A crisply cut mat can enhance your artwork.
Mat board allows artists to create a frame around a drawing, painting or photograph, giving it a finished look and providing an accent to the artwork's hues. Follow the steps below to create a mat with crisply cut lines that will give your piece a professional-looking touch.
Instructions
1. Determine your mat's dimensions. As a general guideline, the mat should be 25 percent larger in each dimension than the work of art. For example, if your artwork is 10 inches by 12 inches, the mat board would be 12 1/2 inches by 15 inches.
2. Cut the mat board to your calculated dimensions using a sharp mat cutter. Mat cutters are available from most crafting stores.
3. Trace the shape of the art frame on the center of the mat paper, on the back side. Use a metal ruler to keep the lines straight and precise.
4. Poke the tip of a sharp pair of scissors through the center of the shape you need to cut out. Carefully cut around the edges and corners. If you fail to cut any of the corners neatly, do not pull off the excess paper. Instead, use a razor blade or sharp crafting knife to fix any uneven corners.
5. Use 1,200-grit sandpaper to smooth any rough edges on the mat board. Use a light, back-and-forth motion when sanding so that you don't bend the board.
