Measure out the size you want your mat to be. Most mats are 3 to 6 inches wide with the bottom edge being ½ an inch wider to give the art piece more height. If your art work is 12 by 14 inches and you want a 6-inch mat then you want the outer edge of your mat to be 18 by 20 1/2 inches allowing for that extra ½ inch on the bottom of the mat. Mark this outer measurement with a ruler and pencil on the back of the mat board.
Place the ruler against the outside edge of each marked line, place the sharp edge of an X-acto knife against the corner of the line where the ruler is and mark a guide line cut along the edge of the ruler on the pencil marked line. Avoid forcing the cut all the way through the mat board.
Place the cutter back at the corner where you began cutting the guide cut and cut through the same line again. Repeat the process as many times as necessary to get a nice smooth cut through the board. Do the same for all other outer sides.
Measure the inner size of your mat board allowing for a ¼-inch overlap of the art piece. If your piece is 12 by 14, you want the inner mat measurement to be 11 ¾ by 13 3/4 . Mark this measurement with a pencil and ruler on the back of the mat board.
Tape a small strip of sandpaper to the underside of the Logan 2200 straight edge to prevent it from slipping. Place the Logan 2200 rail and align it next to one of your pencil marked lines.
Place the cutter down at a corner. Lower the start and stop indicator on the line. Push the Logan cutter into the board at a corner and cut a guide line to the stop point at the other corner. Avoid forcing the cut all the way through the board. Lift the cutter and take it back to the starting point. Press the blade down again and make a second deeper cut into the guide cut; stop at the stop indicator. Repeat the process as needed until the mat board is cut through. Repeat the process for all other sides.
Tape your art piece to the underside of the mat board with masking tape. The art piece front will be facing the table.