Packaging Prints

[Pete_G]

This must have been discussed previously but I can't seem to find any references. What is the best way to package prints for shipping?
It seems to me that a 3" to 4" diameter tube, with the print wrapped in tissue then bubble wrap would be fine, but are there any "gotcha's" to this method. I want to ship mainly A2 prints, on Epson Traditional Photo Paper (Exhibition Fibre), it's quite a heavyweight paper.

[abiggs]

I am actually more in favor of shipping prints flat. I use Printpads from Airfloat Systems in Mississippi. Pricey for what they are, but my customers say that they enjoy the unboxing experience and the ability to look at their print without damaging it. I use unlined Printpads, and use them for both umatted and matted prints.

[Pete_G]

I am actually more in favor of shipping prints flat. I use Printpads from Airfloat Systems in Mississippi. Pricey for what they are, but my customers say that they enjoy the unboxing experience and the ability to look at their print without damaging it. I use unlined Printpads, and use them for both umatted and matted prints.

Thanks, I've heard of these but I don't think they are available in the UK, I'll see if there is an equivalent. I don't really like the idea of rolling Trad Photo Paper I have to say.

[abiggs]

Heck, I would just go purchase some flat cardboard, and then create a sandwich with the print in the middle. It may take 4, 6 or even 8 layers to make the package rigid, but that is the best way to ship a print (flat).

[Alan Goldhammer]

This must have been discussed previously but I can't seem to find any references. What is the best way to package prints for shipping?
It seems to me that a 3" to 4" diameter tube, with the print wrapped in tissue then bubble wrap would be fine, but are there any "gotcha's" to this method. I want to ship mainly A2 prints, on Epson Traditional Photo Paper (Exhibition Fibre), it's quite a heavyweight paper.

There is a tutorial on this at:  http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/shipping.shtml  I've shipped numerous 13x19 Exhibition Fibre prints in 4 inch tubes and could probably do this in the 3 inch tubes easily enough.  I've asked everyone who has received one to let me know the condition it arrived in and if there was a problem with curling.  In all cases they were satified and had them matted and framed locally.  I don't think that you need to ship them flat.  Since my Epson 2880 only prints out 13 inch wide prints, I do not have any experience with larger size prints.  As an addendum, I've shipped other papers from Museo and Hahnemuhle the same way without problem.

Alan

[Pete_G]

Thanks to both of you, I guess a little common sense, a little cautious over design and a little TLC should work for me.

[JeffKohn]

Flat versus tube is a trade-off, there's really no right answer. Flat shipping can get very expensive as the print sizes get larger, and even sandwiched between protective layers the flat print is probably more likely to get damaged en route (the risk goes down the better you pack it, but costs go up). The tube is safer and cheaper, but the customer has to deal with curl, especially when dealing with some of the stiffer art papers (Epson Exhibition Fiber is so stiff that Epson wasn't even willing to sell it in rolls initially).

If you want to see the sort of elaborate packaging needed to really keep a flat print safe, try ordering a mat or frame from Frame Destination. Their packaging is excellent, and I've never had a mat arrive with any damage from them. Some of the other online companies such as Frames By Mail don't package as well and the mats can arrive with dinged corners or other damage.

[neile]

I am actually more in favor of shipping prints flat.

Agreed with Andy on this if your prints are about 16x20 or smaller. West Coast Imaging does a lovely job of shipping prints flat at this size. They package them in a bag from clearbags.com with interleaving paper, then tape the bag to a sheet of cardboard larger than the print. Two pieces of cardboard on the front, one more on the back, and then the whole thing in a box, and there's almost no chance of damage.

Neil

[abiggs]

I ship all of my prints flat up to 24x36. My 20x30 matted prints are as large as I will go if they are matted, though. Airfloat has great shippers up to large sizes, but I have found that their largest size ends up having a $45 UPS surcharge if I ship it here in the country. The next size smaller ends up being only $25 to ship.

[Ernst Dinkla]

I have used 6" carton tubes, 5mm thick walls. Sometimes when there are more prints to ship I wind them on a smaller core in decurler style and ship them in a tube or the original HM roll packages. With the advice to decurl them for 12 hours with the same core after arrival.

met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst Dinkla

Dinkla Gallery Canvas Wrap Actions for Photoshop
http://www.pigment-print.com/dinklacanvaswraps/index.html

[Paul Sumi]

I've shipped numerous 13x19 Exhibition Fibre prints in 4 inch tubes and could probably do this in the 3 inch tubes easily enough.  I've asked everyone who has received one to let me know the condition it arrived in and if there was a problem with curling.  In all cases they were satified and had them matted and framed locally.

I have also shipped EEF prints (Super B, 13x19) in tubes, which were matted and framed locally.  No problems, but this paper does retain its curl longer than other, thinner, papers.

Paul

[Pete Berry]

The occasional A2 prints I mail I put - reversed curled and in Clearbags - into the 6" square roll media boxes I save, without the end plates or core, and a broad band taped around so they just touch the sides, with a foam square at top and bottom. So far, so good, and I've put as many as six in a box.

Pete

[mikev1]

I ship prints 11 x 14 and smaller in a flat pack.  Large prints I ship in tubes.  I carry a bunch of tubes with 3", 4", and 5" diameters.  The size of the print and the type of paper determines which tube I'll use.  I don't like to curl prints too tightly.  I just wish I had a local source for the shipping tubes as the shipping charges on the larger ones is crazy.


Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta drives me nuts with how much curl it has.

[wcwest]

I ship all prints up to 17x24 between 2 sheets of 1/8" Masonite - no box. I tape the print to the Masonite and then tape a piece of velum tracing paper over the print and seal the edges with strapping tape. UPS cost from Ohio to East Coast about $15. I've shipped to Scotland for $45. My local Home Depot will cut 4'x8' pieces of Masonite into whatever dimensions I need. I usually have it cut into several standard sizes for future shipments. Simple, safe and the prints arrive perfectly flat.