Mat Cutting: How To Cut The Basic Mat For Picture Framing

All copyrights are retained by the artist,
Mona Majorowicz of Wild Faces Gallery.

The artwork or content in this lens may not be used or reproduced, either
in part or in whole, without the express written consent from the artist.

Matboard serves primarily two functions.

First it provides a visual field in which to view the artwork without distractions of frame and wall.

Secondly it provides the air space necessary between the framed art and the glass. This air space prevents mold growth and helps to maintain the integrity of the framed object.

Step 1: Start by measuring the distance you need for one side of your blank. 8 inches. Align your ruler to a straight edge of your mat and leisure in 8 inches at the top and bottom of the board your cutting your blank from.

Step 2: Lay your straight edge along these tick marks you just made.

Step 3: Using your utility knife score this along your straight edge. Mat board is very dense. Trying to cut through on the first pass will likely result in in a wobbly line or you cutting off in the wrong direction. Plus scoring sets a groove for your knife to follow in subsequent passes.

Step 4: Continue to pass blade along line until cut goes all the way through the board.

Step 5: Repeat for the next edge at 10 inches.

Note There are some major framing companies that when they certify framers, have them over-cut the stop lines buy a significant margin. This ensures that no tearing occurs when the fall out rips away from the cut mat, thus ruining it.

The way I was trained was however was to under-cut my stop lines and then pop out my fallout piece using a hand-held blade carefully run to the corner. This gives perfect corners with no over-cut marks. A perfect mat in popular with artists as well as patrons as most want flawless looking mats. However, popping a corner by hand takes quite a bit of practice to get a feel for it and to do it correctly.

Mat Cutting Terminology

ATG - Adhesive Transfer Tape - The professional framers double sided tape.

Blank - An uncut piece of matboard

Double Mat - Where two mats are cut for one item. Usually the inner mat is cut at 1/4 inch.

Fall-out - The left over piece of mat board from the center of the previously cut mat.

Foamboard (also Foamcore and Foam Board) - The backer board used in framing. It predominately comes in 1/8 inch thickness and 3/16 inch thickness. It also comes in regular, acid free, black and gator styles.

Mat Cutter - Either hand held or table top cutter with a fixed blade used for cutting mats.

Mat Board - A dense board usually comprised of 8 white papers bound together. The top most layer is the colored portion that you see.

Over-cut when the blade go past the stop line.

Stops Setting on the table-top mat cutter than can be set for setting the places for you to start and stop a cut line.

Stop LinesThe lines drawn on the back of the matboard indicating your pace to start and stop the cut of the mat.

Squaring Arm - The extension on the mat cutter which allows you cut cut mat board blanks with ease.

Undercut Starting or stopping the mat board cut line just short of the stops.

Mat Cutting & Picture Framing Supplies

Here's a short list of a few of things that I use most of on my mat cutter. Again not all of these things are necessary but if you plan on doing any great quantity of mat cutting this will make it so much easier and saves time to boot.

* Squaring Arm
* Fixed cutter head on a rail
* Both angled blade and straight blade on the head
* Preferably metal base
* Can cut a 40 inch mat. This is the standard length for both matboard and foamcore. While it is rare to cut a mat this long you will be cutting your blanks from this size sheet.

Since I don't use stops they are not something I look for.

Professional Grade Picture Framing Mat Cutters