Best Practice for Mailing a Larger Photo: I need to send a 12x20 inch photo in the mail. What would be the best way? I'd prefer not to roll it into a tube. Thanks for recommendations.

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Best Practice for Mailing a Larger Photo

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Feb 11, 2022 19:20:30 #

LiamRowan Loc: Michigan

I need to send a 12x20 inch photo in the mail. What would be the best way? I'd prefer not to roll it into a tube.

Thanks for recommendations.

Feb 11, 2022 19:27:35 #

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

A tube is stronger than a sheet. A photo in a tube is less likely to get bent.

Feb 11, 2022 19:56:20 #

Dave327 Loc: Duluth, GA. USA

We have both a Fedex and UPS stores close to us. They are both very good at packing and sending photos and paintings flat if that is the method you prefer.

Feb 11, 2022 20:14:36 #

LiamRowan Loc: Michigan

Dave327 wrote:

We have both a Fedex and UPS stores close to us. They are both very good at packing and sending photos and paintings flat if that is the method you prefer.

Thanks, Dave. Do you just bring the photo in and they pack it on location?

Feb 11, 2022 20:54:25 #

Dave327 Loc: Duluth, GA. USA

Yes, just bring the photo and they assemble the packaging, weigh it and you pay. Give them delivery info and they type and print out and usually show you to verify.

Feb 11, 2022 21:05:03 #

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Do you already have the print? If not, get Bay photo to print it and send it directly to the recipient. They package beautifully (and sturdily) and will replace it if damaged in transit.

Feb 11, 2022 21:20:04 #

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

LiamRowan wrote:

I need to send a 12x20 inch photo in the mail. What would be the best way? I'd prefer not to roll it into a tube.

Thanks for recommendations.

Have it printed by a lab and have them drop ship it to the destination. I have sent hundreds of prints that way. It works and is way more reliable than me packing it in a tube, box or anything else. That's what THEY do, I just take the pictures.

Feb 12, 2022 05:59:54 #

Dalek Loc: Detroit, Miami, Goffstown

Gene51 wrote:

I agree with Gene51. I have also had a gallery ship a large framed print UPS ground but it was expensive.

Feb 12, 2022 07:33:42 #

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

LiamRowan wrote:

I need to send a 12x20 inch photo in the mail. What would be the best way? I'd prefer not to roll it into a tube.

Thanks for recommendations.

I use poster board and cardboard box.

Feb 12, 2022 09:44:33 #

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

LiamRowan wrote:

I need to send a 12x20 inch photo in the mail. What would be the best way? I'd prefer not to roll it into a tube.

Thanks for recommendations.

I just received two large photos from England - both rolled together int he same tube of quite sturdy cardboard. Took them out and placed them on the bed in the spare bedroom for a day or two. They started to unroll by themselves, though not very far.
I've got an atlas that is larger than the photos. Put both of them in the atlas (with some pages between the photos). They've been in there for a week now and are almost flat.
If you don't have a large atlas, I'm sure that if they were just placed on the table with something on top of them to hold them flat, will work equally well.

Feb 12, 2022 10:25:26 #

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

The United States Post Office will send you a pack of 10 "Dual Use Priority Mail Small Tubes" for free. Being labeled as a "small box", the Priority Mail postage is $9.45. They are 25" long so will hold a rolled 20 inch print nicely. The USPS has an online system to print and pay for a label.

https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/dual-use-priority-mailpriority-mail-express-small-tube-1098s-P_O_1098S

Feb 12, 2022 10:44:16 #

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I got triangle boxes at the post office, and role them up and put them in. That box will protect it.

Feb 12, 2022 11:17:50 #

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

I think the prints came from Costco, 12 x 18 size, and were packed in triangle packages. Probably not significantly different than tubes, but were very strong.

Feb 12, 2022 12:53:38 #

Nicholas J DeSciose

Tube is the safest

Feb 12, 2022 18:23:53 #

cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD

Overcome by paranoia, I sandwiched a print between two pieces of archival paper, and then between two pieces of plexiglass I bought at the local Home Despot. I taped the plexiglass pieces together, and put the sandwich in a box and shipped it. This method seems pretty bloody safe, though it is also unreasonably expensive.

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