Outlook does not open New-Mail with background and signature

[singhalong]

I am not able to get Outlook to give me any background e.g Clear Day nor does
it print my signature, even though it allows me to create the signature and
accepts the settings on the Mail Options for both, the signature and the
Clear Day background.
This is true even when I have made these settings clear in the options for
New Messages a well.

Also, whenever I receive messages in HTML format, the letters are extremely
large, and the same size in all e-mails, even though the senders have used
smaller and different fonts.