Art may sustain a variety of negative impacts during transportation or storage. That’s why it is imperative to pack it safely and comprehensively to avoid potential damage caused by external factors. You can achieve this with the help of professional art packing materials, which we’ll review in this article.
The Risks of Using Wrong Packaging
It may seem at first glance that any packaging will do, provided you do it right. However, the choice of professional-grade materials increases the protection of your pieces and minimizes the risks of damage considerably. Insufficient packaging won’t protect your artwork from contamination with dust, dirt, and mold, especially during long-term storage. The risk of canvas degradation from humidity, temperature, and UV light exposure also rises manifold with poorly done DIY packaging. Thus, you should develop a well-thought-out packing strategy to guarantee the full and long-lasting security of your art assets.
Selection Criteria for Packing Options
Here is what you should think about when choosing art packing materials.
- The type of artwork you’re packing. If it’s a painting, you will choose different materials and strategies for framed and unframed art objects, unstretched canvases, etc. When packing sculptures, you will choose materials depending on their fragility, weight, and irregular shapes. Fragile antiques also require a distinct packing method and a set of packing supplies.
- Transportation method. The packing strategy depends on whether you’re shipping art domestically or internationally. It may also differ depending on whether you rely on regular shipping companies or use specialized fine art shippers.
- Conditions and duration of storage. If your art object has to stay in storage for some time, you also have to take the storage terms into account. What humidity and temperature fluctuations will it need to sustain? Will it be exposed to UV light at some point?
Top 6 Art Packing Materials You Can Trust
Now, let’s revisit the materials that are used the most in the professional art packaging industry. Most art packing experts choose the following options.
- Acid-free, moisture-resistant glassine paper or art plastic for delicate surface protection.
- Archival-quality acid-free tissue paper for artwork wrapping or interleaving between layers of packaging.
- Bubble wrap or kraft bubble for cushioning and physical damage minimization.
- Foam core and board for rigid support and prevention of bending.
- Cardboard or foam corner protectors for safe packaging of framed artwork.
- Custom wooden crates for high-value, delicate, and extremely fragile items.
If you’re interested in top-grade packaging for your art objects, contact Fine Art Shippers for assistance. Our art handlers have decades of experience and are sure to develop the most suitable packing strategy for your property to guarantee its full safety in transit or storage.