Preparing fine art and other framed items for shipping

Shipping fine art and other items that are framed requires specialized packing to make sure that your item gets to its intended recipient in good condition. This guide will cover the unique characteristics of art that require specialized packing and how to tailor your packing to meet thesecharacteristics. Special attention will be paid to paintings since they are the type of art most subject to damage due to improper packing.Throughout the guide you will find information about what not to do as well. This informationis based on experience in having shipped and received hundreds of pieces of artwork through various delivery services.
Paintings are subject to damage from several types of mishandling. Abrasion to the paint surface is the most gemon type of damage experienced. A painting that is loose inside a package without adequatesecure padding will almost always get damaged. The friction of the package on the surface of the painting causes the paint to chip and flake. Pressure on a package due to the weight of other items on top ofit is the second major cause of damage. Packing that is not strong enough to withstand reasonable amounts of pressure will collapse and cause damage to the contents. This is especially true for framed items since, quite often, the frame will break open and split.If there is anyglass, it will surely shatter when the package collapses. Paintings on stretched canvas are prone to canvas distortion andtearingdue to external pressure as well. Lastly, punctures to packages will often reach the art inside if there is not adequate protection and padding.
Smallpieces of artwork are the easiest items to ship. Because they are small, they fit easily into standard boxes with room for plenty of padding. Items should first be wrapped with small soft bubble wrap orother soft padding. Do not use anything that feels coarse to the touch or is not very pliable. Paper is not particularly good since it provides little protection. Besides bubble wrap, soft foam wrapping or even disposableabsorbent bed linersheetsmake excellentpacking material.Care should be taken to assure that the surface of the art is not subject to abrasion from the packing material. This is done by making sure that thecovering is tightly wrapped to the surface or stretched taught above the surface with air space betweenif there is a frame.

Once wrapped, the art can simply be placed into the box making sure that there is additional packing material on all sides of the contents.

If the item being shipped is deeply framed, has glass, is on stretched canvas, or is particularly fragile orvaluable, you will want to add a slightly oversized piece of cardboard tothe side of the wrapped item before placing the item in the package. This provides additional structure and protection to the item inside. Framedart on board requires cardboard only on the top side since the back of the board is not generally subject to damage.

All otherworks require cardboard on both sides.

An additional layer of protective wrapping is also advised.

Once you have packaged the item, it can be placed inside a sturdy box with additional packing on all sides. Be sure to enclose a receipt,packing slip, invoice, or personal note with shipping address in case the address on the outside should get obliterated.

Some additional tips are as follows:
Tailor your packing to the item. Think about how it is subject to damage and pack accordingly.Particularly fragile orvaluable artwork may require a special package or crate be made for it. You may also want to use something structuralbesides cardboard for backing. Foam insulation sheets or thin plywood work quite well.If in doubt, hire a professional pack and ship gepany.
Be sure all loose items (or things that may work lose) are secure. This includes glass, mounting nails or pins, and hanging hardware. Sometimes it is better to pack the artwork separate from the frame and glass. Many people do not ship artwork with glass at all.
If placing artwork that has little or no stucture of its ownbetween cardboard, make sure that the grain(or ribs inside the cardboard) run in opposite directions. Cardboard generally has resistance to bending in one direction only. By placing the cardboard on each side of the artwork with the grain opposing, you provide resistance to bending in both directions. This should not substitute for additional packing as outline above.Despite this precaution, works simply placed between cardboard, moreoften than not,get bent or broken. As above, if the work is particularly valuable,you may want to use something with more structural integrity than cardboard.
Consider shipping drawings or otherartwork on paper rolled inside ashipping tube. Tubes are much less subject to damageand usually ship for less.Before deciding to ship artwork rolled, be sure that the medium will handle the stress of being rolled. For example, watercolors ship well when rolled. However, paintings done in acrylics or oils on paper may be subject to cracking if rolled. Use tubes designed for shipping. Tubes designed for other purposes will not generally handle the crushing stress experienced while in transit.
If shipping multiple pieces in one package, unitize them. Pack each item separately as outlined above, then tape them together to form one unit before placing them in the box. This helps save space, packing materials, and minimizes the potential for damage. Two (or more) items loose in a box can damage each other. If unitized, they can only be damaged from external forces.
By following these guidelines, your fine artwork will arrive safe and sound. This equates to happy customers and may result in repeat business.