Tabletop mat cutters create clean looking mats quickly and are often used by professional framers as well as artists. No other tools are required for the cutting itself. Though it takes some skill to master a tabletop mat cutter, it is the easiest way to cut mats manually. Because of the cost -- often upwards of $100 -- the tabletop mat cutter is best for those who cut mats frequently.
The advantages of the handheld mat cutter include a blade that cuts beveled edges and low cost. This type of mat cutter is used in conjunction with a metal ruler, and can create edges that are as professional looking as edges made with a tabletop cutter, though it generally takes more practice to master.
The least expensive, but most difficult, way to cut a mat is using a standard utility knife with a fresh blade and a metal ruler. Used correctly, the utility knife creates clean, but not beveled, cuts.
A heavy metal ruler, preferably an L-square, is a necessary tool for cutting mats with a utility knife or handheld mat cutter. Plastic or wooden rulers are generally too light to work well. Some framers use a measuring tool called a border guide, comprised of two triangular pieces connected by a thin metal ruler, to determine mat size. Wide clear plastic rulers are also handy tools for doing the measurements for mat cutting, regardless of the type of cutter used.
Circular mat cutters can create oval and circle mats manually, with a blade that extends from an adjustable center piece that cuts like a compass to make clean shapes. These types of cutters are often used to create mats for snapshots or small art prints.
Framers use handheld groovers or groover attachments for tabletop mat cutters to create decorative surface cuts into the mat board. A v-shaped blade cuts lines or freehand designs and is often used with mat board that has a contrasting surface color.
For large volume and professional use, the computerized mat cutter creates picture mats automatically based on data inputted by the framer. This type of unit can cut mats in virtually any shape desired. While this type of cutter is the most versatile, the cost is high. Some vendors offer computerized mat cutters for rent or lease.