Because sandroing emerged from the extensive network of exchange that linked the central and northern islands of Vanuatu, the designs and stories have gone through a long historical process of modification and adaptation. This has resulted in a very rich and dynamic graphic tradition, which has a wide range of subtle regional inflections and incremental variations.
On the island of Malakula, high priority is given to keeping the finger on the ground in the process of executing a sand drawing. It is often said that an unbroken line prevents evil spirits from entering the design. On the island of Ambrym, however, where sorcery is more prevalent, sand drawings are frequently composed in several parts, with a series of interlocked lines built up on top of each other. One also finds that some graphic traits are more common in one area than another. Many sand drawings from Ambrym and Paama, for instance, are fringed by small pie-shaped details, whereas Maewo and Pentecost designs often have large crescent forms around the circumference.
Generally speaking, the complexity of sand drawing increases toward the southern end of their distribution. Ambrym has particularly elaborate designs, which end up looking more like embellished surfaces. In contrast, many sand drawings from the islands of the Penama province (Ambae, Maewo, and Pentecost) have are quite minimalist. Given that material culture in Vanuatu becomes more decorative in the process of being exchanged and elaborated upon, this might be taken as an indication that sand drawings originated in the north of the archipelago.
Some designs are shared by neighbouring islands and a few patterns are executed by different communities throughout the region. In this respect, it should be emphasised that the oral information that accompanies sand drawing is absolutely fundamental to its function and significance. Even though the islands of the Penama province (Pentecost, Ambae and Maewo) share a wide range of designs, the stories attached to the drawings differ from place to place. This phenomena of diverging meanings being attached to the one design is also true of different regions within Malakula, and of sand drawings shared between Paama and Ambym.