Mod Podge, PVA, or Matte Medium? Here’s How to Choose

Mod Podge, PVA, and matte medium all get used interchangeably in craft tutorials — but they’re not the same, and the price differences aren’t random. In this post, I’m breaking down what actually separates these three adhesives, and when to reach for each one. We will cover the pros and cons of each adhesive based on how I use them, on canvas, in my art journal, and on paper.

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White Glue and PVA Glue

White glue, or PVA glue, is a well-known glue that can be used in projects for gluing paper, wood, fabrics and other materials to a surface. Most of us have probably used this glue in school at some point.

PVA glue’s main ingredient is Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) that is suspended in water with other ingredients to make it a strong adhesive. As the water evaporates out of the glue, this is what gives PVA glue its strength.

What’s the Difference Between PVA and White Glue?

The difference between PVA and white glue is that white glue is a less aggressive form of PVA glue, making it perfect for art and hobby use. White glue is a great choice because it is non-toxic, making it safe to use, and washes off surfaces with water.

Pros and Cons of White PVA Glue

I don’t believe that there is a perfect adhesive, but let’s talk about what makes White PVA glue one of my favorite products in my art room.

4 Reasons I like PVA Glue

1. Versatility

PVA glue is great because it is an easily available and versatile medium. You can use this glue for sealing a surface, for collaging on paper, and for adding in heavier items. If you give it enough drying time, this is a great choice for an adhesive and it dries clear.

2. The Price

One of the best things about PVA glue is that it is inexpensive compared of Mod Podge or Matte Medium, making it a great choice if you’re on a budget (or use liters of it like I do).

3. Acid Free and Archival

PVA glue is archival and acid-free, this means that you can use it on photos, papers and other materials without worrying about it yellowing over time. Many conservators use PVA glue over other glues for restoring documents.

4. Very Little Smell

I find that I don’t notice the smell of the white glue, even after it is applied. This is a great product to use if you’re scent sensitive.

The Negatives of White PVA Glue

1. The Thickness

Often the thickness of this glue can make it hard to manage, especially if you’re using it as a sealant for paper. When using the PVA glue for focal images, flowers and heavier items, I use the glue full strength.

If you’re trying to apply PVA with a brush, you will find it’s too thick to easily spread. All you need to do is mix it with a bit of water. I like to use an old applesauce cup, add in my white glue, then add water to it until it is at a consistency that I can spread with my brush.

GLUE HACK: If your white glue is too thick, mix it with water until you can spread it with a brush.

2. Controlling the Glue in the Bottle

If you’ve ever used white glue from a bottle, you’ll know it can be hard to control. The bottle can be big, hard to squeeze, and you often get more glue than you planned on.

This doesn’t have to be a problem. Get yourself a needle nosed or small nosed bottle and decant the white glue into the bottle, this makes it super easy to use!

My Favorite PVA Glues

I have 2 PVA glues that I use regularly in my art journal practice: Art Glitter Glue and Elmer’s Glue All.

Art Glitter Glue

I love the bottles that the Art Glitter Glue come in, they make the glue easy to control, you don’t have to press hard, and it comes with a nice sized tip. If you want a finer glue application, you can purchase a needle nose tip that works well.  

What makes this glue one of my favorites is the flow of the glue. It’s thinner than the Elmer’s glue by just a bit, making it easier to use and this glue gives me a bit of working time, but sets up quickly. You can also get refills for your glue bottles, which saves money and prevents waste.

Elmer’s Glue All

Elmer’s Glue All is an extra strong formula making it my go to for collage projects. It’s quite thick, so I tend to water it down when I’m using it in projects. When I’m creating a lot and don’t want to use all my expensive mediums, this is my go-to glue.

Mod Podge

Mod Podge is a well know collage glue and you can find it in most craft stores. My students love this glue, but it isn’t one that I tend to use in my creative practice. Here’s why:

1. Mod Podge has a Strong Smell

Mod Podge is a combination of PVA, water based polymers and other ingredients to make this glue flow. Because of the nature of this glue, it has a strong chemical smell. The smell bothers me so I prefer to use either matte medium or PVA glue over Mod Podge.

