QA

How To Cut A Mat For A Frame

Will Michaels cut mat board?

But did you know that you can get a mat cut… any size and any layout in any of the mat materials available…at Michaels? (And probably other framing stores like JoAnn Fabrics and Hobby Lobby…. And they can probably do it while you wait (depending on how busy they are and if they have your preferred mat in stock).

How do you size a mat for a frame?

We typically suggest a mat border size that is larger than your frame width, so for example, if you had a 1″ wide frame around this print, you could use a 1 1/2″ mat border, making the outside of the mat 9″ x 7 3/4″ in this case.

How wide should a frame mat be?

As a general rule, your mat should always be 1.5 times as wide as your frame, or wider. If the mat is smaller than the frame, you run the risk of the artwork appearing stuffed into the frame.

What size mat goes in 16×20 frame?

Standard Mat Board Sizes Artwork/Print Size Suggested Outer Size Mat Board Width (centered) 11×14 16×20 top/bottom: 2.5” right/left: 3” 11×17 18×24 top/bottom: 3.5” right/left: 3.5” 12×16 18×24 top/bottom: 3” right/left: 4” 13×19 18×24 top/bottom: 2.5” right/left: 2.5”.

What can I use instead of mat board?

Depending on the thickness of the frame, foamcore board can be substituted for mat board. Foamcore typically has a colored top ply, an inner white foam ply, and a white back, but some foamcore is colored all the way through. These boards come in large sheets and can be adapted to large projects.

How do you size a mat?

Follow These Steps to Get the Right Dimensions Artwork Size : measure the visual area of the artwork you want to mat. For example 11×14″. Opening Size : subtract 1/2″ from the artwork size. For example, (11-1/2) x (14-1/2), 10 1/2″ x 13 1/2″ for the opening size.

What size frame do I need for a matted 8×10?

A typical store-bought ready-made frame for an 8×10 photo will have a mat opening of 7.5×9. 5. This will allow the mat to overlap the image by ¼ inch on all 4 sides. It also helps to hold the image down.

What is a mat cutter?

A mat cutter is a tool specifically designed for cutting the cardboard mat, or matting, used to mount art pieces. For artists, a mat cutter is a vital tool in the studio, allowing them to mount and frame work much more cheaply than a professional framing company.

Should the frame be the same size as the picture?

What size frame do I need? The frame shouldn’t be any bigger than the standard as it will make the picture or print look odd. Conversely, the frame shouldn’t be the exact same size as the print, as it will make it difficult to fit into the frame, and likely have a negative impact on the overall presentation.

What is mat opening size?

Standard Frame Sizes Frame Size Mat Opening Image Size 8″ x 10″ 4.5″ x 6.5″ 5″ x 7″ 11″ x 14″ 7.5″ x 9.5″ 8″ x 10″ 16″ x 20″ 10.5″ x 13.5″ 11″ x 14″ 20″ x 24″ 15.5″ x 19.5″ 16″ x 20″.

How thick should frame be?

The most common thickness used is 4 ply (around 1/16th of an inch) and double thick matboards are 8 ply or roughly 1/8 inch thick. The higher the number, the thicker and more rigid the board.FRAME CONTENT THICKNESS. PRODUCT THICKNESS Museum Matboard Approx 2.5 mm / 0.1 inches Foam core 5 mm / 0.2 inches.

What does 11×14 matted to 8×10 mean?

For example, an 11×14 (which refers to the inside perimeter of the frame) used to frame an 8×10 image could be referred to as both an 8×10 frame or an 11×14, assuming the complete frame package contains the appropriate mat board. If the frame size—not the mat opening—says 11×14, it is referring to the inside dimension.

What is matting in framing?

In the picture framing industry, a mat (or matte, or mount in British English) is a thin, flat piece of paper-based material included within a picture frame, which serves as additional decoration and to perform several other, more practical functions, such as separating the art from the glass.

Why are mat boards so expensive?

Simply put, the larger it gets, the more materials are used and of course, the price goes up. As size increases, larger and larger pieces of glass are needed and because of fragility, our actual costs per square inch go up as well. Mat boards come in basically two different sizes 32″ x 40″ and 40″ x 60″.

Is mat board the same as Mount Board?

Much like mat board, mount board serves to protect a framed photograph or piece of artwork by providing a rigid, sturdy backing to keep photographs and artwork from moving or warping in the frame. The location of mount board is basically the opposite of mat board.

Can you frame foam board?

Using a conventional picture frame and glass, you can simply trim the foam board to size and insert it into the frame as usual, but eliminating the usual layers of cardboard backing provided to snug the picture firmly against the glass. You can also add a mat to the front of the picture to frame it.