Flat or Rolled, How a Friedel Dzubas Print Travels

Packaging depends on the format, not the artist. Framed prints travel flat in rigid protection, canvases roll in a tube. Here is what each method involves and how to handle a print on arrival.

Auvrique Editorial · Fine Art Editions

The short answer

Framed Friedel Dzubas prints ship flat, packed face-protected inside rigid board. Unframed canvas prints ship rolled in a cylindrical tube, which is the standard method for anything flexible. Both formats arrive sealed and should be unpacked on a clean, flat surface within a day of delivery.

Why framed prints never roll

A framed print cannot roll. The frame itself is rigid, usually wood or aluminium, and bending it in transit would crack the moulding, stress the glazing or warp the paper inside. So framed editions travel flat, sandwiched between protective boards and sealed in a weatherproof outer layer. Corners get extra padding, because corners are where most transit damage happens.

The tradeoff is size. A flat parcel needs more volume than a tube, which is why very large framed works cost more to move and are handled more carefully. If a Dzubas colour field work appeals at scale, it is worth reading how to choose between a canvas print and a framed poster before deciding, since the format affects both the shipping and the wall. The same logic applies to any large flat parcel, including the framed Fisherman poster.

How canvas prints travel

Unframed canvas is the opposite case. Fabric is flexible, so it rolls without harm and ships in a sturdy tube. The print is rolled with the image facing outward, wrapped in a protective layer, and capped at both ends so the tube cannot crush. A rolled canvas survives transit better than a flat one of the same size, which is why this method is standard across the industry.

The tube method does ask one thing of the buyer. The canvas needs time to relax after unrolling, ideally laid image-side up on a clean surface for several hours before stretching or framing. Anyone wondering about mounting options can read whether a canvas print can hang directly on a wall. The same rolling principle applies to the Cliffs at Grainval canvas or any other unframed edition, such as the Pinks and dahlias canvas.

Unpacking without damaging the print

Most damage happens at the kitchen table, not in the van. Open the parcel with a blade held shallow, never deep enough to reach the print. Lift the flat parcel out of its box before cutting straps. For a tube, pull the print out gently by its wrapping rather than gripping the paper or canvas edge directly.

Let a flat print rest under light weight for an hour if it has shifted in transit. Give a rolled canvas the relaxation time described above. Check the surface under good raking light, meaning light held low and angled across it, before signing for anything you have doubts about. The shipping policy covers the specifics of packaging and what to do if a parcel arrives compromised per the Auvrique Shipping Policy.

Tubes exist because fabric forgives. Frames do not, so they travel flat and padded, corner first in the packing order.

Format	Ships as	Main protection
Framed print	Flat parcel	Rigid boards and corner padding
Unframed canvas	Rolled tube	End caps and image-outward roll
Large formats	Flat or tube by size	Reinforced outer layer

Shipping method by format

Key takeaways

Framed prints ship flat because the frame cannot bend.
Unframed canvases ship rolled in a capped tube, image facing outward.
A rolled canvas needs several hours flat before stretching or framing.
Unpack on a clean surface and inspect under angled light before accepting the parcel.

Related questions

Can a rolled canvas be damaged by shipping in a tube?

Rarely, and almost never in transit itself. The tube protects against crushing and bending. The realistic risk is creasing during unpacking, which is why the print should be pulled out by its wrapping and unrolled on a clean, flat surface rather than held in the air.

Why do framed prints cost more to ship than rolled ones?

Volume and weight. A flat, padded parcel takes up far more space than a tube of the same print size, and rigid corners need extra protection. Carriers price on both dimensions and weight, so the flat method costs more even though the artwork inside is identical.

What should I do first when a print arrives?

Unpack it on a clean, flat table with clean hands. Cut shallow, never toward the print. Let a rolled canvas relax flat for several hours. Then inspect the surface under light held at a low angle, which reveals dents and creases that straight-on light hides.

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