Mailing unframed prints - in hot climates: My husband and I are planning to mail 4 unframed prints, 17" x 23" to family. The route is Florida to Nebraska. I'm concerned about damage...

Humduck

My husband and I are planning to mail 4 unframed prints, 17" x 23" to family. The route is Florida to Nebraska. I'm concerned about damage due to heat and/or handling. In your experience, what is the most secure way to do this? They are printed on Semi-gloss and Pro Luster paper from a Canon Pro1000 printer.
Any thoughts are appreciated. Thank you.

silver Loc: Santa Monica Ca.

Humduck wrote:

My husband and I are planning to mail 4 unframed prints, 17" x 23" to family. The route is Florida to Nebraska. I'm concerned about damage due to heat and/or handling. In your experience, what is the most secure way to do this? They are printed on Semi-gloss and Pro Luster paper from a Canon Pro1000 printer.
Any thoughts are appreciated. Thank you.

Get a hard cardboard tube that will accommodate the prints. Make sure that the prints are completely dry before packing them. Ro;;the prints carefully and seal the tube on both ends well.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I put same size cardboard or tablet backs on the top & bottom of the prints as a stiffener and mark the envelope PHOTOS - DO NOT BEND on both sides.
Have not has a problem. If they are in mats, I use boxes.
I don't worry about the humidity, heat, or cold.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Humduck wrote:

My husband and I are planning to mail 4 unframed prints, 17" x 23" to family. The route is Florida to Nebraska. I'm concerned about damage due to heat and/or handling. In your experience, what is the most secure way to do this? They are printed on Semi-gloss and Pro Luster paper from a Canon Pro1000 printer.
Any thoughts are appreciated. Thank you.

I would do to Home Depot and buy a birch plywood 1/4 inch 4 x 8 sheet and have them cut to 2 pieces 23 x 30.They don't charge for cutting.
Use gaffer tape to seal the 2 plywood pieces together at the edge. I would put the prints in reynolds alum wrap and tape them 3 inches around from the edge. They will arrive safely and no curl unwrap to deal with.

Humduck

Thanks for the prompt responses!

tjw47 Loc: Michigan

I vote for the "TUBE"
Tubes are hard to crush.
You would only need an 18" Tube

bweber Loc: Newton, MA

When I mail large prints I use cardboard photo mailers or tubes. I protect the prints by placing baking parchment sheets on the surface of each print.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

bweber wrote:

When I mail large prints I use cardboard photo mailers or tubes. I protect the prints by placing baking parchment sheets on the surface of each print.

Interesting idea on the parchment.
I know glossy paper will stick to glass over time (wonder how much...),
but I don't know about the back of other prints.

twowindsbear

Send the files to a photo lab, have them printed & sent to them.

Or, take your pix to a UPS store & have them pack & ship them. Get a warranty against damage, too.

Good luck

Phil249 Loc: Southern WV

Where I use to work they would use 3 inch schedule 40 with 2 caps one glues and one taped. 3x5 index card with address taped on. Reusable

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Humduck wrote:

My husband and I are planning to mail 4 unframed prints, 17" x 23" to family. The route is Florida to Nebraska. I'm concerned about damage due to heat and/or handling. In your experience, what is the most secure way to do this? They are printed on Semi-gloss and Pro Luster paper from a Canon Pro1000 printer.
Any thoughts are appreciated. Thank you.

I just sent a big one successfully by slipping it into a cardboard envelope and then adding a piece of reinforced plastic board taped all around the edges. Put "Do not bend" prominently on both sides. Send it via a reputable courier. I wouldn't roll a photo in a tube because it's hard to flatten out the roll with too much handling of the photo. I don't thing heat will be a problem. Your package won't be sitting out in the sun.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

For that size I vote for the tube - an accepred mode of shipping, and far less cost.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

PixelStan77 wrote:

I would do to Home Depot and buy a birch plywood 1/4 inch 4 x 8 sheet and have them cut to 2 pieces 23 x 30.They don't charge for cutting.
Use gaffer tape to seal the 2 plywood pieces together at the edge. I would put the prints in reynolds alum wrap and tape them 3 inches around from the edge. They will arrive safely and no curl unwrap to deal with.

I have found that "cheap" (meaning about 10 bux a 4x8 sheet) paneling works quite well and have mailed/sent many such pieces using that material top and bottom, taped together. I just use some tracing paper to cover the print side before sandwiching. Ply would work, of course, but with much more expense. Unrolling is a PITA, my printer of choice (Bay Photo) ships flat, too, using only various layers of cardboard in a thin box. <shrug>

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

Humduck wrote:

My husband and I are planning to mail 4 unframed prints, 17" x 23" to family. The route is Florida to Nebraska. I'm concerned about damage due to heat and/or handling. In your experience, what is the most secure way to do this? They are printed on Semi-gloss and Pro Luster paper from a Canon Pro1000 printer.
Any thoughts are appreciated. Thank you.

As memtioned prior, either flat or with a tube. Just remember that you do not wamt it to get bent. It's difficult to properly remove crease lines.

It seems funny that in movies theives always use tubes to put art in as they steal art from museums. I would think the older a painting is, the more likely it would be to get ruined with crack lines in the paint.

That in the movies and they seem to get away with whatever they write in. LoL (Just wondering)

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Humduck wrote:

My husband and I are planning to mail 4 unframed prints, 17" x 23" to family. The route is Florida to Nebraska. I'm concerned about damage due to heat and/or handling. In your experience, what is the most secure way to do this? They are printed on Semi-gloss and Pro Luster paper from a Canon Pro1000 printer.
Any thoughts are appreciated. Thank you.

I simply took mine to a place in town that mails out packages, shipped it, and it arrived safely. It was sent to Floria. I have packed one and had the mail order place pack some and they all turned out fine upon arrival.