Mailing Large Photographic Prints in Tubes: My Technique
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- Опубліковано 18 вер 2020
- In this week's video, I share my technique for shipping prints in mailing tubes so they are held in place and won't be damaged in transit.
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Ben your attention to detail and fully thought through processes for doing everything are incredible!
Thanks as always Corey!
If you weren't a full time photographer you'd make an excellent teacher 🙂
Thanks Russ!
This is a well thought-out process. Love how it's packed tight with tabs to prevent paper abrasion on the print. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Bryan! It's a technique that I've refined through the years, and thankfully it has worked very well.
Honestly, at this point, the only thing I need to click in your videos is that you publish one. Regardless of the subject, I know for a fact that I'm going to be learning something photography related and that It's going to be very well thought out and with great attention to detail. Keep up the good work Ben, Greetings from Scotland!
Thanks so much Kevin!! I have some other topics like this I hope to explore with future videos.
I am happy to see you doing larger prints.
Maybe one of these days I'll buy one of the 44" printers, though it won't fit into my home office. I would love to see one of the high res drum scans printed at full size.
Thanks for this Ben, it will make my packaging a lot neater 😊
Thanks Steve! So glad it was helpful!
Just used this method for my first overseas commission! Thank you for sharing this!
I was on the edge of my seat wondering how the print was going to stay secured without sliding from side to side... what an elegant solution ! I would have done a messy ball of curled up paper at each side, now i know better, thank you !
Great directions there. Great to see the pride you take in every step of your videos so I guess the dispatch process wouldn't be any different. If I ever get to the point that people actually buy such prints from me, I'll return to this and refresh my mind. Many thanks.
Thanks Ted! It's one of those simple things that really helps out quite a bit when mailing a print.
Superlative timing on this video, this answered a ton of questions (some of which I hadn't even considered yet) I had about mailing large prints!
So glad it was helpful Eric! Thanks for watching!
Great job Ben very considered and well thought out.
Thanks so much! It's one of those things I've learned through the years, and I'm glad the technique has worked well.
Wow what a magnificent print!
Thanks Shawn! That's one of my all-time favorite photos. I walked past that scene several times before noticing it.
Very thorough Ben.
Thanks as always Philip!
Very nice and thoughtfully done. Thanks 👍🙏
Thanks! So glad you enjoyed it!
Dude just what I was looking for thank you!
I'm glad it was helpful!
Thank you Ben, this was extremely helpful.
I'm so glad to hear it was helpful for you Kris! In the many years I've been using this technique, I haven't yet had any issues with a print being damaged.
@@BenHorne I'm just starting out by showing some of my work at a local art show that is allowing me to show them with my paintings. I want to make sure the prints arrive safely home with the purchaser. I took a peek at some of your videos, Utah is an excellent place to see, it's where I first decided that I like the mountains without the snow more because of the details you can capture with a camera. You do great work! Thanks again!
Meticulous to the end. Great design and well constructed tube transport for large prints. Thanks for sharing Ben.
Thanks Phil!
Very well thought out.
Thanks John!
Ben you are the man !!!!!!!!!!!!! very well put together ..awesome !! GOD BLESS !!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Juan! Glad you enjoyed it!
Simple and nice.
Thanks Nemanja!
Ben that print looks stunning , I’m going to have to get one someday
Thanks Andrew! That particular print is one of my favorites for sure. It's a scene I'll be revisiting in a few weeks, and I'm really looking forward to it!!
Great to see how much details goes in just the packaging, will get a larger size print some day!!
The smaller print arrived safely, which is no surprise when you watch this video!!
Thanks so much Sander!!
Very informative thank you
I'm so glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!
Wow, that is very helpful. I've shipped a total of 2 prints in my career haha, and maybe someday I might do another, so I'm glad to have your method.
Thanks Chad! I'm glad you found it useful, and I have a feeling you'll definitely be shipping more prints in the future!
Thanks Ben for the insightful video. I've struggled packing some of prints in the past because they moved around in the tubes (luckily I haven't had any customers reporting damage). Certainly going to use the tabs idea going forward.
Thanks for watching Teja, and I'm glad it was helpful!
Now the print is ready to go anywhere in the World. Good care in the packaging. Cheers.
Thanks so much Gino!
The tabs are a great tip, thanks for sharing this technique. Here in Germany, to ship rolls I need to buy an extra piece of rectangular cardboard open to both sides to slip the tube through, because it's more expensive to put a sticker with the address and postage fees on a tube.
That is very interesting to hear Fabrizio! That's fascinating how it's more expensive to ship a tube. It does make sense though since rectangular packages are easier to stack and handle.
@@BenHorne I was surprised but it makes sense. They told me that's because the scanners which read the barcode work better when the code is not curved and when it's sticked to a flat surface.
Very useful
Thanks so much!! Glad you found it useful!
I took my print out to the framers today, those tubes are super effective. We were admiring it layed out. They didn’t have a thick mount I like in stock due to lockdown but hopefully will be in stock soon. I was getting excited visualising how it would look presented on the wall.
