This is Sand

This is Sand is a digital sand-art toy. You pour colored grains into a container and watch them settle into layers, then carve patterns through the layers with your cursor. It is relaxing in the same way a real sand timer is, with the added pleasure of choosing your colors. There is no goal, no score and no timer: you pour, you carve, you admire. The effect is surprisingly satisfying because the grains behave like sand, spreading and piling up in believable ways. It takes about five minutes to enjoy, though it is easy to stay longer. If you like the idea of sand art in a bottle but not the mess, this is the browser version. Pick a few contrasting colors, pour them in slowly, then drag through the layers for feathery patterns. It works on both desktop and touch screens, so you can play on a phone.