How To Cut Your Own Custom Picture Mats

Supplies needed to cut custom picture mats

• 2 – 20×32 white mat board (2 x $11.99 = $23.98)
• acrylic ruler ($10.13)
• rotary cutter ($15.37)
• mat board cutter ($37.32)
• self healing cutting mat ($55.27)
• pencil

Before you begin…

Before you start this project, take some time to review the written instructions that come with the mat board cutter.

There is a piece of anti-slip material that comes with the particular tool that I’ve linked above. Definitely use this and stick it to the backside of your acrylic ruler. I made the mistake of not doing this and it resulted in a few crooked cutouts. Don’t be me.

Secondly, test the proper depth setting on your cutting tool. Test a few cut lines on a scrap piece of mat board before starting to ensure the blade cuts through the board.

Cut the mat board down to size

Using the piece of paper or stock family photo that comes inside the picture frame as a guide, cut your mat board to the proper size with the rotary cutter.

PRO TIP: use the acrylic ruler to help you get a straight line. There were many times where my rotary cutter strayed and it was frustrating as heck to have to start all over. Once again…don’t be me.

Mark the cutout for the photo

This part takes the longest and the most planning.

On the BACKSIDE of your mat board, mark an X from corner to corner with a pencil. Doing this just properly marks your centre point. Use your acrylic ruler to ensure straight lines.

Plan for the photo opening size. If you are framing an 8×10 photo, then your cutout will be 7.5″x9.5″, and so on and so forth.

Divide your opening measurement in half and mark this measurement out from the centre point. Draw your box for the opening in the mat board using these marks as your guide.

Cut out the photo openings

And here is the most daunting (but totally doable) part of all!

With your mat cutter tool sitting INSIDE the box you drew, line up the guide lines on the tool with your drawn pencil line.

Butt your acrylic ruler up against the cutter to maintain this straight line. Then, bring your mat board cutter to the corner of the marked cutout line.

Slowly press to bring the blade down and eyeball it so that the point of the blade will pierce JUST outside the corner of your mark. Ensuring that you start and end your cut slightly past the corner of your marked cutout is really important.

Press firmly down on your mat board cutter to bring the blade down and slide the cutter along the edge of the acrylic ruler, maintaining even pressure as you go. End your cut JUST outside the corner of your marked line.

Once you commit to cutting a line, finish it! Trust me on this.

Repeat on remaining lines until your opening is cut out. You’ll know your cuts are perfect if you can lift your mat board up and the centre cleanly pops out on its own.

TROUBLESHOOTING: if for one reason or another your centre piece does not pop out cleanly, gently run your rotary cutter or take a sharp x-acto knife to score the cut line again. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT pull your centre piece off.

That’s it that’s all!

Now flip your beautiful new custom picture mats around. Tape your photo to the backside of your mat board and mount it in your frame.

VOILA! So. Easy.

Check out my last post at https://www.inpursuitofchic.com/minimalist-photo-gallery-wall/ to see all my beautifully cut custom picture mats in their frames up on my gallery wall as well as additional tips on setting up your own display.

Recap of tips to do it right the first time

1. Your first 3 mats will likely be throwaways as you test the depth and pressure, etc. Account for this in your material.
2. Make sure you cut past your marked line on each end of it in order for the mat to pop out cleanly.
3. Do not start your cut in the centre of your line. This will cause a tiny divit/puncture on the inside edge of your cutout and it sucks. SUCKS I tell you! Always start your cut slightly past the corners you marked.
4. The cutting tool comes with anti-slip stickers to place on the backside of your ruler. USE THESE!
5. Once you start a cut, finish it so you can ensure you have a nice smooth cut. Kids screaming in the background? House catching fire? Leave it! There are important matters to attend to at hand.

There you go! You’re now fully equipped with the knowledge of how to cut your own custom picture mats. Now go forth and create all the beautiful custom gallery photo walls you can.

Check out https://www.inpursuitofchic.com/how-to-cut-your-own-picture-mats/ for full post details and links to products used