Tips for Cutting Mat Board for Picture Frames

Surrounding your pictures, paintings or photographs with mat board helps to give them a clean, finished look. Not only that, but the color of the mat board can help to enhance your photograph or painting and bring out subtle details that might otherwise be missed. Cutting mat board can be tricky at first, but once you master it you will be able to frame your own pictures and get professional looking results. Here are some tips for cutting mat board to get you started.

The first thing you need to do before cutting mat board is to decide how big you want your mat to be. A good rule of thumb that most professionals recommend for an average sized picture is to leave at least 3 inches of space on the sides and top of your picture and 4 inches at the bottom. Keep in mind, though, that this is only a general guideline and not a hard and fast rule.

If you are framing a particularly small picture you may want less mat, or for larger pictures you may want more. Not only that, but you may decide on a smaller or larger mat simply for asthetic reasons and for the look that you are trying to create. For instance, a small black and white photograph can look more substantial and really stand out with a larger than average mat surrounding it.

Next, before cutting your mat board you will want to decide how much of the picture you want to cover or expose. For instance, if you are framing a piece that measures 10" x 10", you can cut the hole in your mat to 9" x 9" and cover an inch of each edge of the picture. Or, you may choose to cut the hole in the mat to 11" x 11" and leave the edges of the picture exposed. How much of the picture you cover or expose will depend greatly upon the picture or painting itself and really is a matter of personal preference. Use your best judgement and your creative eye to determine how the picture will look best.

Once you have your measurements you are ready to cut your mat board. Mark the outside dimensions of the mat on the back of the mat board using a pencil and a straight edge. Next, lay your mat board down on a flat surface and line up a straight edge with one of the lines you just drew. Using a sharp utility knife or a mat cutter, place the blade next to your straight edge and run it down the mat board in a smooth, even motion. Repeat this on all sides of your mat board until you have it cut to the right measurements.

Next, measure and mark the hole or "window" that you are cutting in your mat board. Make sure you mark the back of the mat board and that you are cutting from the back. Again, line up your straight edge and place the blade of your cutter directly next to it. Angle the blade slightly toward the outside of your mat. This will give your cut a nice bevel on the front that will give it a professional look. In a smooth motion, run the blade down the length of the straight edge, stopping right at the end of your line so you don't cut into the mat. Rotate the mat board and repeat this process on all sides of the window until you have your hole cut.

If you get a rough cut or have any areas that are uneven you can use a very fine grit sandpaper to smooth out the flaws. If you are consistently getting rough cuts you may need to replace the blade in your cutter with a sharper blade.

Cutting mat board take a lot of practice to master and few people get perfect cuts on their first few tries. Practice cutting until it comes naturally to you. It is a skill that is well worth learning if you plan to frame a lot of art work and can save you a lot of money in framing costs over the long run.