Cut Your Own Matting Frames

There is a really easy way to cut your own mats without expensive mat cutter tools.

Cut your own matting frames.

Measure the reveal area you want around. Before you begin cut your mat board to the size of your frame. Measuring your mat board for the frame is pretty simple no architecture or engineering degree required. The logan mat cutter i use runs about 50 for the guide and cutting handle.

I ll be using its sturdy fixed guide rail for all kinds of consistent cuts but it s perfect for cutting mat board. Mats are great with photos posters fine art prints diplomas or watercolors. Typically if you cut 2 3 of your own mats your tools will pay for themselves. Its guides allow for mat frames as narrow as 3 4 or as wide as 4 1 4 hurray for accommodating both the subtle and the chunky came with both a mat knife and a push style bevel cutter i m ready for action.

But for canvas art mats don t work. This do it yourself video explains all the steps of cutting a professional looking mat for your artwork. Use an x acto knife and a metal ruler to cut through the mat board. How to cut your own picture mats video tutorial all in all this project took us about 15 min per mat after the first one.

Here s how to cut your own picture mats. Linen liners can be added to any linen liner compatible frame and to 3 4 framed stretched canvas. Instead add a linen liner to create the same transition from art to frame that mats do for pictures on paper. Beginning with a turquoise mat add 1 2 foam board on top and end with the addition of a white mat on top of the foam board.

A cheaper solution is to learn to cut your own mat frames using a handful of basic materials that allow you to fully customize the look of your framed picture. We begin by showing you a simple formula for measu. Picture frames mat board ruler cutting mat exacto knife pencil. Place the mat board on top of the back of your frame backing and trace around it with a pencil.

After tracing cut out the section of mat board using your x acto knife or other sharp blade. I ended up with five frames for my new travel gallery wall reveal next week and the total cost per finished frame including all supplies from list above was 40. The supplies you ll need are. All it takes is a few supplies some art or a photo to frame and you ll be creating your own decor in no time.