Nami: the flowing wave line pattern
Make a Nami wallpaper in your colors
At a glance
| Japanese name | 波 (なみ, Nami) |
|---|---|
| Motif | Flowing water |
| Wish it carries | Strength and the energy of life |
| Season | Summer |
| Where you see it | Summer yukata, fans, tableware |
What it looks like
Nami is a set of wavy horizontal lines, each one slightly shifted from the line above. The result is a surface of moving water. It is simpler and more open than seigaiha.
History
Water and waves are among the most common subjects in Japanese art. Wave lines appear on textiles, ceramics and lacquerware, and waves are a famous subject in ukiyo-e prints, such as Katsushika Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Many named wave patterns exist, from gentle ripples to crashing breakers.
What it means
Waves never stop moving. The pattern stands for strength, endless energy and the flow of life. It also suggests coolness, so wave designs are popular for summer.
How it is drawn
Each line is a sine wave. The lines are evenly spaced, and each one is shifted along the wave so that the pattern drifts diagonally. Increasing the line weight makes the water look bolder.
Ways to use it
Indigo and cream is the most natural choice. Teal and cream looks like shallow water. Try a large size with a thick line for a bold, graphic desktop background.
- Open the maker with Nami already selected.
- Pick one of the color sets, or choose your own ground and line colors.
- Choose a size: phone, desktop, video call, square or A4 print.
- Download it as a PNG, or as an SVG if you want to edit or print it at any size.