How to Flatten a Rolled Poster From a Tube — Without Damaging It

Your print arrived in a tube (that's a good thing — it means it's protected). Here's how to get it perfectly flat in under a day.

Every high-quality art print ships rolled in a tube. It's how professional printers and galleries protect the paper during transit — no bending, no creasing, no damage. But when you open it at home, the print has a natural curl from being rolled. That's completely normal and easy to fix.

Here are three proven methods to flatten your print, from quickest to most thorough.

1 Unroll Carefully

Slide the print out of the tube and unroll it slowly on a clean, flat surface — a table or a clean floor. Don't force it flat; let the paper relax for a moment. The curl will ease slightly on its own within the first few minutes.

2 Weight It Down

Place a few heavy, flat objects on the corners and edges — hardcover books work perfectly. You want even, gentle pressure across the sheet. Leave it for 12–24 hours. For most prints, this alone will get you a perfectly flat result.

3 Reverse-Roll (Optional — For Stubborn Curls)

If the print still has a noticeable curve after weighing, gently roll it in the opposite direction — loosely, not tightly. Hold it for about 30 seconds, then release. This counteracts the memory curl in the paper fibres. Then lay it flat with weights again for a few more hours.

Don't roll it too tight in the reverse direction — a loose, gentle curve is all you need. The goal is to neutralise the curl, not create a new one.

The Result

Once it's flat, your print is ready to display. The paper will stay flat once it's been properly flattened — you won't need to repeat the process.

What NOT to Do

Don't iron the print. Heat can damage the ink, warp the paper, and ruin the finish permanently.

Don't use a hair dryer. Same problem — uneven heat causes warping and can fade colours.

Don't stack heavy objects directly on the printed surface. Place a clean sheet of paper between the print and any weights if the objects aren't perfectly smooth.

Don't rush. Patience and gentle pressure will always give you a better result than force.