QA

How To Cut Matting For Pictures

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.

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 can I use instead of a 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 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.

How do you stop pictures slipping in frames?

Step 1: Cut the mat board to the size of the frame. Step 2: Mark where you want the picture to go. Step 3: Cut a slit a little narrower than the picture. Step 4: Apply hinging tape to the back of the picture. Step 5: Slide tape through the slit and secure on the back. Step 6: Frame the picture and add spacers.

How thick is a 4 ply mat board?

The thickness of a mat board, indicated as “ply,” is often an afterthought when it comes to selecting a mat board. In general, 4-ply (1/16-inch thick) and 8-ply (1/8-inch thick) are the most common, but 6-ply is also available.

What size mat goes in 16×20 frame?

Standard Mat Board Sizes Artwork/Print Size Suggested Outer Size Mat Board Width (centered) 11×14 16×20 top/bottom: 2.5” right/left: 3” 11×17 18×24 top/bottom: 3.5” right/left: 3.5” 12×16 18×24 top/bottom: 3” right/left: 4” 13×19 18×24 top/bottom: 2.5” right/left: 2.5”.

How big is a sheet of mat board?

Most matboards are available in the standard 32″ x 40″ size. But the actual size of the board will probably be a fraction larger to allow for changes in humidity during shipping and storage. A full sheet of matboard may be squared by trimming off the excess, creating a true 32″ x 40″ board.

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.

Is mat board the same as Mount Board?

Much like mat board, mount board serves to protect a framed photograph or piece of artwork by providing a rigid, sturdy backing to keep photographs and artwork from moving or warping in the frame. The location of mount board is basically the opposite of mat board.

Why are mat boards 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″.

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 cut mat board with a Cricut?

The Cricut Maker and the Knife Blade are qualified to cut both 2-ply and 4-ply matboard. Matboard goes all the way up to 8-ply, but that’s too thick to cut, so stick to 2-ply and 4-ply matboard that is less than 2mm thick.

How do you measure a picture for matting?

Artwork Size : measure the visual area of the artwork you want to mat. For example 11×14″. Opening Size : subtract 1/2″ from the artwork size. For example, (11-1/2) x (14-1/2), 10 1/2″ x 13 1/2″ for the opening size.

How do you professionally frame a picture?

How to Frame Pictures Like a Pro Select Photo or Artwork. Photo, frame, and mat. Purchase Mat and Frame. When looking for a mat and frame, try arts and crafts stores like Michaels, A.C. Size Mat and Frame. Choosing a Mat. Selecting a Frame. Mounting Tape. Attach Tape to Picture. Attach Tape to Backboard.

What is a double mat for picture?

Note: A double mat is defined as two mats one on top of the other (2 layers) where the bottom mat color is only exposed or “revealed” minimally to enhance the artwork.

How wide should a picture mat be?

As a general rule, your mat should always be 1.5 times as wide as your frame, or wider. If the mat is smaller than the frame, you run the risk of the artwork appearing stuffed into the frame.

What material is used for picture mats?

The two types of materials used to make conservation matboard are cotton (AKA rag mats) and wood pulp fibers (AKA alpha-cellulose mats).

What are standard mat sizes?

*Our mat opening sizes are shown. Most off the shelf picture frames with mats have a smaller window (such as 4.5″ x 6.5″ for 5″ x 7″)that covers more of the image.8″ x 10″ Image Size Mat Opening Frame Size 5″ x 7″ No Mat 5″ x 7″ 5″ x 7″ 3.75″ x 5.75″ 8″ x 10″ 8″ x 10″ No Mat 8″ x 10″ 8″ x 10″ 3.75″ x 5.75″ 11″ x 14″.