diff --git a/python/damask/_grid.py b/python/damask/_grid.py
index 0fd14dbf5..0077a0309 100644
--- a/python/damask/_grid.py
+++ b/python/damask/_grid.py
@@ -688,14 +688,14 @@ class Grid:
 
 
     def show(self,
-             colormap: Colormap = None) -> None:
+             colormap: Union[Colormap, str] = None) -> None:
         """
         Show on screen.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
-        colormap : damask.Colormap, optional
-            Colors used to map material IDs. Defaults to 'cividis'.
+        colormap : damask.Colormap or str, optional
+            Colormap for visualization of material IDs. Defaults to 'cividis'.
 
         """
         VTK.from_image_data(self.cells,self.size,self.origin) \
diff --git a/python/damask/_vtk.py b/python/damask/_vtk.py
index 90f5e2a1c..13b345091 100644
--- a/python/damask/_vtk.py
+++ b/python/damask/_vtk.py
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ class VTK:
 
     def show(self,
              label: str = None,
-             colormap: Colormap = None):
+             colormap: Union[Colormap, str] = None):
         """
         Render.
 
@@ -511,8 +511,8 @@ class VTK:
         ----------
         label : str, optional
             Label of the dataset to show.
-        colormap : damask.Colormap, optional
-            Colormap for visualization of dataset.
+        colormap : damask.Colormap or str, optional
+            Colormap for visualization of dataset. Defaults to 'cividis'.
 
         Notes
         -----
@@ -535,7 +535,9 @@ class VTK:
                 height =  768
 
         lut = vtk.vtkLookupTable()
-        colormap_ = Colormap.from_predefined('cividis') if colormap is None else colormap
+        colormap_ = Colormap.from_predefined('cividis') if colormap is None \
+               else Colormap.from_predefined(colormap) if isinstance(colormap,str) \
+               else colormap
         lut.SetNumberOfTableValues(len(colormap_.colors))
         for i,c in enumerate(colormap_.colors):
             lut.SetTableValue(i,c if len(c)==4 else np.append(c,1.0))
diff --git a/python/tests/test_Grid.py b/python/tests/test_Grid.py
index 4ef62ff93..417d92507 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_Grid.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_Grid.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from damask import VTK
 from damask import Grid
 from damask import Table
 from damask import Rotation
+from damask import Colormap
 from damask import util
 from damask import seeds
 from damask import grid_filters
@@ -42,9 +43,10 @@ class TestGrid:
         print('patched datetime.datetime.now')
 
 
-    def test_show(sef,default,monkeypatch):
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize('cmap',[Colormap.from_predefined('cividis'),'cividis',None])
+    def test_show(sef,default,cmap,monkeypatch):
         monkeypatch.delenv('DISPLAY',raising=False)
-        default.show()
+        default.show(cmap)
 
     def test_equal(self,default):
         assert default == default
diff --git a/python/tests/test_VTK.py b/python/tests/test_VTK.py
index 684a05678..2cf7e411f 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_VTK.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_VTK.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import vtk
 
 from damask import VTK
 from damask import Table
+from damask import Colormap
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def ref_path(ref_path_base):
@@ -29,10 +30,10 @@ class TestVTK:
     def _patch_execution_stamp(self, patch_execution_stamp):
         print('patched damask.util.execution_stamp')
 
-    def test_show(sef,default,monkeypatch):
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize('cmap',[Colormap.from_predefined('cividis'),'cividis',None])
+    def test_show(sef,default,cmap,monkeypatch):
         monkeypatch.delenv('DISPLAY',raising=False)
-        default.show()
-
+        default.show(colormap=cmap)
 
     def test_imageData(self,tmp_path):
         cells = np.random.randint(5,10,3)
diff --git a/src/grid/discretization_grid.f90 b/src/grid/discretization_grid.f90
index 691578fd0..399bb180a 100644
--- a/src/grid/discretization_grid.f90
+++ b/src/grid/discretization_grid.f90
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ subroutine discretization_grid_init(restart)
     if (any(materialAt_global < 1)) &
       call IO_error(180,ext_msg='material ID < 1')
     if (size(materialAt_global) /= product(cells)) &
-      call IO_error(180,ext_msg='mismatch of material IDs and # cells')
+      call IO_error(180,ext_msg='mismatch in # of material IDs and cells')
     fname = interface_geomFile
     if (scan(fname,'/') /= 0) fname = fname(scan(fname,'/',.true.)+1:)
     call results_openJobFile(parallel=.false.)