How to cut a basic mat
“Measure Twice - Cut once "
1.(literally, carpentry) One should double-check one's measurements for accuracy before cutting a piece of wood; otherwise it may be necessary to cut again, wasting time and material.
2. (figuratively, by extension) Plan and prepare in a careful, thorough manner before taking action.
* Clean top of cabinet before starting
**All mat cutting tools are in the drawer to your right
1. Measure your artwork
2. Add 2” to EACH SIDE (total of 4”) for the mat size.
Example: Your artwork measures 12”x14”- the mat measurement would be 16”x18”
3. Cut mat board on paper cutter to desired mat size
(See me if mat board is too large to fit into the paper cutter)
4. Adjust sliding bar to 2 ¼”- then tighten knobs
5. Lift the hinging guide rail.
6. Put backing sheet (scrap mat board) under matboard you are cutting
7. Put matboard -COLOR SIDE DOWN- under guide rail
(ensure board is completely against the 90* squaring bar on the right and the parallel mat guide)
8. Use the guide rail to draw a straight line on the mat board.
9. Rotate mat and draw a line until you have gone all the way around the board. (You will end up with a rectangle in the center of the mat board)
10. Check your artwork against the rectangle
BEFORE YOU CUT! Double check and make sure you have at least ¼” overlap
10. Put the bevel cutter in lip of the bar.
11. Align the start/stop indicator on the cutter to just slightly before the line on the mat.
12. Push the blade down and through the mat.
13. While pushing down, slide cutter to a point just past the end mark.
14. Lift bar and rotate mat board around.
15. Complete steps 8-11 until you have cut all the way around.
16. Using Artist’s tape (white tape in drawer) tape artwork to the mat all the way around the edge of your artwork.
1.(literally, carpentry) One should double-check one's measurements for accuracy before cutting a piece of wood; otherwise it may be necessary to cut again, wasting time and material.
2. (figuratively, by extension) Plan and prepare in a careful, thorough manner before taking action.
* Clean top of cabinet before starting
**All mat cutting tools are in the drawer to your right
1. Measure your artwork
2. Add 2” to EACH SIDE (total of 4”) for the mat size.
Example: Your artwork measures 12”x14”- the mat measurement would be 16”x18”
3. Cut mat board on paper cutter to desired mat size
(See me if mat board is too large to fit into the paper cutter)
4. Adjust sliding bar to 2 ¼”- then tighten knobs
5. Lift the hinging guide rail.
6. Put backing sheet (scrap mat board) under matboard you are cutting
7. Put matboard -COLOR SIDE DOWN- under guide rail
(ensure board is completely against the 90* squaring bar on the right and the parallel mat guide)
8. Use the guide rail to draw a straight line on the mat board.
9. Rotate mat and draw a line until you have gone all the way around the board. (You will end up with a rectangle in the center of the mat board)
10. Check your artwork against the rectangle
BEFORE YOU CUT! Double check and make sure you have at least ¼” overlap
10. Put the bevel cutter in lip of the bar.
11. Align the start/stop indicator on the cutter to just slightly before the line on the mat.
12. Push the blade down and through the mat.
13. While pushing down, slide cutter to a point just past the end mark.
14. Lift bar and rotate mat board around.
15. Complete steps 8-11 until you have cut all the way around.
16. Using Artist’s tape (white tape in drawer) tape artwork to the mat all the way around the edge of your artwork.
