Basic Guidelines for Packing
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- Use a secure shipping box so your film and photos won't shift during
transit.
- Place your film and photos in a container before putting them in
the box you are going to ship them in.
If you have groups, make sure that they are secure
and will not shift if the box is shaken en route. You can order
archival storage boxes ahead of time to pack your order in, or you can use
a creative temporary solution.
If you do pack your film and photos into one of these temporary solutions, we recommend
that you also think about purchasing archival storage to
place your photos and film in as they are being scanned. That way, your film and
photos return to you protected and ready to store.
- Use a sturdy box that won't crush easily. Your local post office
provides priority mail cardboard boxes free of charge and they work very well.
FedEx also provides boxes free of charge at any local Kinko's or FedEx
shipping retailer.
- Wrap your photos and film in plastic, even if it's a garbage bag,
before placing them in the box you are going to ship them in. This will help protect
them against moisture and dust.
- Avoid using packing materials that generate dust or debris. Some
padded envelopes use crushed newspaper and if they tear that dust may get on your
photos and film.
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Creative Packing Hints
Slides
Send your slides and photos as they are, in boxes or carousels, or you can use some
of these ideas.
Believe it or not, aluminum foil type boxes make great temporary slide containers.
You can also make the beginnings of slide groupings (40+ slides) by using mini post-its
to label where they start. Make sure not to touch the sticky part of the post-it
to the film.
If the slides do not fill up the entire box, cut a piece of cardboard into the size
of a slide and put it after the last slide to protect the film. Then, wad up tissue
paper or plastic bags to fill the space to the end of the box.
Rubber band the outside of the box well, so the slides cannot fall out or become
mixed up if the box is turned over in shipping.
Negatives
Negatives are a little easier to package because they usually come in processing
sleeves, which you can fold, stack together and put into a sealable plastic bag.
Make sure to let all of the air out of the plastic bag before sealing. You can then
write the name of the groups (40+) on the front of the bag. Do the same with loose
negatives. Put the bags into a padded envelope before putting them into the box
to be shipped in.
Prints
For prints up to 5x7" sealable plastic bags work well. For larger prints cut 2 pieces
of cardboard to place on either side the prints, then place inside a large manila
envelope. Put all of your wrapped and sealed prints into a box making sure there
is a couple inches of padding between the sides of the prints and the exterior of
the shipping box (bubble wrap works well for this purpose).
Movie Reels and Video Tapes
Reels and tapes are a little sturdier by nature. Just make sure they are secured
in a padded box to keep shifting during transit to a minimum.
Have questions or concerns?
Give us a call at 1-866-364-5952 or email us at
sales@digmypics.com