Sending photos through regular mail

Can someone tell me the best way to send an 11x14 image through USPS to where it will not get bent, etc. I need to send 11x14's matted, with foam back board and in a protective sleeve. If I can't do it this way safely would it be a bad thing to roll in up and put it in a tube? I didn't really want to have the recipient have trouble have it lay flat after being rolled up. Any ideas and costs? Thanks!

http://www.uline.com has a lot of special boxes for shipping.

Costs and quantities may vary.

The cheapest way is to take two pieces of cardboard and cut out say, an inch more on each side of the mat. Use packaging paper or giftwrap paper around the bagged print. Sandwhich the two together (one board on the bottom, one board on top and the mat goes in the middle. Tape the whole thing together and away it goes.

If you're really into it you can shop around for archival tape though I don't think it's a worry unless it will be boxed for a long time (like a month or two) or left in the heat..if the artwork is not very valuable then I really probably wouldn't worry. When I have bought prinlts from photographers I like that's how they seem to do it. Or custom packaging.

www.mpix.com does boutique packaging up to 11x14. Try there.

Great thank you! No problems with your prints being bent? I assume they are not being shoved into your mail box but left on your door step or something similar? Thanks again!

I've never had one returned to myself for being damaged in the mail, personally.

I also ship up to 11x14 in regular mail, I use card board with a bubble envelope. I also have the post office stamp "Photographs do not bend" on them.

Anything larger than that gets rolled.

I've never had a problem with damaged photos.

I keep the boxes whcc sends me pictures with and I just use them if I have to mail something. Although I havent had to ship anything larger than an 8x10 yet. I would imagine it would get expensive fast with boxes to fit 11x14, 16x20, 20x24 prints.

Since its a box its fairly hard to damage the print inside assuming its packaged good with bubble inserts and such. Although one sharp object could do it, so insurance might be worth it if the print costs enough to get printed.

Make the package large and rigid so it's impossible to jam into a mailbox. IMO the do not bend stickers are worthless. Mail carriers in these parts don't read them. I sized my mailbox so my 8x10s from Smugmug fit in without bending, but 11x14's need to be left on the porch.

For those that roll...what kind of paper do you print on?