Why flat shipping is the default

Flat shipping is the standard for canvas and framed poster editions because the surface has to stay level from studio to door. A rolled canvas can recover, but the process leaves a memory in the fabric that is hard to remove without re-stretching. A framed poster carries glass or acrylic and a rigid backing, so rolling it would damage the frame and the print at the same time. The packaging reflects that. A rigid board sleeve keeps the print from flexing, and a protective facing sheet stops the surface from touching the board directly. The carton is scored to resist crushing on the long edges, which is where most transit damage begins.

The risk is real and it is worth naming. A flat package takes up more space on a truck, and it is more vulnerable to a corner impact than a rolled tube. The trade-off is deliberate. A bent corner on a rigid carton is usually repairable on arrival, while a crease across a canvas surface is not. If you are choosing between the two methods for a large edition, the flat route is the one that protects the image rather than the one that is cheapest to move.

How canvas prints are packaged for delivery

Canvas prints follow a layered packaging sequence before they leave the studio. The printed surface is first covered with a non-abrasive facing sheet, then slipped into a rigid sleeve that is slightly larger than the print on every side. The sleeve is sealed at the ends so the canvas cannot shift laterally. After that, the sleeve goes into a double-walled carton with fill material at the corners, not in the middle, so the load is carried by the board rather than by the print itself. This is the practical meaning of how canvas prints are packaged for delivery, and it is the same sequence used for most reproduction editions on the site.

Framed posters add another layer. The frame is wrapped separately, the glass or acrylic face is protected with a soft sheet, and the whole unit is boxed so the frame cannot twist inside the carton. The framing hardware is secured so it does not rattle against the print. If you want to compare the two formats before ordering, the choice between canvas and framed poster for Lygia Clark prints is covered in more detail elsewhere, because the packaging difference is only one part of the decision.

What to check when the package arrives

Open the carton on a flat surface rather than on the floor, because a hard drop onto a tile or stone surface is the most common cause of damage at the unpacking stage. Cut the sealing tape along one edge and let the contents slide out rather than pulling the print by one corner. Check the corners of the carton before you remove the print, because a crushed corner on the box usually means pressure reached the print inside. If the print is a framed poster, inspect the glass or acrylic face before you remove the protective sheet, since a hairline crack is easier to document before the packaging is discarded.

If something looks wrong, stop and document it before the packaging leaves your hands. A clear photo of the carton corner and the print surface is the record that matters, and it is the record that a returns process actually uses. The refund and returns terms are set out in the site policy, and they are the reference point for what counts as transit damage rather than handling damage after unpacking. If you are unsure whether a mark was there before delivery, the packaging itself is usually the better evidence, because it shows where the pressure came from.