The cutting mat is stable, not as hard as that a Cutter / scalpel would slip away and not too soft. Of course you can see slight cut marks to use, but I also know from my previous cutting mat and consider it normal. However, I would recommend an A3 mat to buy, because the pruning of A4 is on this mat while doable, but on a bigger mat it is more comfortable. That is, of course, but no point deduction, because the product is solid and high quality.