Thanks again for the print order Roger. It's a bummer they didn't have the materials in stock, but once it's done, I would love to see a photo of the final framed image.
Ben Horne yeah sure, keep us sane 😁
Are you a collector?
Wow!
Awesome Boss ;o)
hi thank you so much
I'm glad it was helpful Nicole! Thanks for watching.
4:27 ok, done!
Very informative video, Ben! QQ: Is the brand Aviditi as good as Tape Logic for the tubes? Thanks so much, Heather
Shear genius!
Thanks as always Scott!
Hi Ben, thanks for your helpful video? Some print surfaces are quite sensitive to scratches, e.g. Hahnemuhle German Etching and others. Would you spray such surfaces before posting, or would you warn the buyer to handle the print with care? Thanks :)
Excellent instructional video here, Ben. The tabs look to be very helpful in retaining the position in the tube as well as preventing any sliding movement. Only thought for question is there any issues with the ink jet print face against the Lowe's shipping or paint barrier brown paper instead of a gallery style archival tissue paper? Those tubes are very impressive for size and construction......8>)
The paper from Lowes has a very smooth almost velvety feel to it. It's a bit like construction paper that kids use for art projects. If one was working with a super high gloss print (Fujiflex), one might want to take different precautions. Merely looking at the print can cause them to scratch, but the Hahnemühule paper I'm using has a very hardy luster finish that's quite bullet proof in that regard. The paper from lowes is meant only for packaging, and certainly isn't archival for long term storage. Thanks as always for watching and commenting Paul!
Nice & Thanks :)
Thanks for watching Krishnan!
*channels Homer Simpson*
NEEEEEERRRRD!!!
Only joking love this sort of stuff - crazy attention to detail Ben!
Hahaha!!! Love it! Thanks for watching Alex!
Wonderfully helpful video! Do you also tape the capped ends for mailing, so that the caps don't accidentally fall off?
Hi Susie! Since filming this video a few years ago, I've made a few small changes. After placing the print in the tube and putting the plastic end caps on, I drop the tube in a 6"x6" rectangular box that's as long as the tube. A rectangular package is easier for shipping companies to transport, and it's a cleaner presentation than the enormous amount of tape that's otherwise required to keep the ends on.
Just discovered you. Thanks for this helpful tutorial! When the customer removes the print from the tibedoes it remain rolled up or is it still flat? That is something i am currently worried about as i begin this process 😮
I'm glad it was helpful! If the print is rather flat before packing, it will probably take on a slight curl from being packed in the tube, but since the diameter is so wide, it's usually mild enough to resolve itself naturally. If it does have a big of a curl, you can flip the print upside down, re-roll it in the paper so it's now reverse rolled, and leave it in there for a day or so and when you pull it back out, it'll likely be enough to de-curl it.
I prefer to use acid free silk paper. From my experience there's enough friction between the papers not to move around when rolled together. Also you might want to take the paper grain in account before rolling (judging from the slight curve I notice in the rpint, it might be wrong way in your video).
Very helpful indeed Ben as I am in the position of looking at solving just this problem Sadly the exact same tubes seem not to be available via Amazon here in the UK, but I think I can find some that suit. One thing I'd like to ask though, which is how easy is it to go from the print wrapped around the tube, to rolling it tightly enough so that it goes inside the tube . Manual dexterity is not my forte.
You should be able to find some relatively wide tubes over there. A tube with a diameter of 6 inches or so should do the trick, and any tube that large will be quite strong. When it comes to re-rolling the print just a little bit tighter, it's quite easy. Just very gently unroll it until you get to that first roll, tuck it in just a little closer, and re-roll it. The trick is pre-rolling it around the tube the first time. That is what allows you to get a nice even curl. Once it is trained to be rolled up, it's super easy to roll it up just a little bit tighter.
@@BenHorne Thank You! I have some tubes that will do the job. Now to get some orders. Seminar with Brendan Van Son in about 15minutes, so fingers x'ed.
Ben, I'm having issues with theft between shipping USPS to client. How do you secure your caps on the end? I started stapling them shut around the edge and then taping, but wondered what you do. Great video!
Hi Shan! So sorry to hear about the issues you've had with theft. Since creating this video, I've modified my shipping method a bit. I now place the tubes inside 32x6x6 boxes from uline. It makes them a bit easier to handle in transit, and the prints are protected even more. When putting the tubes inside a box, you don't have to secure the plastic end caps. Hope this helps!
Thanks for sharing this update@@BenHorne Unfortunately, I had 3 Limited Edition giclee prints stolen in transit between USPS location and gallery (gallery received the tube, but it had been cut open on the end and the prints were stolen out of it). They are lost forever and I can't make others in those numbers as it would cause confusion for collectors. I was just wondering what you do to prevent theft of your prints. Great info. All the best to you!
Ben, You may want to check out Uline for tubes. They appear to be much less expensive, before shipping anyway.
Hi John! I just checked their site and they are a few bucks less, but it looks like the minimum quantity is 50. That would be good for people that mail a lot of prints and have a lot of storage space for the tubes. Maybe I'll get there someday. :-) Thanks for watching and commenting John!