But if you’re planning on using Mod Podge outside of a book or canvas (for example, on furniture) the additional additives in this glue will make the sealant more durable. But working on an art journal and on canvases, I don’t find this sealant necessary.

2. Mod Podge is not Archival

Mod Podge is not an archival product. This means that your project may degrade or deteriorate over time.

3. Not all Mod Podge is Acid Free

Not all Mod Podge is acid free, and every type of Mod Podge has a different use. Read the labels carefully to ensure that you’re using the right one. If it’s not acid free, this will create yellowing on your project over time, especially on photos or papers.

4. There’s Less Expensive Products

Elmer’s glue is less expensive than Mod Podge and works just as well as Mod Podge on most projects. I tend to stick with PVA or artist mediums like matte medium as I know that they will not yellow or degrade my projects over time.

I know that my opinion of Mod Podge is not a popular one. A lot of my students love this medium and if you love it, keep using it! It isn’t the right glue for me and using an archival product is very important to me.

Matte Medium

You may not have heard of Matte Medium before, as this is a professional art medium. This is by far my favorite glue to use in my collage projects. Here’s why I love this medium:

1. Archival, Acid-Free and Stable

Matte medium is a professional artist product made from 100% acrylic polymer that is meant to mix well with paints as well as used as a glue. It provides durability, flexibility and long-term stability making this the perfect medium for any project. As with the other glues, it has mattifying agents and additives to help create the fluidity that makes matte medium so easy to use. It is also non-toxic and dries clear.

Most of the art mediums are tested for 75-to-100-year life, so when I say that it’s stable, it’s tested to maintain its appearance for a lifetime.

Whether or not you are planning on displaying a piece around your home or you plan to sell your work, the professional matte medium makes sure that your piece won’t yellow over time, fade or color shift. This is the main reason I use matte medium. If I share my work, it’s going to continue to look beautiful.

2. Virtually no smell

Matte medium has virtually no smell when applying it and I find that even as it dries, the smell is minimal.

3. Best for Thin Materials

I love matte medium because not only is it great for adding collage papers, netting, cheesecloth, wrapping paper and other materials to the surface, it’s also gentle enough to add napkins and tissue paper without tearing the images.

The consistency is that of a light syrup and this fluid medium has a lot of hold, but with a very smooth application.

The Downside

There is only one downside to matte medium, that is the price. As it is pure polymer without a lot of fillers and is very stable, there is a price tag that comes with it. It is a more expensive medium, which is why I tend to purchase it in liter containers to keep the cost down (the more your purchase, the cheaper it is by the milliliter).

Comparing these 3 Glues

When doing a head to head comparison of these 3 glues, they all give a similar finish. The matte medium and PVA are both very matte. While the Mod Podge Matte is more of a semi-gloss finish that adds a little bit of stickiness to the surface.

What is my Favorite Glue?

I’ve provided a lot of information, but what if you’re looking for a recommendation for one glue to use on all your projects?

For me, I’d go with the Golden or Liquitex matte medium. It’s going to give you the best results and you’ll be happy with how easily it spreads on your projects.

But if you’re on a budget, get a good PVA glue, like Elmer’s Glue All and water it down or decant it in a bottle. When I’m making a lot of collage pages that I’ll be cutting up, I’ll use Elmer’s glue. Then I use the professional matte medium in the final project.

What about Gloss Products?

You may notice that Mod Podge or Matte Medium come in a variety of finishes including gloss and semi-gloss.

When working in an art journal, gloss medium will make your pages stick together, which is why I prefer the matte medium. If you are working on a canvas, you can choose a shiner medium is that’s your preference.

Any Questions?

I hope that you’ve found this article helpful comparing these products head-to-head. If you have any questions about what I’ve shared today, leave a comment below or fill out the contact form. I’m more than happy to help you find the right glue for your art practice!

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