QA

Quick Answer: How To Cut Mat Board For Picture Framing

How do you cut a matte board for a frame?

Will Michaels cut mat board?

But did you know that you can get a mat cut… any size and any layout in any of the mat materials available…at Michaels? (And probably other framing stores like JoAnn Fabrics and Hobby Lobby…. And they can probably do it while you wait (depending on how busy they are and if they have your preferred mat in stock).

What is a mat cutter?

A mat cutter is a tool specifically designed for cutting the cardboard mat, or matting, used to mount art pieces. For artists, a mat cutter is a vital tool in the studio, allowing them to mount and frame work much more cheaply than a professional framing company.

Can you put foam board in a picture frame?

Foam boards are typically sturdy and lightweight making it easier to cut with a sharp craft knife or picture framing mat cutter. Foamboards are used for mounting prints and photographs as well as picture frames.

Can you put a foam board in a frame?

Using a conventional picture frame and glass, you can simply trim the foam board to size and insert it into the frame as usual, but eliminating the usual layers of cardboard backing provided to snug the picture firmly against the glass. The foam board will do the job.

How do you attach foam board to frame?

Hook-and-loop fastening systems, are a secure way to hang foam core. Buy dots or strips with removable adhesive to protect the hanging surface. Put a hook and loop together so they cling. Remove the paper backing from one side and stick it onto the foam board.

Can you cut mat board with scissors?

The cutting technology’s the same and it works well. For finer work and initial cuts in a large sheet I use plain scissors; the largest pair I own. You might want to experiment with some scrap pieces because you might not like the edge when it’s done. It tends to pinch the matboard.

What can I use instead of mat board?

Depending on the thickness of the frame, foamcore board can be substituted for mat board. Foamcore typically has a colored top ply, an inner white foam ply, and a white back, but some foamcore is colored all the way through. These boards come in large sheets and can be adapted to large projects.

How much does it cost to mat a picture?

The cost for custom framing varies greatly, depending on the materials. The frames themselves can range from $16 per foot to $200 per foot. A 7×5-inch double-mat, clear-glass mounting for a photograph costs about $120, while an 8×10 conservation-glass frame for a college diploma averages $200.

Is Custom framing cheaper at Hobby Lobby or Michaels?

Based on price, Hobby Lobby custom frames are a little more expensive than Art.com or Michaels. But if you want it all, low price, excellent quality, and custom goods, go for Michaels.

Do I need a mat cutter?

In order to cut mats you need a tool to cut the outer edges of the matboard, and a mat cutter to cut the beveled windows. The do it yourself method can get quite costly if you plan on ordering full matboard sheets of 32×40″ as you’ll need a large format mat cutter.

What tool can cut glass?

Glass cutters and sharp knives are popular tools to cut or score glass and other materials. Saw blades can also be used for cutting thick glass sheets.

What is foam board backing on a picture frame?

What is foam board? Foam board is a lightweight foam-centered board consisting of a thick inner core (from ⅛” to 3/16” thick) composed of polystyrene with clay-coated papers. It is considered ideal for the mounting and backing of artwork, and more than 90% of frame jobs today have foam boards in them.

What is backing board for picture frames?

A backing board is using in picture framing to form the back-most part of the frame contents. It is placed behind the glazing, mat, and art, and may be hinged to the artwork itself.

What material is used for picture frame backing?

Depending on what you’re framing; you can use cardboard, standard foam board, acid free foam board, mat board, hard board, chip board, easel backs, or what the heck, you can even use wood.

Is foam board the same as Mount Board?

Mount board goes by many names, including mounting board, backing board, foam board and foam core. Foam core describes exactly what a mounting board is: a substrate with a core made of foam. Foam core is no different than most other mounting boards — it’s all the same type of product.

How do you put backing on a picture frame?

Apply a strip of ATG tape to the back lip of the frame, all the way around the perimeter. Flip the frame over onto a piece of kraft paper that is slightly larger than the frame (or Tyvek if framing something that will be in a high-moisture area). Press down firmly to be sure the paper sticks. Flip the frame back over.

How do you cut a picture mat without a mat cutter?

If you don’t own a mat cutter, you can cut your mat window with an x-acto knife, but you won’t achieve a good clean bevel. Typically, if you cut 2-3 of your own mats, your tools will pay for themselves!Mar 10, 2014.

What is mat board made of?

Museum mat boards are made of 100% cotton. Cotton, unlike wood, contains no lignin at all. Combined with archival framing methods, your artwork will be preserved for hundreds of years. This is the option museums and collectors choose when framing photographs and artwork and is the most expensive option.

Can you cut a picture mat with an exacto knife?

Cut the mat size using your exacto knife. You can score the mat and cut again if that’s easier for you, sometimes the mat boards are thick.

What surface do you use an exacto knife on?

To use your exacto knife properly, you will also need a surface to cut on and a straight edge or ruler. The best cutting surface is a self-healing cutting mat.

Can I use poster board as a mat board?

You would use the picture that was in the frame as your template for the mat. Trace around it on the poster board and cut it out with the X-acto knife. For the width, you are fine with your measuring 2 inches from the corners. But for the length, you need to break up the 10 inches as, 1.75, 6, and 2.25 inches.

Why is mat board so expensive?

Simply put, the larger it gets, the more materials are used and of course, the price goes up. As size increases, larger and larger pieces of glass are needed and because of fragility, our actual costs per square inch go up as well. Mat boards come in basically two different sizes 32″ x 40″ and 40″ x 60″.