Matting

Matting Introduction A mat is a border made of paper or illustration board that compliments as it surrounds an image. Matting a picture is done for protection, ease of handling, framing, and appearance. Before displaying or presenting a certificate, a photograph, or a piece of artwork to an individual, you should mount, mat, and if possible, frame it. It takes skill to cut professional looking mats. Mats Tools A mat focuses your attention on the image within the mat. When used in a frame, mats protect image surfaces from direct contact with the glass that may trap moisture and cause mildew. When used alone, mats protect image areas from fingerprints and smudges. To cut a mat requires skill and patience. You need a pencil, a rule, a steel straightedge, a crafts knife with a sharp blade, sandpaper or an emery board, tape, a matboard, and a backing board. You may be fortunate enough to have a hand-held mat cutter or, better still, a carriage-type mat cutter. Mat proportions The width of the top and the sides of a mat are equal. The width of the bottom of the mat is slightly larger in dimension than the top and sides. A good ratio to work with is 3 to 4. Cutting a mat The key to successful mat cutting is to use a sharp blade in your knife. The by hand first thing you prepare should be the blade. Lightly mark the mat dimensions on the surface of the mat. Place the steel straightedge on the mat and cut along the inside edge. That way, should your knife slip, the cut would be on the portion of the mat you intended to discard. Begin your cuts at the corners. Hold the knife at a right angle to the mat to make a square cut and at a lesser angle to make a bevel cut. Maintain the same angle of cut for all sides of the mat. Continued on next page 2-32