2D Fourier basis wave explorer

Every image can be written as a sum of 2D cosine waves. Each wave is identified by a frequency vector (u, v): u counts cycles across the image width, v counts cycles down its height. Drag the sliders to see which stripe pattern a given (u, v) produces, and where that pattern sits in the frequency plane.

Interactive explorer showing how a 2D spatial frequency vector (u, v) maps to a striped cosine wave pattern, with a frequency-domain plot.

spatial pattern — cos(2π(ux + vy))

frequency plane (u, v)

u (horiz.) 3 cyc

v (vert.) 0 cyc

magnitude ρ

3.0 cyc

orientation θ

0°

stripe period

0.33 w