Flat pack portfolios

​

Flat pack portfolios are suitable for: 

• Drawings (flat)
  Prints
  Photographs in good condition
  Posters
  Watercolor paintings

• You can also add extra spacers inside of the portfolio to prevent it from closing too firmly to gently hold works such as: 
  Works with heavy impasto
  Works with collaged mixed media that are not flat
  Aging photos that risk cracking if pressed totally flat - although these should probably be in a box, depending

• Flat pack portfolios are great for long term storage.  If sturdy they can also be used for local transport with plastic wrap around the outside.  More protection is needed for long distance transport.

​

​

​

Materials needed:

• 1 Existing portfolio larger than the artwork by at least 4" on each side (like Masterpak or Cachet)                                        -or-                                                                                                                                                                                              Make it with 2 acid free foam core sheets larger than the artwork by at least 4" on each side, preferably 3-6mm thick sheets to make into a portfolio -or- Make it with 2 sheets of heavy double wall cardboard can also work (note that it can't be bendable like the usual single wall)

• 1 Roll of Glassine or a couple sheets of Glassine larger than the artwork size.  Glassine is good for most work on paper.  
      -or-
      For extra sensitive antique items you can use archival tissue paper
      -or-
      For totally flat non-stretched works with oil or acrylic paint elements you should use Dartek, or Tyvek. 

• 1 roll Sturdy Packing tape such as 3M 375 clear 2" wide tape roll 

• 1 roll Archival Artist's tape (or in a pinch painter's tape is OK)

• 4 sheets of Paper for making photo corners, ideally a thin, non-textured acid free,100% cotton rag or linen paper.  Although you can use glassine for this too. In a pinch regular typing paper is OK as long as it doesn't directly touch the artwork (the artwork should be in glassine anyway).

• 1 Marker for labeling when you are done

​

​

​

 

Note about shipping: 

• If you want to ship it, you can put the flat pack portfolio inside of a sturdy box, making sure to pad out any extra space so it doesn't shake around.  Masterpak sells the box and portfolio as as set.  Then you can ship the box the usual way via Fed Ex if it's not high value - just be sure to recommend insurance that covers the value of the art in case of damage.  For blue chip artworks always use high end art handlers to move the work. 

• If the work is already framed and is being shipped locally, wrapping in brown paper/ thin foam and cardboard is fine.  If it is going long distance, I recommend a Masterpak box or for high value works, having an art handler build a crate. 

​

​

​