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How to pack your artwork

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH AND PACK YOUR ARTWORK?
Photographing your artwork properly is one of the most important factors affecting the sale of it. The photograph should, as far as possible, be the exact replica of your artwork because the collectors would only refer to this image of your work while placing an order, hence, the picture should be as such that it leaves an appropriate impact on the buyer. An inappropriately photographed picture might lead to client dissatisfaction upon delivery, thereby hampering the image of the artist as well as leading to the return of artwork.

There are chances that you don’t have all the professional equipments (professional camera, lighting equipment, etc) required for photographing, thus, here are a few tips and tricks that might help you while photographing your work:

*POSITION: If you are capturing a painting, it could be framed or unframed. If your painting is unframed, place it on a plain surface or paste it   a wall with the help of masking tape. Avoid the use of adhesives or hard adhesive tapes which could damage the artwork. Whereas if your     painting is framed, you can either lean it against a plain background or hang it or place it on a plain surface. If you choose to lean it against a wall, make sure you don’t lean it so much that it creates any angles due to which certain details of the painting might end up getting lesser attention in the photograph. If photographing a sculpture, ensure to shoot it from all dimensions. For very big size artworks you can click images part by part for details to be visible. If required get it clicked by a professional. 

*LIGHTS: The best possible light to photograph an artwork is daylight, especially early morning when the sunlight is pleasant. If photographing the artwork inside, then the lights while taking the photograph should be bright, you can either choose the room with the brightest lights.

*CAMERA: If you do not have a professional camera, your smartphone is more than enough, you can click normal pictures with it or use certain apps (Camera MX, CymeraCamera, VSCO, etc.)* These apps might be helpful to take the snaps of your work a little more professionally. Do not use any filters while clicking the image or even after that. Ensure that you place the camera parallel to the artwork and the distance between the camera and the work should be as such that it leaves some extra space around it in the image. Avoid using a camera flash as far as possible.
If you are using the camera flash, make sure it is not visible on the artwork as it might obscure the view. While taking the photograph, if the artwork is placed on a plain surface, ensure that your shadow isn’t being cast on it. 
(*We do not endorse or promote any products from other organizations, these are just mere suggestions for the convenience of the users and they may choose not to abide by these suggestions.)

*EDITING: If editing your picture, try to keep it as much original as possible. Crop out any extra substances (things other than the artwork) visible in the image, still keeping in mind the quality of the image. Images should be at least 200 dpi and a minimum of 2000 x 2000 pixels. Try making a mockup of the image for visualization of the buyer. A good mockup helps the buyer to decide/make the right purchase. Take the reference from already uploaded artworks on dirums.com

*UPLOADING: Always upload images with a minimum resolution of 2000 x 2000 pixels and 200 dpi. Make sure all the dimensions are right and in the correct units ( inches, cm etc) Put correct information about the medium ( watercolour on paper, acrylic on canvas, Plaster or Paris, Terracotta etc.) 

HOW TO PACK?
The way you pack your art should be at least a little as much professional as your artwork itself. The package should be as such that it leaves a pleasant impact on the buyers when they receive the artwork. At the same time, it should also protect the artwork from all sorts of damages that might occur during transit. You may refer to the points below and use them as a checklist while packing:

Unframed Paintings:
*Put a layer of glassine/butter paper above the painted side of the artwork before putting any other packaging material. Do not use any    chemical paper or material or newspapers to wrap it as it might damage the artwork. 
*Use a plastic/cardboard pipe inside the artwork to provide support.
*Cover it with a few protective layers of bubble wrap, multiple times (3-4 layers)
*Put it inside a cardboard tube and cover the tube lid with a cap or with bubble wrap and a hardboard. 
* Cover the tube with a layer of bubble wrap to protect it from any damages even from liquids.

Framed Painting: 
*Make an (asterisk / Star) mark(*) across the glass of the frame with masking tape. This will protect the artwork in case the glass is broken , it  will hold the glass and not let it move around.
*Wrap the painting in brown paper, leaving no sides open.
*Place cardboard corners on all four corners of the painting.
*Place a sheet of cardboard of the painting’s size under and above the artwork to provide yet another protective layer for the glass.
*Wrap the package in bubble wrap (3-4 times) and seal it with tape.
*Place the piece into a cardboard box/crate and seal it properly from all sides with packing tape.
*Place the piece in a crate, with thermocol layers on all sides
*Seal the crate with packing tape properly from all sides.
 

Sculptures:
*Wrap the sculpture properly with a bubble sheet, giving it a thick layer of protection. However, avoid using bubble wrap for small, delicate  sculptures, instead, place them gently inside a plastic bag.
*Find a packing box that fits the artwork, neither too large nor too small.
*Fill the box with shredded paper or medium-sized paper balls to protect the sculpture.
*Seal the box from all sides with packing tape.
*Check the stability of the sculpture inside the box by shifting it a little and ensure that the sculpture does not shift within.
*Use thermocol sheets, balls, bubble wraps, etc to make sure the box gets extra stiffness which will help in case any heavy object is placed  above it

IMPORTANT:
* Always put ‘fragile’, ‘this side up’ etc stickers above the package for cautionary purposes. 
* Make sure you insert the printed and signed bill copy properly before sealing the package.
* The seller must include the ‘Certificate of Authenticity' (e-certificate provided by dirums.com), within the package, printed, signed and sealed     neatly within an envelope.
* Ensure that you stick a paper with both, “To and from” addresses mentioned properly and covered with a layer of tape or plastic wrap to avoid    any damages in transit. 

HOW TO SHIP/COURIER
To choose a reliable shipping agency is really very important to make sure that your hard work pays back well enough. You’ll give in so much time and dedication to complete your work thus, it should definitely reach the buyers through safe hands. Choose a reliable couriering agency for shipping your artwork to the buyers and get the package insured from the shipping agent, all good shipping agents provide insurance so that in case of any damage during transit, you can claim it from the shipping agency itself. Dirums.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to the artwork during transit. Add/upload a copy of the bill and tracking id of the package on your Dirums.com portal immediately after you have shipped the package. Ensure that you are given a tracking id for the package so that the same can be given to the buyer as well and both ends can track the package while it is on its way. 



 


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