How to ship artwork (small and flat)

Flat artwork can be shipped using any of the major shipping companies (Fedex, UPS, DHL, USPS)

In short, the artwork needs to be double packed in a box so that it will be protected form moisture and will not be folded.

Artwork smaller than 8×10 inches

Materials

• priority shipping envelope
• 14″ priority box from your shipping agent
• polyethylene plastic
• pressure-sensitive or nylon-reinforced tape, or 60-pound, three inch wide water-activated reinforced tape
  

Packing

1) Place it into a priority document envelope and seal.

2) Cover envelope with plastic and seal with tape.

3) Then flatten the 14″ priority box by opening the edges of the box.

4) Slip the envelope into the flattened 14″ priority box and tape each end with reinforced tape.

Artwork larger than 8×10 inches but smaller than 8×14 inches

materials

• 14″ priority box from your shipping agent
• a larger double corrugated box
  
• polyethylene plastic
• pressure-sensitive or nylon-reinforced tape, or 60-pound, three inch wide water-activated reinforced tape

1) Place artwork into the 14″ flattened priority box seal with tape.

2) Flatten larger corrugated box.

2) Place that into flatten larger corrugated box.

3) Seal each end with reinforced tape (including the corners).

Remember that if you use priority boxes from your shipper, use must use that shipper and you cannot ship it ground. They will charge you extra for the box if you try to do that.

Large Artwork

materials

• a double corrugated box larger than artwork
• another corrugated box larger than first box
  
• polyethylene plastic
• a piece of chloroplast from hardware store
  
• pressure-sensitive or nylon-reinforced tape, or 60-pound, three inch wide water-activated reinforced tape

1. Take the first corrugated box and turn it inside out so that the original writing is not visible form the outside.

2. Tape the box so it is a flatten the box with both ends open.

3. Fold the flap over and seal with reinforced tape.

4. Cut the Cloroplast to the appropriate size to fit the larger box.

5. Insert Cloroplast into the the larger box to reinforce box strength and avoid folding.

6. Cover the first box in plastic to protect against any moisture and seal.

7. Insert first box into second flattened box.

Understand that the box will probably spend most of the standing on its side.

However, remember to reinforce the box with tape (not masking) to secure the integrity of the box.

8. Go to your shipper and request that it be sent overnight.

9. Make sure your check signature required if you do not want it left on a doorway.

If the size is very large the package will be charged by dim weight instead of regular weight. The idea is that the package takes up and a lot of room on the truck but the company is not compensated adequately by its weight.

A word about the fragile label!

There are those that believe that you should always label a fragile package fragile. There are others who work for shipping companies as handlers that believe that labeling a package fragile will only encourage bad behavior from rogue handlers. The fact is that fragile marking will not give the package any more special treatment. If you want special handling that you must pay for that service.

Acquire insurance for the value of the package. If shipping internationally, avoid overestimating the cost of the computer as the recipient will have to pay duty on the estimated cost of the shipment. Make sure that the recipient reports any damage immediately.

Good Luck and Good Shipping,
Your How To Ship Advisor


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