Push the blade out and line it up with a piece of your mat board.
How to cut picture mat.
Center your newly cut mat over your art image.
Too deep and it ll cut too far into your cardboard cutting mat and affect the smoothness of your cut.
You can score the mat and cut again if that s easier for you sometimes the mat boards are thick.
After tracing cut out the section of mat board using your x acto knife or other sharp blade.
Take a small piece of artist s tape and press it on your jeans or shirt first adding lint to the tape will remove most of the stickiness and prevent it from ripping your mat or paper when removed then put the tape on the mat and image to hold them in place.
Step 1 assemble your supplies.
Before you start cutting make sure the depth of your bevel cutting blade is correct.
To cut a picture mat start by measuring the height and width of the picture you ll be framing as well as the frame backing board that came with your frame.
The hard compressed type of cardboard on the backs of pads of art paper are sturdy and hard.
If all else fails have a framing shop cut the window for you.
Place the mat board on top of the back of your frame backing and trace around it with a pencil.
Cut the mat size using your exacto knife.
Then use a ruler and razor or box cutter to cut a picture mat to the same size as the frame backing board.
Be sure it is larger than the mat you will be cutting and protect it with stiff cardboard.
It should extend just half a mm beyond the thickness of the board for a clean cut.
Measuring your mat board for the frame is pretty simple no architecture or engineering degree required.