How to set a Japanese wallpaper
obolo turns a traditional Japanese pattern (wagara) into a phone wallpaper with a tasteful band behind your status bar. Here’s how to make one and set it on iPhone or Android — it only takes a minute, and previewing is free.
Make your wallpaper first
- Open the editor and tap a pattern to preview it on a phone.
- Recolor the ground and the motif with the color swatches — the preview updates live.
- Choose “Your photo” and pick the picture you want behind the pattern (or keep a single color).
- Tap “Download wallpaper” to save the PNG to your phone (unlocked with a one-time purchase or subscription).
On iPhone (iOS)
- Open the obolo editor, choose your design, recolor it, and add the photo you want behind the pattern.
- Tap “Download wallpaper”. The image is saved to your Photos (or Downloads) — it is created right in your browser, so your photo never leaves your device.
- Open the Settings app → Wallpaper → Add New Wallpaper, then choose Photos and select the image you just downloaded.
- Pinch to position it. Because iPhone applies a small zoom, obolo already extends the pattern band upward so it lands neatly behind the status bar.
- Tap Add, then choose Set as Wallpaper Pair (or set it for the Lock Screen, Home Screen, or both).
On Android
- Open the obolo editor, choose your design, recolor it, and add your own photo.
- Tap “Download wallpaper” to save the PNG to your gallery. Everything is composited in your browser.
- Open your Gallery or Photos app, open the downloaded image, tap the menu (⋮) and choose “Set as wallpaper” — or long-press the home screen → Wallpapers → My photos.
- Pick Home screen, Lock screen, or both. Avoid zooming in further: many launchers already enlarge the wallpaper a little, which is why obolo adds extra pattern at the top.
- Confirm, and your status-bar band is in place.
Frequently asked questions
Can I try it for free?
Yes — previewing and recoloring every design is free, right in your browser. Saving the finished wallpaper requires a one-time purchase ($39 for lifetime access to every design) or a subscription ($3.99/mo or $24/yr).
Will it leave my photo on a server?
No. When you add your own photo, the wallpaper is composited entirely in your browser using the HTML canvas. Your image is never uploaded to or stored on our servers.
Why does the pattern band look a little thicker in the downloaded file?
Phones enlarge and center-crop a wallpaper when you set it, which would otherwise eat into the thin status-bar band. obolo deliberately extends the pattern upward so that after your phone’s crop it lands right behind the status bar on both iPhone and Android. Avoid zooming in further when you set the wallpaper.
It doesn’t line up perfectly on my phone — what can I do?
Wallpaper zoom varies by phone and launcher. Set the wallpaper without extra pinch-zoom, and choose “whole image / fit” if your launcher offers it.
Can I use the wallpapers however I like?
Yes, for personal use on your own devices. Please don’t resell or repackage the downloads. The traditional motifs are public domain; the artwork is our own original rendering.