How do I flatten a print that's been somewhat kinked?

January 24, 2005 7:19 PM

[FlattenFilter] Help! Expensive print damaged in shipping. Any way to flatten out kinks? (more inside)

I ordered a limited edition print from an online vendor, and it arrived in less than perfect condition, ie, someone was heavy handed while rolling it, and it has crinkled in certain spots. In the nature of getting this to someone as a gift, I really dont have time to get an exchange or refund, but would just like to get it to a more acceptable flatness. Hot or Cold Presses? Ironing? Anything? Thanks in advance!

posted by LongDrive to Media & Arts (5 answers total)

I've ironed paper with mixed results, but I wouldn't dream of doing it with something expensive.

If I were you, I would flaten it out as best I could by putting something flat under it, then pilling phone books on top of it and setting the heaviest things you can find on top of the phone books.

Then I'd get on the phone and call the place you bought it from. Explain what happened and say you're going to give the gift and *then* return it. (i.e. show the recipient what you got them, apologize for the condition and then exchange it for them).
posted by duck at 7:29 PM on January 24, 2005

If you choose to iron it, work from the center out, in radial lines, like spokes, and don't go slowly. Practice on something else first.

But yeah, you should contact the people you bought it from and complain; if it's a print, there may be more copies available.
posted by interrobang at 7:56 PM on January 24, 2005

I was going to get some prints framed at a local frame shop, and they said they wanted to charge me $10 to use some special flattening machine on it before framing. I thought it was BS to extract another $10 from my pocket, but who knows, maybe frame shops really have such a device?
posted by falconred at 8:05 PM on January 24, 2005

I'd say call a museum and see what they do, who they send their prints to for fixes.
posted by scazza at 8:31 PM on January 24, 2005

• Get a drying up cloth ever-so-slightly damp. The cloth shouldn't be very thin, but definitely flat.
• A good way to prepare the cloth is wetting it, wring it out until no more water drips, then hang it up inside for a couple of hours.
• Turn the print face down onto a second (completely dry) cloth, put the ever-so-slightly damp cloth on top.
• Iron slowly over the sandwich on a medium heat.

Word to the wise, I've both
a) had the cloth too wet and soaked my picture - mmm, stains
b) had the iron on "hot" and warped the paper

It might well be worth trying your iron-fu on a couple of pieces of printer paper beforehand.

Best of luck.
posted by NinjaPirate at 6:49 AM on January 25, 2005