Using a mat cutter allows you to create custom-sized openings in mat board for framing artwork or photographs, providing a professional finish. The process involves careful measurement, marking, and precise cutting of each side of the desired opening.
Mat cutters are essential tools for anyone looking to professionally frame their artwork, offering clean, bevel-cut edges.
Understanding the Mat Cutting Process
Cutting a mat involves creating an opening with four sides. The process typically requires:
- Measurement: Determining the exact size of the opening needed for your artwork and the borders around it.
- Marking: Lightly drawing guide lines on the back of the mat board.
- Cutting Each Side: Using the mat cutter to carefully slice along the marked lines for each of the four sides.
Successfully cutting a mat relies on accuracy in measurement and steady control during the cutting phase.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using a Mat Cutter
While specific mat cutters may vary, the general steps for creating a window in mat board are as follows:
- Prepare Your Workspace: Ensure you have a clean, flat, and stable surface. Place a cutting mat or a sacrificial piece of mat board beneath your main mat board to protect your surface and provide a clean exit for the blade.
- Measure and Mark:
- Determine the desired border width around your artwork.
- Measure inwards from the edges of the mat board on the back side.
- Lightly draw guide lines connecting your measurements. These lines represent the inner edge of your cut opening. Accuracy here is crucial.
- Position the Mat Cutter: Align the mat cutter guide rail or straight edge precisely with one of your marked lines. Ensure the cutting head is positioned correctly to start and stop at the corners of your intended opening.
- Make the First Cut: Insert a sharp blade into the cutting head. Apply steady downward pressure on the cutter and move it smoothly along the guide rail from the start mark to the end mark. Maintain consistent pressure for a clean cut.
- Cut Subsequent Sides:
- Carefully lift the mat cutter.
- Rotate the mat board to align the guide rail with the next marked line.
- Repeat the cutting process for this side. As you work through the mat, you'll proceed from one side to the next, ensuring all four cuts connect to form the window (as you might see demonstrated around the 2:26 and 4:32 points in some instructional videos discussing "doing the other side").
- Remove the Cutout: Once all four sides are cut, the inner piece of mat board should fall free or can be gently pushed out. If any cuts didn't go all the way through, you may need to carefully finish them with a craft knife, following the existing cut line.
- Inspect and Refine: Check the edges of your opening for cleanliness and accuracy. A properly used mat cutter should produce clean, bevel-cut edges.
Essential Tips for Success
- Sharp Blade: Always use a fresh, sharp blade. Dull blades can tear the mat board instead of cutting cleanly.
- Practice: Practice on scrap mat board before cutting your final piece.
- Pressure: Experiment with pressure on scrap pieces to find the right amount needed for a clean cut with your specific mat board and cutter.
- Steady Movement: Move the cutter smoothly and steadily; jerky movements can result in uneven cuts.
- Safety: Mat cutter blades are extremely sharp. Always handle them with care and keep fingers away from the cutting path.
Using a mat cutter effectively takes a little practice, but following these steps will help you achieve professional-looking results for your framing projects.
