Updated: 31 October 2026

Japanese woodblock print

This prompt creates a ukiyo-e print of a scene such as a great wave beside a small fishing boat, using flat colour areas in indigo and cream with bold outlines.

image-ukiyoe-woodblock — midjourney — 46 words

A Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print of [SCENE, e.g. a great wave beside a small fishing boat], flat colour areas in indigo and cream, bold outlines, fine wood-grain texture, washi paper effect, a red seal stamp in the corner, traditional composition with a stylised sun. --ar 3:2

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Swap in a local scene, like a temple or river boat, for a fresh take.

Get a better result

What you will get

A Japanese woodblock-style print of your scene with flat indigo and cream colour areas, bold outlines, wood grain and washi paper texture, a red seal in the corner and a stylised sun.

Why it works

Ukiyo-e is recognisable from a few features: flat colour, bold outlines, limited palette, paper texture and a seal. The prompt names each so the style comes through. Indigo and cream are classic colours of these prints, and the 3:2 ratio gives a wide scene for landscape compositions.

Common mistake

It looks like a copy of one famous print.

Fix: Swap in your own scene, as the tip says, such as a temple, a river boat or your own city.

Also watch for

The colours have gradients like a painting. Ask for flat colour areas with only slight texture, which is how woodblocks print.
The seal has fake characters. Ask for a plain red square seal with no readable text.

Try a variation: your city

Ask for a busy street in your city in the same style, with people in modern clothes drawn as woodblock figures.

Still not right? Add this and run it again

flat colour areas only, a plain red square seal with no characters, visible wood grain in the sky