Packing your art for transport

 Whenever you send something by courier or post it is beyond your reach and out of your control until it arrives in your clients hands. There are so many frightening stories I could tell you about freighting products that it would make you want to never sell anything unless the client collected it in person. Nonetheless parcels get sent all over the world every minute of the day and the vast majority of them arrive safe and well.

My favourite freight saying... Expect the best, pack for the worst!

PACKAGING ARTWORK -

• Small - Up to A4 
  - Ok to send flat as long as you use a piece of foamcore or strong cardboard either side.
  - Label well with "DO NOT BEND" so the postie doesn't try to fold it into the letterbox
  - Use a plastic bag inside or outside to ensure the work stays dry in the event it's raining on delivery.
  - Always mark the parcel as FRAGILE
• Larger that A4 - Paper or canvas reproductions in a tube - 
  
  - 3-4 paper reproductions or more canvases can be comfortable rolled in a 80-90mm diameter postal tube. 
  - We don't recommend 50-60mm tubes for anything as they seem to get bent more easily.
  - The maximum length Australia Post will accept is 107cm. Anything longer than this must be sent by courier.
  - ALWAYS wrap some cellophane or acid free paper (do not use brown craft paper - it will stain the art) around the artwork and tape it in place to ensure the work does not unroll and expand inside the tube.
  - Roll canvas reproductions with the image to the inside.
  - Roll paper reproductions with the image to the outside (the paper has a curl memory)
  - A little bit of bubble wrap inside each end of the tube to protect the ends from kinks.
  - Always mark the parcel as "FRAGILE"
  - Parcels like this can be sent by Australia Post or Courier.
  - Prices will vary depending on size of parcel (in terms of weight and volume) and delivery location.
  
  
  
• Stretched canvases or large works best left flat - 
  - Artwork should be bubble wrapped for cushioning
  - A box can be made from 3-4mm thick cardboard or timber if it's that important.
  - allow an extra 2-4cm of padding on the sides to protect against dropping and bumps from the side.
  - add an extra piece or two of card over the face of the artwork for added protection against puncture.
  - Always mark the parcel clearly that it should remain in a vertical position - never laid flat.
  - after boxing up the parcel, add several packing straps to give the courier something to hang onto, making it less likely he drops it.