Whether you’re shipping artwork to your new home, a customer, or someone close to you, a lot of care goes into the process. You need to protect the art from damage and this can include more than preventing chips and scratches.

Moisture can damage some pieces of art and this means you’re going to need to use more than a box. If you’re planning on transporting artwork, here are some tips to help ensure it arrives in pristine condition.

Cover Paintings with Glassine Paper

Glassine paper can be a little pricey, but it’s well worth the expense. The paper works great at protecting artwork like paintings from scratches. Best of all, the paper is eco-friendly.

Even large corporations like HP are replacing their standard plastic protective sheets with glassine paper. The sheet of paper goes on top of the artwork.

Prevent Moisture Damage

Whether you’re using a shipping company or taking care of the transportation in your vehicle, moisture can be an issue. An easy and affordable way of preventing moisture damage is to wrap the artwork in polyethylene sheeting.

Even though materials made from polyethylene aren’t eco-friendly, this is still the best way of avoiding issues with moisture during shipping. Wrap the artwork completely in the sheeting to prevent any moisture from seeping in.

Use Packing Material

Even though the artwork is already covered in two sheets of protective material, you’re still not finished. You also need to wrap the artwork in packing material and you have a few options.

Styrofoam is effective, inexpensive, and you can also easily cut Styrofoam into any size and shape that you need. Another option is to use old bedding—sheets, blankets, and even towels can also add another layer of protection. The type of packing material you use typically depends on your budget and who’s receiving the artwork.

If you’re shipping the artwork to your new address or a close acquaintance, the type of packing material you use probably doesn’t matter. However, if the artwork is going to a customer, you may want to skip using an old bed sheet. This may not give your customers a great impression.

Whichever type of packing material you decide to use, make sure it completely covers the artwork.

Measure the Artwork

If you haven’t measured the artwork yet, now’s the time to break out the measuring tape. You need to know the artwork’s dimensions to choose the right size box.

You don’t want to go with a box that’s too big. The art can slide around and become damaged during shipping. You can build a box or crate, but it’s usually easier to pick one up from a shipping company.

Determine Who’s Shipping the Artwork

Congratulations, your artwork is packed and ready for shipping but who’s taking care of transportation? If you’re using a shipping company, you can usually relax knowing your artwork will arrive safely at its destination.

A shipping company can also take care of packaging, though it’s usually an extra service. However, it also means there’s one less thing for you to handle.

John Mali Director of Media Relations

Director of Media Relations at AboutBoulder.com

john@aboutboulder.com