Shipping 30x40 paper prints

[jtunney]

Any advice on shipping four 30x40 paper prints? They were printed on matte paper from a roll. I saw a post that suggested rolling them with the print side up, which makes sense - go with the flow of the paper. However, I'm concerned that the rolling might damage the print, and wondering if shipping them flat with a layer of tissue paper between them might be better.

Thanks.

John

[Paul2660]

I would roll them face in, just me.  Matte paper scratches very easily, depending on the image, you can scratch them just rolling them up.  I would still use a tissue paper type protection on the face of the print and consider spraying them with print shield.  I would also not use a tube even a 4", instead a box with good packing.  I have found tubes can cause more harm then good especially when trying to take the prints out. 

Paul

[hugowolf]

I ship them rolled in tubes, print side out, acid free tissue more than covering the print, the roll then wrapped in kraft paper so that it can be easily removed from the tube. Labeled 'open other end' at the bottom. I run strips of paper (usually Canson Rag trimmings) about half an inch wide from the bottom forming a loop at the top, though the middle of the roll so that the paper roll can be pulled from the tube. I pad the top and bottom caps. I use 4" tubes up to 34" print width. 6" for larger prints.

I wouldn't advise Print Shield, Hahnemuhle Protective Spray, Moab Desert Varnish or any other lacquer based coating if you are shipping rolled. They are all too brittle and you will get surface cracking when unrolling; whether you see it then or not.

I have never had to resend a print so far.

Shipping flat is great for the client, but you need to create a box, and watch out for oversize fees.

Brian A

[Joe D]

FedEx has a golf club shipping carton they sell for around $10. The box is very robust to carry the weight of the golf clubs and bag, so there is plenty of protection for your prints. Shipping by ground, the cost is reasonable, of course shipping a tube will be less expensive. I've used tubes before to ship my prints with mixed results, usually shipping US Postal I would get about a 10% damage rate to the prints, UPS was about the same.

The box is at least 10" square opening, actually probably larger than that, so you don't have to roll your prints too tightly and there is very little chance of damage when taking the print out of the carton. My large prints are 30"x45", so I use 36" roll paper. I roll the print along it's natural curl (36"side), face in. I protect the face of the print with a sheet of glassine paper. You can order the glassine paper from a company called Uline (http://www.uline.com/BL_1973/Glassine-Paper?keywords=Glassine+Paper). Uline is a great company, they answer the phone on the first or second ring, with a human (what a concept), your order is shipped that day.

I use the 48" roll of glassine paper and tuck the excess into the rolled print on both ends. They sell several glassine roll sizes, as well as, sheet sizes. They also sell a holder for the glassine paper, makes working with the glassine paper more convenient, (http://www.uline.com/BL_502/Paper-Cutters?keywords=paper%20roll%20holder).

Hope this helps.

Joe

[jtunney]

I ended up having to make two shipments - one flat in a box and the second rolled in the golf bag box. They both worked out great, but with large prints, those dimensional weight charges on a flat box are killer.

Thanks for all the input.

John

[Zeon]

After wrapping the print in buffered paper, I mail in 4" tubes from Yazoo Mills. I buy the 48" lengths and cut them to size, leaving 2" on either end with bubble wrap as protection. I have not lost one yet, knocking on wood.