Slip Sheets

Guide Navigation

Introduction to Picture Framing & Matting

Designing Your Picture Frames and Mats

Color Selection

Matboard Types

Frame Types

Mat styles

Glass types

Measuring and Sizing Picture Frames and Mats

Mats

Frames

Costs of Picture Framing

DIY Picture Frames

Mat Cutting

Cutting mat board sheet to size

Cutting a single rectangle mat

Cutting a Double rectangle mat

Cutting a stepped corner rectangular mat

Cutting an Inlay Mat

Cutting an inlay mat

Cutting a V groove mat

Adding decorative ink lines to rectangular mats

Adding decorative ink lines to your mats

Cutting multiple opening mats

Cutting oval and circle mats

Mat Cutter Choices

Mat Cutting Help, Troubleshooting and FAQs

Mounting Your Artwork

Methods of Mounting

Mounting different types of Artwork

Glazing with Glass and Plastic

Securing or Fitting your Artwork in a Picture Frame

Finishing Your Artwork

TRIMMING A BOARD TO SIZE & SLIP SHEETS

In picture framing, trimming a board to the size needed for matting or backing is called "blanking" the board. Board pieces need to be cut as accurately as possible, paying attention to both size and squareness. Squared corners and straight sides are especially important when blanking boards for mats, because blanks that are grossly "out of square" will result in very obvious problems with the squareness of the mat opening. Typically a mat blank with only a slight un-square corner will cause no problems. Blanking can be done using a straight line or hand-held mat cutter, a Logan #500 Mat Knife or utility blade guided by a sturdy straight edge or T-Square.

SLIP SHEETS

In picture framing, a slip sheet is the underlayment material placed under the mat you are bevel cutting. A slip sheet is only needed when bevel cutting as it supports the face paper of the mat being cut. When straight cutting, remove the slip sheet as a straight cutting is cutting clear across from edge to edge and does not need to support the face paper of the mat you are cutting.

Slip sheet material should only be scrap mat board. Never use self-healing vinyl cutting mats as they are dense rubber and will damage the blade and hinder performance of the cut. The slip sheet must be gradually moved around, turned over or flipped the other direction so as not to cut too many times over the same area. Otherwise the blade may drag into previous cuts and produce a curve.

It is very important to adjust the bevel blade depth so that it barely passes through the mat board and only scores slightly into the slip sheet. Save your scraps and drop outs as they can often times be used as a slip sheet.