Pre-cut mat board

[RalphLambrecht]

Thanks for all the responses. I'll check out both vendors. I hate buying full sheets of 32x40 and cutting them myself. But buying them pre-cut works for me.
Best,
Don

i always cut myself. what's rhe gig deal?

[Mainecoonmaniac]

i always cut myself. what's rhe gig deal?

Hi Ralph,
I don't have a 32" cutter so I have to use the art store's cutter. Most stores in my area don't have cutters available for customers to use for fear of being sued by clients losing fingers. Pre-cut is so easy. BTW, great to see you posting again. Missed ya when you were absent. Best wishes for your health Ralph.
Don

[BrianShaw]

i always cut myself. what's rhe gig deal?

It's a skill, maybe even an art, that some of us simply hasn't mastered yet. I rarely cut my own because it generally take too long, has to be re-done once or twice, and never looks quite as clean as professionally cut mats. Besides, I'm space-constrained and just don't have the room for cutting mat. I totally understand why some people opt for pre-cut!

[MattKing]

Late last year I bought myself a used mat cutter.

Using it reliably and relatively effortlessly is definitely a learned skill - at least I hope it will be.

I do like, however, being able to cut a mat to the size and aspect ratio that best suits the individual photograph.

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I use a Dexter mat cutter and a 16" straight edge. Simple and cheap.

[Newt_on_Swings]

Good info I will be using soon. precut mats are so expensive in stores. btw are 4ply mats a bit too thin? or ok for a temporary installation lasting 2-3 days?

[winger]

Good info I will be using soon. precut mats are so expensive in stores. btw are 4ply mats a bit too thin? or ok for a temporary installation lasting 2-3 days?

I usually use 4 ply and think they're fine. The cheap ones you get with frames or at craft stores are 2 ply or less, so the 4 ply look better than that at least. I have a hard time cutting 8 ply myself.

[tkamiya]

4 ply ones are pretty much "standard". All mine are 4 ply - some are single matted, some are double matted.

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

I highly recommend FramingSupplies.com.

I have worked with them for several years. They custom cut my matts on the board of my choice and ship them to me here in Atlanta.

(Just to be sure, I have no financial relationship with them, other than sending them about $100 a month!)

Parker

[David Brown]

... When I was first starting Frame Destination I bought pre-cut until we had the revenue to get computerized mat cutters. ...

I'll add to the endorsement of Frame Destinations. I have visited their shop and been given a tour. They are very very good and Mark is a class act. The mat cutting machines are something to see. They can do basically anything.

I have no doubt that the other vendors mentioned and endorsed by others are also good, too; in all fairness. But Frame Destinations is a sponsor of APUG, as well as a supplier.

Cheers,

And PS: Ralph, I do cut my own, but it is a learned skill and requires the proper tools.