How to Use a Mat Cutter
Matting pictures within frames is an important step to take to make sure that framed pictures have a finished, professional appearance. If you do a significant amount of matting, it may be advantageous to cut your own mats to fit the specific pictures you will be framing. One way to cut mats is to use a hand-held mat cutter. This kind of mat cutter has a blade in it that is angled at the proper angle for beveling the mat board as you push the mat cutter along a straight-edge ruler.
Things You'll Need
- Mat cutter (see Resources)
- 11-inch-x-17-inch cutting board
- Mat board
- Pencil
- T-square straight edge ruler
Instructions
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1
Decide how much mat border you want to have around the picture and the size matting window you desire.
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2
Cut a piece of mat board that will fit inside the picture frame you will be using. Draw the matting window on the back of the mat board.
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3
Place the cutting board on a flat work surface and lay the mat on the cutting board with the back facing up.
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4
Place the T-square ruler against the edge of your work surface. Hold the ruler with your non-dominant hand. Slide the mat board against the edge of the ruler.
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5
Use your dominant hand to position the mat cutter blade on the matting window line you drew in Step 2. The bevel should be slanted away from the window you are cutting to make it look right from the other side.
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6
Slide the ruler over to the blade of the mat cutter and hold it firmly against the edge of the table. Don't let the ruler shift.
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7
Push the mat cutter firmly and evenly away from you along the drawn line with your dominant hand. Hold the ruler firmly in place with your non-dominant hand while moving the mat cutter.
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8
Stop when you reach the corner and reposition the mat board, the ruler, and the mat cutter.
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9
Repeat Steps 4 through 8 to cut the other three edges of the matting window.
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1
Tips & Warnings
The blade inside the mat cutter is extremely sharp. Use caution when working with the mat cutter and keep it out of reach of children.
Resources
- Photo Credit www.istockphoto.com © Erik Lam
