On its face, shipping art prints might sound easy enough. In any case, prints are two-dimensional, lightweight, and in some cases easy to roll up. Yet, as seasoned veterans of the wonderful art business will inform you, shipping artwork is a craft unto itself.
From large paintings to small sketches, it’s essential to ensure nothing in regards to the artwork is harmed within the shipping process. Here’s a primer on find out how to ship art prints, with a walkthrough of every little thing from the packaging process to picking a shipping carrier.
Find out how to pack art in a flat envelope
- Prepare the artwork
- Select a sturdy envelope
- Add protective padding
- Secure the artwork
- Add identification and directions
- Seal the envelope
With the proper packaging materials, you possibly can ship smaller prints in flat envelopes very like people who transport regular first-class mail. Nonetheless, shipping art requires lots more care than mailing an extraordinary letter. Listed below are suggestions and methods for packaging and shipping art in flat envelopes:
1. Prepare the artwork
Before you ship artwork, be sure it’s adequately protected. If it’s a painting, ensure it’s dry and never prone to smudging. If it’s a print or drawing, consider placing a protective covering resembling glassine paper over the surface to forestall smudging or scratching during transit. In the event you’re sending multiple prints in the identical envelope, cover every one individually in order that paint or ink doesn’t rub off or keep on with the opposite artworks. You furthermore may can use cardboard sheets to separate different prints.
2. Select a sturdy envelope
Select a flat envelope that’s sturdy and sturdy enough to resist the pains of shipping. An envelope specifically designed to ship artwork, resembling a flat mailer or cardboard envelope, is right. Be sure that the envelope is larger than the artwork to supply ample space for padding.
3. Add protective padding
Place a layer of protective padding contained in the envelope to cushion the artwork and stop it from shifting during transit. Bubble wrap, foam sheets, and corrugated pads make excellent packing materials. Wrap the artwork securely with the padding material, ensuring all edges and corners are adequately covered.
4. Secure the artwork
Use archival tape or corner protectors to secure the wrapped artwork contained in the envelope. Avoid using regular tape that may damage the artwork when removed. If the artwork is especially fragile or invaluable, consider placing it between two pieces of sturdy cardboard for added protection.
5. Add identification and directions
Include a packing slip with the sender’s and recipient’s contact information, in addition to any special handling instructions. This helps be sure that the artwork reaches its destination safely and is simple to discover upon arrival.
6. Seal the envelope
Once the artwork is securely packed and guarded, seal the envelope tightly to forestall it from opening during transit. Use strong packaging tape to seal all edges of the envelope, ensuring there are not any gaps or openings where moisture or debris could enter.
Find out how to pack art in a mailing tube
- Prepare the artwork
- Select an appropriate mailing tube
- Roll the artwork fastidiously
- Secure the rolled artwork
- Place the artwork within the mailing tube
- Cap and seal the tube
- Label and address the tube
Packing art in a mailing tube is a standard solution to ship larger prints, posters, or artworks that could be rolled without risking damage. This shipping method presents its own unique challenges, however it also helps be sure that your delicate art arrives in pristine condition. It might function an important option for larger artwork that simply won’t slot in an envelope.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to effectively packing art in a mailing tube:
1. Prepare the artwork
Make sure the artwork is clean, dry, and free from any debris. If it’s a print or poster, follow similar steps to those you’d use with a flat art print. This implies placing a protective sheet resembling glassine paper over the surface, which might prevent smudging or scratching during transit.
2. Select an appropriate mailing tube
Select mailing tubes which can be sturdy and sturdy enough to move artwork safely. The perfect shipping tube ought to be made from thick outer cardboard or other rigid materials that won’t easily crush or bend. Make sure the tube is long and wide enough to accommodate a big artwork without excessive rolling.
3. Roll the artwork fastidiously
Lay the artwork face down on a clean surface and gently roll it right into a cylinder shape, taking care to not crease or damage the print. If the artwork has a protective covering, be sure it’s securely in place before rolling.
4. Secure the rolled artwork
Once the artwork is rolled, secure it with acid-freetissue paper. You may also apply a layer of glassine paper to forestall the print from sticking to itself. Use archival-quality tape to carry the paper in place, being careful not to break the fragile artwork.
5. Place the artwork within the mailing tube
Rigorously slide the rolled artwork into the mailing tube, ensuring it suits snugly but isn’t too tight. If there’s extra space within the tube, fill it with additional packing material resembling bubble wrap, foam peanuts, or bundled-up Ulinekraft paper to forestall the artwork from shifting during transit.
