helvetica
Well-known
How do you handle shipping prints that you have sold? Foam core and a sturdy box? Rolling them up and putting them in a tube would be nice and handy... but I can't imagine doing that with an expensive print.
Shipping prints... how?
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Godfrey
somewhat colored
For small prints up to 8.5x11 inch, I use an 11x14 inch document mailer and a sandwich of 4 ply mat board to keep them from damage.
For larger prints, I buy a cube-shaped box with sides big enough and cut it to make two large print mailers, again sandwiching the print inside that with four ply mat board to ensure protection.
NEVER roll a print into a cardboard tube unless it's on poster weight paper, and very inexpensive.
G
Richard G
Veteran
I just got the Peter Turnley print. Wrapped in tissue paper, taped shut. Sandwiched between two thick cardboard sheets, and all that inside a snugly fitting box. Light, strong and reliable.
helvetica
Well-known
Godfrey - glad to hear that no one rolls prints!
Richard - that actually makes a lot of sense. A print does not need shock resistance like an electronic would, but it does need high levels of protection from bending and warping.
Richard - that actually makes a lot of sense. A print does not need shock resistance like an electronic would, but it does need high levels of protection from bending and warping.
drewbarb
picnic like it's 1999
A dwindling but still significant portion of my income comes from my darkroom work, and I ship handmade exhibition and museum prints all over the world, and I always ship them flat.
I put a layer of interweaving paper over the surface of each print, and then sandwich them between layers of thin acid-free mat board, then corrugated cardboard, foam core or gator board for stiffness. Sometimes I'll use two sheets of board over one side, and one sheet over the other side. The whole package gets taped together with acid-free artist's tape so the prints don't slide around. Larger prints and more expensive prints will get more expensive packing materials. On several occasions I've actually had to resort to making wood boxes to ship larger orders.
You have to remember that you are doing two things: protecting your clients investment and presenting your brand. Think about the beautiful and luxurious packaging of the best products, like Leica or Apple gear. I'm not saying you need to go to that extreme, necessarily; but you want to package to both protect your and your clients prints, and match the level of quality of the thing inside. I want my clients to be as impressed with the quality of the presentation and certain of the care that went into protecting their prints as they are with the quality of the prints themselves.
I put a layer of interweaving paper over the surface of each print, and then sandwich them between layers of thin acid-free mat board, then corrugated cardboard, foam core or gator board for stiffness. Sometimes I'll use two sheets of board over one side, and one sheet over the other side. The whole package gets taped together with acid-free artist's tape so the prints don't slide around. Larger prints and more expensive prints will get more expensive packing materials. On several occasions I've actually had to resort to making wood boxes to ship larger orders.
You have to remember that you are doing two things: protecting your clients investment and presenting your brand. Think about the beautiful and luxurious packaging of the best products, like Leica or Apple gear. I'm not saying you need to go to that extreme, necessarily; but you want to package to both protect your and your clients prints, and match the level of quality of the thing inside. I want my clients to be as impressed with the quality of the presentation and certain of the care that went into protecting their prints as they are with the quality of the prints themselves.
helvetica
Well-known
Drew,
the idea of presentation is exactly what I had in mind. I've always been a fan of the black board material sold under the name "Letremax" (I think that is how it is spelled) but I wanted to know how others do it. I had not considered the thick, corrugated cardboard idea before for stiffness - so I'm very glad I asked. Foam core is great for being light weight and impact resistant, but it can still bend. Corrugated cardboard, however, would be much more resistant to bending forces!
the idea of presentation is exactly what I had in mind. I've always been a fan of the black board material sold under the name "Letremax" (I think that is how it is spelled) but I wanted to know how others do it. I had not considered the thick, corrugated cardboard idea before for stiffness - so I'm very glad I asked. Foam core is great for being light weight and impact resistant, but it can still bend. Corrugated cardboard, however, would be much more resistant to bending forces!
Frank Petronio
Well-known
Once I raised my prices and no longer sold cheap prints, I found it works better not to skimp. I simply get a black archival clamshell box sized to the print, tape it sealed all the way around and attach mailing labels. I've been able to find 11x17 boxes like this for only ~$20 locally and while they do get cosmetic damage from shipping, they provide a nice reusable storage container afterwards.
When I sold cheap prints (under $100) I would send them sandwiched and it worked fine but also felt cheap too....
When I sold cheap prints (under $100) I would send them sandwiched and it worked fine but also felt cheap too....
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Tangential but related.
Whatever you do with packaging, "Wow" your customer and he/she will be more likely to buy your prints again.
Whatever you do with packaging, "Wow" your customer and he/she will be more likely to buy your prints again.
helvetica
Well-known
The packaging on the "Thumbs Up" line of gear looks pretty full of "wow factor", and a manner of presentation box is always what I had in mind. I did not know, however, if that was a viable means of safely delivering a print.
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