How to Cut a Matboard
Mat board is the piece of cardboard-like material that sits between the glass and the artwork or photo in a frame. It gives the art a border and can make the finished piece look more professional. But, a mat provides more than aesthetic appeal. It allows air to circulate within the frame and prevents the art from sticking to the glass because of trapped moisture or heat. Cutting your own mat board is much cheaper than buying pre-cut mats, especially if your art and frame are not standard sizes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Mat board
- Art
- Long ruler
- T-square
- Cutting mat or board
- Mat cutter
- Pencil
- X-Acto knife
- Emery board or boning tool
Instructions
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1
Decide how large a border you want around the art. A 2-inch border on all sides should be a starting point, according to ArtSupply.com. Larger artwork should have at least a 3-inch border.
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2
Measure the inside of your frame so you can cut the mat board to fit inside. Mark those dimensions on the back of the mat board with a pencil.
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3
Trim the mat board to the outside dimensions. Place a ruler along the line. Run the cutter along the ruler, making sure the ruler does not move.
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4
Measure for the mat's inside dimension. If you are using a 3-inch border, measure 3 inches down from the top left and make a mark. Measure 3 inches down from the top right and make a mark. Draw a line to connect the marks. Repeat this on all sides.
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5
Put the ruler along one line, hold in place and move the mat cutter along the edge.
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6
Stop the mat cutter at the intersecting lines. If you overshoot the line, a cut will be visible.
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7
Take the inside "window" out. You may have to use an X-Acto knife to finish the cut.
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8
Use the emery board or boning tool to smooth out any rough spots.
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Tips & Warnings
Large or long pieces look better if they are bottom "weighted. " This means the border across the bottom is wider than the border on top. Never "weight" a square piece of artwork.
Consider buying a professional quality cutter if you are going to be cutting mats regularly or have a lot of non-standard sized art. A professional mat cutter can cost as little as $250.
Use a sharp blade. A dull blade causes a "fuzzy" cut that makes the mat look amateurish.