@@BenHorne I just checked and the 6x30" comes in a quantity of 10 for $68.50 Cheers! 6:17 I wish you showed getting off the tube and tightening it down. On another note, I'm having issues with inconsistencies with FedEx pricing. They need a "my tube packaging" option. I just got charged a couple extra fees on one tube shipment and not the other. She said it would've cost less in a rectangular box. Ugh! My savvy clients look up shipping costs and they're not seeing the add-on fees I got hit with.
Thanks for this, it answered all my questions bar one...What gsm is the kraft paper you use?
That's a good question. I don't see those specs, but it's a rather heavy duty paper.
@@BenHorne Thanks Ben. It looked heavy duty and I can't track down heavy duty Kraft paper where I live. I'll keep looking now that you have confirmed it. Or where do you get yours?
@@kyliemitchell5401 I buy it at the paint section of Lowes. It’s floor protection paper, and quite inexpensive. 👍
@@BenHorne Brilliant! Thank you!
That’s good content Ben, thanks. I have two questions, maybe a bit philosophical: Isn’t framing part of the creation process and thus shall be chosen by the artist i.e. photographer? And the next question, connecting to this: Why aren’t you using online printer-framers who print and deliver directly to the client? It’s a tremendous amount of time and money you’re spending on packing, rather than on photography :-)
Those are some great questions. Framing is a tricky subject for sure. From my own standpoint, the frame should not interfere with the photograph. It should act as a neutral space to transition the photograph to the environment for which it's displayed. As such, a good frame design works for both the photograph and home. I certainly can make the choices for a frame what will look good with the chosen photo, but I don't know much about the space where the photo will be hung, so I always recommend the buyer take the frame to a professional frame shop. I have some recommendations listed on my site for my own preference for framing, but ultimate it is up to the buyer to select something that works for their home.
To answer your second question, I would have a very difficult time using a service that both prints and frames the photo. I need to see the print in person and make sure it's exactly what I had in mind. I used a local lab in the past to make type C prints, but to be honest, I was only maybe 90% satisfied with the results. Since I wasn't the one operating the machine and making the prints, I didn't have the luxury of producing the necessary proofs, and reprinting the image if I wasn't 100% satisfied. By producing my own prints in house, I can achieve the exact results I want. Also, but producing pigment prints on my Epson wide format printer, I can work with some amazing papers that add so much dimension to the final print. That all being said, I do work with Saw & Mitre for framing. If a customer would like a framed photo, I can produce the print, send it to Saw & Mitre, and they will create the custom frame and send the final product to the customer. I have several of their frames hanging in my own house.
Do you staple or tape your end cap?
Hi Randy! I tape both ends to secure them in transit. I hadn't thought about stapling them, but one would need a pretty heavy duty stapler to get through the cardboard on these tubes.
Is the tube water resistant?
It's a very rigid and dense cardboard. If there's enough water to get through this tube and to the print, you likely have bigger issues to worry about... like a flood. Since recording this video, I now pack the tubes in a rectangular box so they are easier for the shipping companies to transport.
What format paper is that ? A3 ?
It's a print on 24" wide roll paper. I'm not sure what size that works out to in terms of those paper sizes.
The only thing missing is a plastic before putting it in the tube. Delivery drivers tend to leave them on the front step and if a hard rain follows the print will likely get wet and ruined.
Hi Mark! Plastic sleeves for the prints are a good idea for sure, but they aren't easy to come by for larger prints, especially when a lot of white border is included so the actual paper size is quite large. Thankfully I haven't had any issues with moisture getting to the prints, but it would certainly take a really heavy rain to get through the tube. It sure would be a bummer if a print was ruined like that, but thankfully it isn't too difficult to print and send another version. It hasn't happened to me yet, but I'll keep my fingers crossed. Thanks fro watching and commenting Mark!
If you’ll never print larger than that, just hacksaw the top of the roll off haha
I'm surprised you don't put the image in a plastic sleeve first. Aren't you concerned about moisture?
Good question Vivian. The tubes are quite thick, so it would take a LOT of rain to get through the tube. The sort of rain where the tube will need to be left out in a downpour for a very extended period of time. At that point, even if the print was in plastic, the moisture would likely still get to it. When it comes to plastic sleeves for the prints, that works well for certain sizes, but once the prints start getting large, protective sleeves aren't as available, and also I like to include a lot of white paper around the print to help with framing, so each print becomes a bit of a custom size which is difficult to find a sleeve for. That all being said, I have never had any issues with the prints being damaged by moisture, but if that were to arise, I would be able to send a replacement print. Also, I've been trying to cut down on my use of single use plastic, so it's nice to be able to package the prints using more paper and less plastic. Thanks for watching and commenting Vivian!
Why not just put the print face down on the paper?
I want the printed side to face toward the middle of the tube, not the outside of the tube. Also, my prints are produced on roll paper so having the printed side face outward might reintroduce print curl that I've worked to remove. Facing inward helps to counteract any remaining curl.