]

Three things:

1. Google used to do this to reduce request overhead when displaying Google Checkout icon in search results.

2. Data URIs essentially render this pointless for newer browsers

3. I've tried using a lot of divs and animating them to simulate a canvas. Very slow. Do not try.

[dwwoelfel → TazeTSchnitzel]

Data URIs essentially render this pointless for newer browsers

He mentions bypassing image filters in emails as one of the use cases. Data URIs still require an img tag, so they'll be blocked by the email client.

[TazeTSchnitzel → dwwoelfel]

Newer email clients should allow them, though.

[dwwoelfel → TazeTSchnitzel]

When I checked last year, gmail was indiscriminately blocking anything with an img tag.