Mailing a photo

Hi

I want to mail an 8x10 that I printed on my inkjet. Is there a special way to package it that will keep it protected? Or just throw it in a full size envelope?

Stefan

If you want to be sure it doesn't get folded you can slip a piece of 1/4" plywood into the envelope along with the photo.

I'm serious - I do this when it's critical.

-js

Thanks for the input. Yeah, I am not THAT anal about it . It's just going to my mother. But you gave me a good idea which is to cut some sides off of a stiff box and place the photo between. The other thing I am worried about is the ink coming off. Do you think wax paper between the photo and the cardboard would be a good idea?

Stefan

Stefan A wrote in post #10690293
Thanks for the input. Yeah, I am not THAT anal about it . It's just going to my mother. But you gave me a good idea which is to cut some sides off of a stiff box and place the photo between. The other thing I am worried about is the ink coming off. Do you think wax paper between the photo and the cardboard would be a good idea?

Stefan

No. Wax paper is likely to stick to the ink.

A sheet of plain printer paper will be fine. Just let the ink dry for a day first.

-js

I suggest you use a mailing tube. A gently rolled photo has no problem returning to flat for framing. It's creases that are the killers.

A mailing tube will also fit in a standard mailbox, and is relatively water-resistant.

And yes, let the ink dry for 24 hours before rolling.

Cut two pieces of cardboard out and put one on each side of the photo.

If flatness is needed to be guaranteed, I would use drafting (not masking) tape to tape the print face down onto a piece of foam core which is slightly larger than the print size, and put it into an envelope with 'Photo Do Not Bend' on the outside of the envelope in big letters.

Just last Friday I came home to see my mail carrier folding a large envelope into thirds so he could cram it into my mailbox instead of walking to the door.

No harm done, but I doubt any "Do Not Bend" instructions would have mattered.

-js

number six wrote in post #10695539
Just last Friday I came home to see my mail carrier folding a large envelope into thirds so he could cram it into my mailbox instead of walking to the door.

No harm done, but I doubt any "Do Not Bend" instructions would have mattered.

-js

But you could take the folded envelope to the post office and speak to the Postmaster and show him the envelope, and a photo of that same envelope stuffed into your mailbox. And have a discussion of the carrier's two-digit IQ.

Check out some of the mail service companies. I am pretty sure I have seen photo mailers in at least one of these stores. The mailer was an envelope with a stiffener inside and I believe it was marked PHOTO on the outside. I am not sure but it may have had the words DO NOT BEND also. However I think the mailing tube that was mentioned in a previous post is the safest way to insure a photo does not get folded. The package mailing stores probably carry those also.

number six wrote in post #10695539
Just last Friday I came home to see my mail carrier folding a large envelope into thirds so he could cram it into my mailbox instead of walking to the door.

No harm done, but I doubt any "Do Not Bend" instructions would have mattered.

-js

This is exactly why I use mailing tubes.

Sparky98 wrote in post #10698305
Check out some of the mail service companies. I am pretty sure I have seen photo mailers in at least one of these stores. The mailer was an envelope with a stiffener inside and I believe it was marked PHOTO on the outside. I am not sure but it may have had the words DO NOT BEND also. However I think the mailing tube that was mentioned in a previous post is the safest way to insure a photo does not get folded. The package mailing stores probably carry those also.

They can be found at any office supply store, graphic arts store, craft store, or blueprint shop.

They have 8.5x11 cardboard envelopes available at any place that sells envelopes. That is usually good enough.

Wilt wrote in post #10695602
But you could take the folded envelope to the post office and speak to the Postmaster and show him the envelope, and a photo of that same envelope stuffed into your mailbox. And have a discussion of the carrier's two-digit IQ.

You can, but it is not going to get your photo unfolded or fix anything, just going to waste your time, I do it nearly daily till I am blue in the face and things don't change

Agreed on the mailing tube, if you send it with a larger broker like UPS or Fedex they have tubes you can put it in, think you have to pay for it though if you don't have an account. If its not 'that' inportant then I'd just go with the other suggestions of getting a larger envelope with a stiff piece of cardboard on both sides with do not bend on it. And hopefully who ever handles it has half a heart to respect it when cramming it in a mailbox.

The trouble with most mailers for all but the smaller photos is just what Vladimer said, the cramming into the mailbox. Many, many mailboxes, especially urban mailboxes, don't take large envelopes unless they are folded. What's a carrier to do?

This is especially true of the standard (small) sized P.O. Box, which is why we have a large one. Costs more, but what the hey.

Also, when it comes to the USPS (and, I suspect, Canada Mail, the Royal Mail, etc.), cardboard stiffeners, "Do Not Bend" stickers, and the like presume that the carrier cares. A very large presumption, indeed.