How To Ship Artwork Like A Master: The Ultimate Guide On Mailing Art Prints
As an artist, you feel no bound to happiness when your art print becomes ready as requested by a client. Your level of joy reaches heights when your artwork is sold, and you receive cash with an appreciation of your creative pieces.
After finishing your artwork, one last thing jamming your painting sale is the worry of how to ship artwork to your would-be-consumer. Your hard work deserves to arrive in its original state as it is created.
Whether you are an artist, painting collector, or gallerist, it is exhausting to ship art prints. It is fundamental to pack your artwork in art packaging properly. Proper packaging will ensure the safe shipment of your artwork.
For this, you need to be connected with professionals who understand how to pack paintings for moving and shipping giving value to those masterpieces and taking care of them as they deserve.
This guide will walk you through how to ship art prints. We will cover essential points, tips, and shipping couriers to ensure your artwork is delivered safely to your clients. So, let’s begin.
Goals To Achieve When Shipping Art Prints
You dream your goals when you are ready to ship your masterpieces. What are they?
Your first goal is to ensure the safety of your artwork. If your painting arrives in a damaged condition it will disappoint your customer. You must know how to pack artwork for moving and shipping. Be sure your painting is properly packed.
The second goal is expressing your professionalism. Make your painting look worthwhile at first glance to impress your customers. Without opening the package, your customers will be happy and appreciate your artwork and packaging.
The third goal is to control shipping expenses without cutting your profit margin. For this, choose a reliable courier service that cares about such pieces and delivers them with care.
The fourth goal is to show care for nature. Your material selection for artwork shipping boxes should be eco-friendly with less environmental impact.
Key Points To Consider When Shipping Artwork
There are many considerable factors to ship your artwork. Here are the most suitable options you should follow:
Mounting:
The better way to pack helps you determine where your artwork is mounted. The mounted canvases are shipped in the box. On the other hand, unmounted canvases need to be shipped in tubes.
Sizes:
The sizes of your masterpiece matter a lot. Choose padded mailers or cardboard boxes for shipping, if the size of your artwork is small or medium. If you don’t know how to ship a large canvas painting that is heavier or larger than 48 inches, crating is the best option for its protection.
Insurance:
There is no doubt that your artwork is of high value. Despite your best efforts to ensure its protection the possibility of damage still exists. For this, you must buy insurance from a reliable shipping carrier for any damage or loss.
Packing Preparations For Your Masterpiece: Do It Yourself
Preparing a pack to place your canvas painting is good. You can make it yourself. But how? Let’s make it. It’s pretty simple. You need some tools to turn your dream into reality.
- Corrugated Cardboard Sheets
- Box Sizer
- Box cutter
- Tape Gun
- Packing Tape
- Clear cellophane wrap
- Bubble Wrap
Before the outset, measure your artwork, its width and height, and how much space is required for packing.
Start preparation by choosing a double-wall corrugated cardboard sheet or pad. They can be found in sizes such as 12" x 18", 16" x 20", 18" x 24", 20" x 30", 24" x 36". The choice is yours which size of corrugated cardboard sheet you select. You can also choose cardboard if you like.
The reason behind opting for this sheet is its structure which does not bend and offers enough strength to keep your artwork flat during transit. Be sure it has sufficient thickness to withstand pressure.
The box sizer tool will allow you to determine the dimensions of the sheet from where you need to cut the corrugated cardboard paper sheet.
Leaving a little extra space of 3 or 4 inches from each side, use a box cutter to cut the sheet to get an appropriate size. This extra space will teach you how to ship a framed picture comfortably.
Place your artwork on the sheet and wrap it around with a clear cellophane to give a clear view.
Instead of shipping tape, use painter's tape to secure the four sides of the painting. It will not affect the cellophane wrap when the painter’s tape is removed.
Now put another corrugated cardboard sheet on the top. Done? The final taping step starts here. Use a tape gun to apply heavy shipping tape to adhere to cardboard.
For complete wrapping artwork for shipping, use bubble wrap that will offer more protection even if the painting package rolls during shipment. Your artwork is finely packed now. Say WOW!
Courier Service Options For Shipping Paintings and Artwork
USPS, FedEx, and UPS are popular shipping couriers in the USA. They all provide artwork shipping services along with insurance at a certain amount. You must consider three principle points when shipping paintings through these couriers.
- The weight of your masterpiece
- The dimensions and sizes of your package
- The distance your package is to travel
Each courier service company has its own standards of shipping considering the weight, size, and cost of the package.
You must learn how to ship posters and paintings. Consult with them first before shipping. It will help you understand their guidelines such as size restriction, weight limit, and additional fees (if they occur for artwork) for efficient, smooth, and successful shipping.
Shipping Artwork Through USPS
USPS (United States Postal Service) is a government agency that provides postal service. It handles shipping parcels, packages, and letters. They offer First Class Mail that delivers within 1 to 5 working days. Their Priority Mail is fast to arrive within 1 day. Priority Mail Express delivers within two business days. For flat shipping boxes for artwork you can pick Flat Rate Priority Mail delivery time is 1 to 3 business days can be a good choice.
Also Read: Will UPS Take USPS Packages? The Insider's Guide
Shipping Artwork Using FedEx
FedEx is another popular shipping courier service provider for shipping paintings and other fragile items ensuring protection and safe delivery. They offer FedEx Ground which arrives in 1 to 5 days.
For overnight shipment, choose FedEx Overnight which arrives the next day by 8 AM. FedEx Priority Overnight arrives the next day by 10 AM is another option you can choose from. Besides this, you can pick FedEx Standard Overnight: which arrives the next day by 3 PM.
Shipping Artwork Through UPS
UPS (United Parcel Service) is a globally renowned company that offers package delivery and logistics. Shipping your fine art and pieces through UPS is easier as they offer different-sized shipping boxes for paintings allowing you to choose a box suitable for packing your artwork.
They offer UPS Ground that arrives in 1 to 5 days. Their UPS 3 Day Select arrives 1 to 3 working days which is also a good choice.
You can also choose UPS Next Day Air which arrives the next working day by 10:30 AM. They also offer UPS 2nd Day Air which arrives 1 to 2 working days.
Also Read: Mastering UPS Labels For Shipping
The Most Economical Way To Ship Artwork
If you have a limited budget and want to ship your paintings at the lowest prices, consider a shipping courier by comparing their prices based on several factors such as size, weight, destination, speed, and insurance.
USPS, FedEx, and UPS are big names offering their shipping services. They offer different shipping services with set prices. Which shipping courier is the cheapest? This question makes you think and rethink before shipping your artwork.
The most popular online tools available are:
- Easyship
- Parcel Monkey
- CoolParcel
These tools can help you compare shipping paintings costs with each shipping courier. As a result, you choose a courier that comes within your budget.
In The Nutshell
Shipping artwork to your clients is not challenging today. By choosing the right packaging materials and courier service, you can ship your painting efficiently and harmlessly with confidence. Step ahead and ship your drawing!
If you need assistance regarding packaging, Custom Product Packaging offers customized and sustainable packaging solutions such as boxes and wrappers that make you feel stress-free packing and shipping your piece. Why wait? Email us at order@customproductpackaging.com.
