The art of pasting papers to a support was called papier colle, the French term for pasted paper. Collage holds a permanent place in the lists of major media, along with drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Collage is used to explore ideas, advocate concepts, and develop possible directions in which to work with. It is comprises abstract shapes or recognizable images. Working with collage can often be "fun and games", but it is also a respected and dynamic fine art form.

There are six main areas to consider when investigating the basic materials and techniques:

Supports - The surfaces on which the collages are built are:

- Watercolor board, poster boards, and heavy mat boards.
- Cardboards.
- Stretched canvas, Canvas board.
- Illustration boards, heavy Bristol boards, and 300-lb. watercolor papers.
- Foam-Core boards.
- Lighter-weight papers that can be dry mounted or glued to heavy backings