Grout with confidence - try before you apply!

Ever finished a mosaic only to wonder Did I choose the right grout color? You're not alone. Grout can dramatically change the look of your work—highlighting details, unifying color schemes, or, sometimes, muting a vibrant design. But there's a simple way to preview your options before you commit: dry grout testing.

The Dry Grout Test

Once your adhesive has fully dried, you can sprinkle dry grout over a section of your piece, gently sweeping it into the gaps with a soft brush. This gives you a preview of how a particular grout color will affect your overall design—no water, no commitment. It's a low-risk, high-reward step that can save you from second-guessing later.

Take It Further: Try AI

Once you’ve done a dry grout test, snap a clear photo of your piece. Then, try asking AI to show the mosaic with different grout colors. Just upload your image and say something like, “Can you show this with charcoal grout?” While it's not perfect, it can be a helpful visual guide—especially when you're torn between options.

There's an App for That: Meet Groutr

The Groutr app (available on iOS and Android) is another handy tool. You can upload an image of your mosaic and virtually preview a variety of grout colors. It’s quick, fun to use, and gives you a rough sense of how different hues will look.

🟢 What it does well:

• Offers a wide range of color previews

• Lets you adjust grout width

• Gives fast visual comparisons

🔴 What it doesn’t do well:

• Works best with uniform backgrounds—detailed or highly textured work can look a bit off

• Doesn’t handle shadows or glass reflections accurately

• Not a perfect match to real grout appearance, especially with specialty materials Note - this is a woman owned, artist owned small business, and she has been making improvement regularly, so keep on checking back to see what's new!

Bottom Line:

Test before you grout! Whether you're using dry grout, digital tools, or both, previewing your options can save you from regret and lead to more confident creative choices. Plus, it's kind of fun.