Matting, C o n t i n u e d
Cutting a mat
To cut a mat by hand, use this table:
by hand
(Continued)
Step
1
Action
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Measure the opening of the frame or determine the overall
dimension.
Measure the image area you want exposed through the mat.
Cut a matboard and a back board the same size as the opening in
the frame or the overall desired dimension.
On the surface of the mat, lightly mark the dimensions of the mat
opening.
Place the steel straightedge on the mat surface to guide your blade.
Beginning at the corners, cut through the matboard.
Remove the unwanted portion of the mat.
Using a piece of sandpaper or an emery board, remove jagged or
rough edges.
Carefully remove pencil lines with a nonabrasive eraser.
Place a piece of tape along the top edge of the image with the
sticky side half on the back of the image and half exposed.
Carefully position the mat over the image area and press down over
the tape.
Put the back board behind the matted image and place in the frame.
If you are not framing the matted image, secure the back board to
the back of the matboard with double-backed tape.
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