How to Store Art Prints: Support, Enclose and Label
Give the print support, an enclosure and a place of its own
When you rotate art off the wall, prepare its storage before taking it out of the frame. A clean working surface, a suitable enclosure and a supported place to keep it are more useful than finding an empty box after the print is already loose.
This guide is for ordinary paper prints in sound condition. If a work has mold, flaking media, tears or uncertain mounting, stop and ask a paper conservator or framer about that particular object. Do not turn a storage task into a repair experiment.
Plan the move before touching the paper
Clear enough space to put the complete print down without bending it around other objects. Move drinks, tools and packing debris elsewhere. Prepare the enclosure and its label before you start.
The Canadian Conservation Institute's basic care guidance for works on paper recommends minimizing handling and using a stiff support when moving a work. Keep the support under the whole sheet as you move it between the frame, working surface and enclosure.
If you discover that the print is attached to its mount, do not pull it free to follow this guide. Ask the framer how it was mounted and whether it should stay with that support. For an intact framed print that you plan to store as a unit, get advice for the complete frame rather than applying loose-paper instructions to it.
Choose the enclosure around the actual sheet
Measure the paper, including any original border. An enclosure should accommodate the full sheet and its support without forcing the edges into a fold or curling the corners.
CCI's Storing Works on Paper, Note 11/2 recommends suitable acid-free storage materials. Individual folders or enclosures provide support for moving works; an acid-free box adds protection around them. Ordinary packing cardboard is not interchangeable with conservation-suitable board.
| What you have | What to check before using it |
|---|---|
| An individual folder sold for paper-art storage | Material specification, inside dimensions and whether the sheet is fully supported |
| A mat or other existing support | Its condition, suitability and whether the print can remain with it without disturbing the mounting |
| A flat archival box | Its inside dimensions, construction and room for the enclosed print without crowding |
| The original delivery packaging | Whether its materials are suitable for continued storage; a shipping function alone does not establish that |
Keep each work identifiable without repeatedly opening every enclosure. Do not assume an “archival” label promises a particular lifespan for the print. For unusual media, choose materials with a specialist rather than treating every paper object the same way.
The layers show the storage relationship, not a recipe for mounting an artwork. No adhesive is shown touching the original paper.
Label the enclosure, then choose the location
CCI describes folders as a useful place to record information about the work. Put your retrieval note on the enclosure instead of writing on the image or attaching a sticky note to the print. Its storage guidance also advises avoiding direct sunlight, pipes, heating equipment, attics and basements.
Choose a clean location where you can retrieve the box without dragging it out from under a pile of unrelated belongings. Before filling it, check that the box is supported across its base and that there is room to open it safely. Leave the enclosure somewhere you will remember to inspect, rather than treating storage as permanent neglect.
Here is an original record template you can copy:
| Field | Your entry |
|---|---|
| Enclosure ID | A short label that also appears in your storage list |
| Work | The title or a neutral description you can recognize |
| Paper dimensions | The complete sheet dimensions, including borders |
| Condition before storage | Your observations, with a dated photograph if useful |
| Location | Cabinet or shelf and box identifier |
| Framing notes | Any information needed when the work returns to display |
These fields organize your own collection. They are not a condition assessment by a conservator.
Retrieve the print with the same care
Clear the receiving surface before opening the box. Check the enclosure label so that you do not uncover several works to find one. Open the folder with the work supported, and move the support with the print rather than sliding bare paper across a dusty surface.
If you notice new waviness, marks or damage, record what you see and seek advice before cleaning or flattening the sheet. CCI recommends leaving cleaning and repairs to a paper conservator.
When the work goes back on display, keep its enclosure if it remains suitable. Knowing what an unframed print includes and how to check paper and frame dimensions will help you prepare the next frame without confusing sheet size with outside frame size.
The most useful storage system is one you can repeat: prepare, support, enclose, label and retrieve without unnecessary handling.