How do you use a mat cutter?

Question

I need to use a mat cutting board to cut a mat for a large photo, but have never used a mat cutter before. I think I'd be a little more at ease if I could find some directions or a tutorial of the basics of using a mat cutting board. Can anyone point me to one or tell me how to use one? Thanks :)

Answer 1

Most people use an X-acto knife (one of those thin pencil-like knives with the real small sharp triangle-shaped blade on it). Its almost like a razor blade.
The cutting board is a material that doesn't cut easily, so you can cut cardboard or heavy paper (the "mat" that goes around a picture) without cutting the surface of a table or countertop.
If you hold the blade at an angle, the cut will be beveled (a slanted cut) - that's where the bottom of the cut in heavy paper or cardboard is just a little wider than the top of the cut.
The best way is to go to a craft store or photo shop (that does photo mounting) and they can show you very quickly.

Its not hard, you just need to practice on scrap mats first to see the different effects you can get with different cutting angles.

Answer 2

If you have access to Michaels; they will certainly advise you. Obviously one can use a utility knife or exacto blade; but a MAT cutter in a professional sense cuts the mat at an angle.

The suggestion relating to checking with any Framer is one I'd explore if I was interested.

Answer 3

its pretty easy -- the hard part is the corners -- you want to go over a little tiny bit because overcuts look better than having a shredded chunk of paper hanging in the corner. you can practice by making smaller rectangles in the middle in the part you will throw out.