How to Cut a Mat for a Photo

Mat your photographs for a more professional look.

When displaying photographs around your home or office it is a good idea to frame the photo in a mat. This brings in focus to the image and gives it a more professional look. Although you can pay individuals at a local arts and craft store to mat the image this becomes rather expensive. However, with a few tools of your own it is possible to cut out a mat and frame the photograph.

Things You'll Need

• Photograph
• Mat board
• Mat cutter
• Sand paper
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Tape
• Frame

Instructions

Determine the size of your mat

1. Measure the size of your photograph. Standard image sizes include 4x6 or 5x7 (however, the exact size may vary so it is important to measure the image).

2. Decide on the size of frame you want. It is easier to cut a mat to a frame rather than frame to a mat. If you cut your mat to a size that premade frames do not fit, it will cost extra to have a frame specially designed for the mat. If you have a 5x7 image, you may want to go with a 10x12 frame.

3. Purchase a mat sized to your frame (so, if you bought a 10x12 frame, purchase a 10x12 mat).

4. Subtract the size of the photograph from the size of the mat. If using a 5x7 picture with a 10x12 frame, subtract five from 10 and seven from 12. This equals five inches around, meaning you start off with a five-inch border.

5. Add a quarter of an inch to each side of the mat (so the overall boarder is 5 1/4). You need the extra quarter inch around for a slight overlap on the photograph. Without the overlap the image will fall through the window cut in the mat.

Cut your mat

1. Lay the mat down on a clean surface with the back of the mat (the side you don't see once in the frame) facing up. Mark off the determined border around the mat with your ruler and pencil (for this example, measure 5 1/4 from each side). After marking off the border you can see the completely marked off window.

2. Cut out the center part of the mat with the mat cutter. A mat cutter has a ruler-like edge that holds down the mat board and the blade travels down the edge, over the marked line. Repeat this on all four sides, then pop out the cut window.

3. Sand down the freshly cut edges of the window. This removes any rough edges from the mat.

4. Position the photograph on the back of the mat (so you can see the image through the window), and tape down the edges of the picture so it stays.

5. Insert the mat (with photograph attached) into the frame and hang where desired.

References

• Art Supply: How to Cut a Mat
• Steve's Digicams: How to Cut a Picture Mat