6. Cap and seal the tube
Place caps on each ends of the mailing tube to guard the artwork from moisture, dust, and other potential damage. Secure the caps tightly in place, after which seal the ends of the tube with strong shipping tape to forestall them from coming loose during transit.
7. Label and address the tubeÂ
Clearly label the mailing tube with the sender’s and recipient’s contact information, in addition to any special handling instructions for shipping paintings. Include a packing slip contained in the tube with the identical information for simple identification.
Suggestions for shipping art prints
When mailing art prints—from original paintings to mass-market lithographs—you possibly can sometimes encounter an additional layer of difficulty. Listed below are 4 shipping strategies for each small and enormous prints:
Buy insurance
Consider purchasing insurance for the artwork you ship. You may almost at all times get insurance or similar protection from the shipping company you employ to send your package. You’ll also need to pay for tracking services, which ensures that the artwork is traceable in case of any problems during shipping. Although you’ll incur additional fees for this service, it’ll spare you money and time if something goes improper.
Use a brand new box or tube
A shipping box is the road of protection between a invaluable murals and the weather around it. The outer box must be sturdy, while the inner surface must be freed from dirt, debris, or mold. Moderately than reuse envelopes, boxes, and tubes, use recent packaging. This may barely bump your shipping cost, however it ensures the artwork inside is protected.
Don’t leave extra space
Once you pack up artwork for shipping, empty space is just not your friend. Even in a smaller box, art prints can shift around in empty space, damaging the sides or causing paint to flake. As such, put your best efforts into keeping prints secure of their packaging. You may fill empty space with balled-up tissue or parchment paper. You may place the print in a moisture-free plastic sleeve or poly bag to further protect it. You may even affix the artwork to the envelope by placing an adhesive strip on the print’s plastic sleeve; nevertheless, don’t affix a strip to the print itself.
Label with up-to-date information
Be sure that your shipping label incorporates an accurate return address. You must also include any special instructions on the surface of the package. As an illustration, you would possibly specify that a package should only be opened with a short-blade box cutter and never long-blade scissors.
Selecting a carrier to ship art
Typically, you’ll select from three major shipping services when sending art prints to your customers:
USPS
America Postal Service offers competitive pricing, particularly for light packages. It offers services like USPS First-Class Mail,Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express, that are suitable for shipping art prints. Think about using USPS Registered Mail for added security and tracking for invaluable art prints.
Depending in your package dimensions, you possibly can buy USPS boxes specifically designed for artwork, resembling Priority Mail flat rate boxes and tubes. You should purchase these directly from an area post office, where you too can buy shipping supplies like packing tape. Make sure that these boxes truly suit your print’s dimensions.
Seek the advice of the USPS website for the most modern shipping costs.
UPS
UPS offers specialized services like UPS Ground and UPS Express Critical for shipping wonderful art prints securely and quickly. UPS Art Shipping provides custom packaging solutions tailored to the dimensions and delicacy of the artwork. You may insure artwork for its full value through UPS’s declared value coverage.
UPS has a signature-required option that ensures that the artwork is delivered only to the intended recipient. It also provides tracking and delivery notifications.
In terms of small packages, UPS prices are inclined to be higher than USPS. Nonetheless, larger containers could be cheaper to ship with UPS. Seek the advice of the UPS website for current rates.
FedEx
FedEx stands out for its rapid delivery options and its array of specialised shipping services. Core offerings like FedEx Ground and FedEx Express work well for shipping art prints domestically and internationally. FedEx Custom Critical provides specialized handling and climate-controlled transportation for invaluable and fragile artwork.
FedEx offers declared value coverage for artwork, providing reimbursement for loss or damage during transit. FedEx Signature Services requires the recipient’s signature upon delivery, ensuring secure receipt of the artwork.
Find out how to ship art prints FAQ
What’s the most affordable solution to ship art prints?
The most affordable solution to ship art prints often relies on aspects resembling size, dimensions, weight, destination, and desired speed of delivery, but generally, using USPS First-Class Mail or USPS Media Mail are economical options for smaller, lightweight art prints throughout the US.
How should I ship my art prints?
You must ship your art prints using a secure and protective method resembling mailing tubes or flat envelopes, ensuring proper packaging, padding, and appropriate shipping service based on the dimensions, fragility, and value of the prints.
How do you avoid your art prints being bent while shipping?
To avoid your art prints being bent while shipping, use rigid packaging resembling mailing tubes or flat envelopes with sturdy cardboard reinforcement, and ensure adequate padding and protection to forestall the prints from moving or bending during transit.
