Specifying tile and grout color
When creating a mosaic from scratch, you can adjust the tile color by adjusting the value, hue, or randomize color variability to build visual interest. You can adjust the color for individual tiles or for larger areas across the mosaic. The tile color is determined by the main color selected in the Colors panel.
If you’re creating a mosaic from a clone source, the tiles are based on the clone source colors. For more information, see To create a mosaic from a clone source.
Normally, each tile is given a single color. If you want more options for coloring tiles, render the tiles to a channel. You can then convert the channel to a selection to paint directly on the tiles, apply effects, or fill them with a pattern, weave, gradient, or image. For more information, see Creating 3D tiles.
In a mosaic, any area that is not covered by tiles is considered grout. A default grout color is assigned to the mosaic background when you begin working, but you can change the color.
To change the color of selected tiles
1
Choose
Effects 
Esoterica Make Mosaic and Tessellation.
2
In the
Mosaic and Tessellation dialog box, choose
Select Tiles from the
Action list box.
3
Click or drag across the tiles you want to select.
4
Red borders appear on selected tiles.
5
Choose a color from the
Color panel.
6
Press one of the following keys to apply the described color change to the selected tiles:
•
C (Color) — changes the tiles to the current main color
•
T (Tint) — applies a small amount (10%) of the current main color. Repeat to accentuate.
•
V (Vary) — adds color variability, based the settings in
Brush Controls Panels Color VariabilityTo change tile color individually
1
In the
Mosaic and Tessellation dialog box, choose
Change Tile Color from the
Action list box.
2
Enable one of the following color adjustment options:
•
Color — changes the tiles to the current main color. You can click the Color chip and choose another color.
•
Darken — applies a small amount of black
•
Lighten — applies a small amount of white
•
Tint — applies a small amount (10%) of the current main color
•
Vary — adds color variability based on the settings in
Brush Controls Panels Color Variability.
3
Click individual tiles that you want to change or drag across a group of tiles.
To apply color variability to tiles
1
In the
Mosaic and Tessellation dialog box, choose
Change Tile Color from the
Action list box.
2
In the
Color Adjustments area, enable the
V (Vary) option.
3
Click
Color Variability to display the
Color Variability panel.
4
In the
Color Variability panel, move the sliders or type values in the boxes to adjust the color variability settings.
To change the grout color
1
In the
Mosaic and Tessellation dialog box, choose
Apply Tiles from the
Action list box.
2
Click the
Grout Color chip.
3
Choose a color on the
Color panel or the
Painter Colors panel that appear.
Changing the grout color automatically re-renders the mosaic, which erases any part of the image that is not a tile or grout.