Is it possible to convert an SVG file to PNG (or other format that I can drop into an MS Outlook email) without losing shadow effect fading?

I have created an image to insert into an Outlook mailer to send to clients that has a shadow effect behind an object (how I made the shadow effect: copied object, converted stroke and fill to black, set 50% opacity, set 12% blur, dropped below original object and moved it off centre), but when I save as PNG it loses the shadow/blur effect and gives me a transparent object with solid edges.

SVG files do not import directly inline into Outlook and converting to JPG or taking a screenshot loses picture quality.

Is there a way around this?

Welcome to InkscapeForum!

Yes. It should work properly if you use File menu > Export Bitmap to create the PNG (rather than Save As Cairo png, which it sounds like you probably used).

I've found that after exporting bitmap (as Brynn described above), that I go into Gimp and convert it to a jpg, then you don't lose anything, and most people can view the jpg in whatever system they use.

Thanks, just did it and it worked like a dream.