Packaging and Delivery Guidelines

Packaging and Delivery Guidelines

Prints

Lower value prints can be: Rolled in a tube

Use a sturdy mailing tube over 2mm thick and a few inches longer than the width of your poster to avoid denting or damage in transit. Your mailing tube should not be so narrow that it requires rolling the print very tightly as this is likely to cause damage.
Place your print in the centre of a soft piece of paper around 30cm longer than the print lengthwise and equal to the inner length of your mailing tube widthwise, then place tissue paper just larger than the print on all sides on top of the print.
Fold the excess paper beneath the bottom of the print upward and press down so the bottom edge of the print is resting in the fold.
Gently roll the piece upwards to a diameter just smaller than that of your mailing tube.
Carefully insert the rolled print into the tube- the paper you have rolled the print in should fit snugly with the length of the tube to ensure a buffer preventing movement during shipping.
Top the tube with its end cap, and be sure to secure the caps on both ends with sturdy tape to ensure they do not come off during shipment.

Works on paper

Send higher-value prints and works on paper flat-packed: In a reinforced envelope

Wrap the work in acid free tissue paper. Plastic covering can be used for further protection against moisture.
Create corner protectors for each of the corners of your work: get a square piece of paper/acid free tissue paper, adjust the scale according to the size of your work and fold it in half to create a triangle, then in half again.
Place these on each of the corners of your work, then tape the protectors to a sturdy piece of cardboard or foam core.
Place two or more pieces of firm cardboard on either side of the work and tape both sides together.
Fully wrap the piece in a thick layer of bubble wrap.
Surround the bubble wrap parcel with two pieces of corrugated cardboard to create an outer cover. Ensure that edges of both pieces are securely taped together with no gaps.

Larger objects and framed works

Larger objects and the like, including sculpture, should be packed: In a cardboard box or In a wooden crate.

Find a box or build a crate with sufficient room to fit the work with 1-2 inches of space on each side.
Wrap the work in acid free tissue paper. Plastic covering can be used for further protection against moisture.
Wrap the piece in at least two layers of bubble wrap and secure with tape. Ensure that the corners of the piece are sufficiently padded to withstand damage on impact.
Place foam layers surrounding the piece and include additional packaging material to ensure a snug fit within the box, with no movement possible
We recommend that any particularly valuable, large or fragile pieces are shipped in a custom-made crate.

Delivery

All artworks should be sent via a fully traceable and insured method of shipment
For artworks being shipped internationally, a service should be used which supports sending packages Delivery Duty Paid, and this option should be selected to ensure that all duty and import tax is billed back to the sender
All information declared in any accompanying paperwork should be complete and truthful, including the value and purpose of the shipment

Artfinder returns arrangements

Artfinder will pay for and arrange the return of all artworks under Artfinder’s sitewide 14-day returns guarantee by customers who have changed their mind
We ask for all artworks returned by customers to be prepared in their original packaging for the return journey and will accept no liability for damage sustained on the return leg by artworks not packed in line with these guidelines
For editioned artworks subject to return requests, we reserve the right to offer replacement printing costs in lieu of arranging return shipment

Make sure to also check what our artists have to say on the topic in the below articles:

Artist advice on packaging - Part 1 and Part 2
Artist advice on sustainable packaging