Shipping Your Animation
Artwork Safely
Protect your animation cels and backgrounds with these easy steps.
🎨 → 📷 → 📦 → ✈️
✋ Step 1: Handle with Care
🧤 Wear clean cotton or nitrile gloves. The most important consideration is protecting the cel from oils, fingerprints, and damage while maintaining enough dexterity to handle it safely. Traditionally cotton art handling gloves are used but many institutions have shifted from using cotton to using nitrile gloves for handling sensitive materials. For animation cels specifically, either option can work, but nitrile gloves are increasingly preferred because they don't shed lint that could adhere to the cel surface. Nitrile's primary disadvantage is it may cause skin irritation with extended use. In situations with extremely fragile cels, thoroughly cleaned bare hands might actually be the safest option as they provide maximum tactility and grip. However, this approach requires hands to be completely clean, dry, and oil-free. For more information, see: "Cotton or nitrile for handling photographs" | r/MuseumPros - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/MuseumPros/comments/bhoqxf/cotton_or_nitrile_for_handling_photographs/ "Which Gloves to Choose for Art Handling?" | Fine Art Shippers https://fineartshippers.com/which-gloves-to-choose-for-art-handling/
📄 Support with archival mat board when laying flat. Handle cels as little as possible. If it is in a transparent, archival storage sleeve, do not remove it except to document its condition. Hold artwork only by the corners or edges. When lying flat, we recommend using a smooth archival surface such as a piece of archival mat board. Small pieces can often be purchased from your local custom picture framer. Ask if they have small archival quality "mat dropouts" you can use for this purpose. Never place anything heavy on top of cels or background art.
☀️🚫 Avoid direct sunlight, heat, and moisture. Animation cels are very sensitive to environmental conditions, especially anything that can cause the cel material to expand and contract. This includes sudden changes in temperature caused by direct sunlight and damp or extremely humid environments.
📷 Step 2: Document Your Artwork
📷 Photograph each cel and background separately. Taking clear photographs of your artwork before shipping creates a visual record of its condition, helping to protect you if any damage occurs during transit. Be sure to photograph not only the overall artwork, but also any visible imperfections such as cracks, wrinkles, flaking paint, or warping. This provides clear documentation of the artwork’s pre-shipping condition. A simple smartphone camera is usually sufficient, as long as the images are sharp enough to show detail if needed for an insurance claim. If a cel and background are intended to be framed together, photographing them assembled is also helpful for reference.
📝 Create an inventory list if shipping multiple scenes. If you are sending more than one scene (or framing project) in a single shipment, we recommend creating a simple inventory list for your own records. This list can help you track your artwork in the unlikely event of a shipping issue. At this stage, there is no need to include dimensions or detailed descriptions. A basic list noting the number of scenes and a brief title or description for each scene is sufficient. You may wish to place this inventory list inside a clear magazine sleeve along with your packing documents, to be included during the final packing steps (see Step 3). If sending multiple scenes, it is helpful—but not required—to clearly label each foam-core sandwich to indicate which scene it contains.
📦 Step 3: Pack Your Artwork Safely
🚚 Step 4: Ship Your Package
📦 Choose a carrier that offers tracking and insurance. We recommend selecting a carrier that provides tracking services and allows you to insure your shipment. Tracking helps you monitor your package during transit, and insurance can offer protection in case of loss or damage. Most major carriers offer these services. Confirm what is available before shipping.
💰 Insure your shipment based on its replacement value. Consider insuring your shipment for the value you would assign to replacing the artwork if it were lost or damaged. If you're unsure of the appropriate amount, you may wish to consult an animation art appraiser or gallery familiar with similar work. Insurance coverage can help protect your financial investment in the unlikely event of a shipping issue.
✍️ Request signature confirmation upon delivery. Requesting signature confirmation ensures that your package is not left unattended at its destination. The Framer’s Workshop is open seven days a week (except major holidays): Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM, and Sundays from Noon to 6 PM. Signature confirmation helps prevent packages from being left outside if delivered outside of regular business hours. While many carriers offer this service, it is often optional, so be sure to ask for it when arranging your shipment.
📤 Share tracking information and expected arrival date. After shipping your artwork, please share the tracking number and estimated delivery date with The Framer’s Workshop. You can send this information to our general email address: framers@framersworkshop.com. Providing tracking information allows us to prepare for your shipment’s arrival and ensures it is handled promptly once it reaches us. If you notice any significant delays during transit, notifying us early can help prevent complications.