This month in the Utrecht Learning Center we'll be learning how to cut a bevel mat using Logan’s 301-S Compact Mat Cutter. With a little practice, you can learn to cut custom mats that display your artwork with pride and professionalism.

Once you master the basic steps, use your creativity to experiment with your own designs, such as those shown here.

First, a little about matboard...
Matboard is a multi-layered product made especially for framing artwork. The most commonly available matboard is made from processed wood pulp. It comes in a wide variety of surface colors and textures and the core is typically white or cream-colored. (Some matboard has a core that is black or a few other colors.) The surface is a thick covering of art paper that is fade and bleed resistant. Untreated wood pulp contains acid, which, over time, damages what it comes in contact with. To protect the work you’re matting, use buffered, acid-free matboard. Most matboard is available in 32" x 40" sheets and some come in even larger sizes.

Measure twice, cut once
To determine the mat opening size, you must allow at least ¼" (7mm) overlap on each edge of the chosen image so the edges don’t show or fall through the mat window. Use the following worksheet to help calculate the sizes of your opening, borders, and overall matboard.

With these measurements, set the parallel mat guide to your chosen border width. Insert the matboard, color side down, and mark all four sides.

Hook the bevel cutting head onto the rail, and align the silver start and stop indicator with the pencil line closest to you. Firmly push the blade into the mat.

While keeping steady downward pressure on the blade, slide the cutter forward until the indicator line reaches the top pencil line. Pull the blade out of the mat.

Repeat this step three times to complete the mat.

Now you’ll need to adhere your artwork to the mat. A simple but effective method is called the t-hinge. Using a framer’s acid free hinging tape, follow the following steps:
1. Lay your matboard face down on a clean surface and position the artwork face down over the window.
2. Cut and apply two small vertical tabs of tape along the top edge of the artwork, an inch or so from the corners.
About half the tape should adhere to the art and half to the mat.

3. Lift up the mat and ensure the image is displayed in the window as you wish it to be. Move the tape and image around, if necessary.
4. Cut and apply another tab of tape horizontally across the tape on the mat. One horizontal piece on each of the verticals, to form Ts.

That’s it!

Click here for ideas on recycling your matboard scraps and other tips on working in a "green" studio!