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How to Cut Mat Board

When creating art, presentation can be an important part of making a sale. There is a great difference between merely showing a photograph pinned to a wall and one which is carefully placed with a mat in a frame. Buying cut mat board can easily drive up the price of making your artwork. While reliable frame shops often do a great job, an artist on a budget can very well cut the mat herself to save money with the help of a razor blade and a ruler or T-square.

Things You'll Need

  • Ruler or T-square
  • Razor blade
  • Mat board
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Instructions

    • 1

      Decide on the size of your mat board. If you have an 8-by-10 photo, you may choose to have an 11-by-14 or 16-by-20 mat. Make sure the mat still fills a standard frame size.

    • 2

      Measure out and mark the mat board using the T-square or ruler.

    • 3

      Place the razor blade along the T-square and trim along the edges you've marked.

    • 4

      Measure out equal margins all around your piece. For example, if you have an 11-by-14 mat with an 8-by-10 picture, you may want a 2 3/4 inch margin all around.

    • 5

      Make sure to leave 1/4 of an inch all around the picture to tape your picture to.

    • 6

      Mark these margins along your T-square.

    • 7

      Cut along the markings using the razor blade, making sure to turn carefully at each corner and leave a sharp point.

    • 8

      Pull the center part out.

    • 9

      Tape the picture, face down, on all four sides to the mat.

    • 10

      Place the picture in a frame.

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