Flatpack

• Use for unframed photographs and works on paper

• Materials: Glassine, Tyvek, Double walled cardboard

• Steps: Enclose work in Glassine, create corners for the work out of Tyvek and tape to cardboard, insert artwork, sandwich artwork in with a second layer of cardboard, seal with tape

Slipcase

• Use for fully dry works on canvas without impasto and framed work

• Materials: Glassine (for standard framed work), Dartek film (for canvases), Tyvek (for framed with work delicate finish like lacquer), Poly sheeting, single walled cardboard

• Steps: Place work face down on Glassine or Dartek, wrap and seal with tape, repeat with Poly sheeting, score and cut cardboard to shape and fit around the piece

Shadowbox

• Use for artwork that has a buildup of the medium on the face of the piece only (or paint that is not fully dry), mixed media, carved or gilded frames

• Materials: Double walled cardboard and poly sheeting

• Steps: Place artwork face up on a sheet of cardboard, score and cut cardboard to shape and fit around the piece, walls should be about 3 inches higher than the highest point of the canvas, stretch poly sheeting tightly over the open side of box, and tape all the way around

Collared Pack

• Use for artwork that has a buildup of the medium on its sides (or paint that is not fully dry), frames with gilded or ornate sides

• Materials: Double walled cardboard, Poly sheeting, ¾ inch pan head screws, drill

• Steps: Cut 8 inch (or as appropriate) wide cardboard strips (5 inches for the wall and 3 inches for the back), score cardboard 3 inches from the edge, secure strips of cardboard to the stretchers with screws, stretch poly film tightly over the open side of box, and tape all the way around

Before

Inspect and photograph the piece before packing for transit or storage. If the work is damaged, you want to know it didn’t happen on your watch! If you want to get fancy with your condition reports, check out Articheck.

After

Once packed up, label the exterior with information about orientation (particularly important for framed, hinged works on paper), face and back (particularly location of glass if framed), and additional warnings about fragility.