DIP Online
Designs
Ink Publishing Reference Library
Articles
by Chris A. Paschke, CPF GCF CMG
"More Than A
Mat Cutter To Me"
July 1991
In the realm of creative mat
design new trends, concepts and materials are always being invented to make
creative surface mat designing more time and cost effective. Wonderful tapes,
beautiful exotic papers, wet and dry pigments are all among the elements and
materials accessible to any framer for surface mat design and creative
enhancement.
Upon deciding to use a full
size sheet of decorative paper or material (18x24) it is vital to find a time
effective way of cutting multiple strips cut from these exotic, decorative
papers or surface laminates in exact proportions. This accuracy is essential in
making these creative surface mat designs not only effective visually but also
profitable.
As a framer one of the most
basic and versatile pieces of equipment you own is your mat cutter. Originally
designed only as a means to an end for achieving a precision sized and efficiently
executed bevel cut piece of heavy colored mat board, it can readily double as a
trimmer, paper cutter and metal straightedge for lining up the above mentioned
decorative papers and heat set laminates. As long as the cutter is equipped
with an accurate full length mat guide and squaring arm across the bottom, the
slideway (or bar) will become the straightedge and the head will become the
hand held blade.
By using a slip sheet under
the bar, as in regular mat cutting, support will be given to the papers or
laminates allowing much narrower strips to be cut in sequence. Always begin
with a sharp new blade to ensure clean smooth cuts, and depending upon the
materials being sized blade changing may be required. Set the mat guide at the desired widths, for surface
mat enhancement common strips would be 1/8", 1/4",
1/2",3/4" and 1".
The bevel cutter head is used
to cut the paper strips so calibration of the strip widths may need adjustment
or at least conscious notice of the actual width executed, since often cutters
are adjusted for the width of the surface color paper of the mat. Basically
just cut a test strip or two on scrap to verify the desired strip width matches
the actual cut width.
Once all of the strips for
any particular design have been cut the same cutter may now be used for a
straightedge. The big difference between this cutter/ruler and using any other
cork backed hand held ruler is the speed and accuracy in which strips may now
be lined up (as well as cut).
Precut the mats to be
decorated on the same mat cutter to ensure the precision and accuracy of the
squaring systems and always maintain the same positioning. By this I mean to
place the mat consistently flush to the bottom squaring arm since the mat
cutter bar/slideway should be in perfect 90 degrees to it. If however, the
cutter has a great deal of lateral movement in the bar/hinge system...maybe you
need a new cutter!
Reset the mat guide to
accommodate the desired decorative paper strip width away from the newly cut
mat opening, place the mat face up under the bar (flush to the bottom) and use
the bar/slideway as a straightedge for the paper strip placement. Tack the
strip lightly in place, miter the corners and burnish the strips in place as
needed.
Using a vertical cutter when
cutting a marbled paper will ensure no exposed white inner paper, this does not
matter when laminates are being used or when the strips are to be mounted on
the bottom mat (see "Tiered Matting"). If the vertical cutter is to
the right of the bar simply adjust the calculations from the mat guide to
accommodate the space difference.
Accuracy is the key to a well
executed design. A dynamite idea will never sell when poorly executed. If too
much time is taken trying to produce a basically simple maneuver it is no longer
time effective, for it will cost the customer far too much for the labor time
involved. Get the most from all your equipment, put your mat cutter
through its paces, get more for your money and turn it into profits!
END
For more articles on mounting basics look under
the mounting section in Articles by Subject.
Additional information on all types of mounting is
found in
The Mounting and Laminating
Handbook, Second Edition, 2002, and
The Mounting And Laminating
Handbook, Third Edition, 2008.
Creative Mounting, Wrapping,
And Laminating, 2000 will teach you
everything you need to know
about getting the most from your dry mount
equipment and materials as an innovative frame designer.
All books are available from Designs Ink
Publishing through this website.
Chris A Paschke, CPF GCF
Designs Ink
Designs Ink Publishing
785 Tucker Road, Suite G-183
Tehachapi, CA 93561
661.821.2188
info@designsinkart.com