/*
#include <boost/multiprecision/cpp_dec_float.hpp>
#include <boost/multiprecision/cpp_int.hpp>
 
#include <boost/rational.hpp>
*/
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
#define _GLIBCXX_DEBUG
#define rep(i,t) for (ll i = (ll)(0); i < (ll)(t); i++)
#define rep2(i,s,t) for (ll i = (ll)(s); i < (ll)(t); i++)
#define rep3(i,t) for (ll i = (ll)(1); i <= (ll)(t); i++)
#define rep4(i,s,t) for (ll i = (ll)(s); i <= (ll)(t); i++)
#define repr(i,t) for (ll i = (t-1); i>=(0);i--)
#define repr2(i,s,t) for (ll i = (t-1); i>=(s);i--)
#define repr3(i,t) for (ll i = (t); i>=(1);i--)
#define repr4(i,s,t) for (ll i = (t); i>=(s);i--)
using ll = long long;
using ld = long double;
using ull = unsigned long long;
using uint = unsigned;
using pcc =pair<char,char>;
using pll = pair<ll,ll>;
using pii = pair<int,int>;
using pdd = pair<double,double>;
using tuplis = array<ll,3>;
template<class T> using pq = priority_queue<T,vector<T>,greater<T>>;
inline const ll LINF = 0x1fffffffffffffff;
inline const ll MINF = 0x7fffffffffff;
inline const int INF = 0x3fffffff;
inline const int mod=1000000007;
//inline const int mod=998244353;
 
 
 
inline const ld DINF = numeric_limits<ld>::infinity();
inline const ld EPS=1e-9;
inline const ld PI=acos(-1);
//const ll dx[] ={0,1,0,-1,1,-1,1,-1};
//const ll dy[] ={1,0,-1,0,1,1,-1,-1};
inline const bool gridin(const int i,const int j,const int H,const int W){return i>=0&&i<H&&j>=0&&j<W;}
inline const ll dx[] ={0,1,0,-1};
inline const ll dy[] ={1,0,-1,0};
#define is_low(c) ('a'<=c)&&(c<='z')
#define is_upp(c) ('A'<=c)&&(c<='Z')
#define each1(i,a) for(auto&& i:a)
#define each2(x,y,a) for(auto&& [x,y]:a)
#define each3(x,y,z,a) for(auto&& [x,y,z]:a)
#define rrep(n) for(ll i=(n);i--;)
#define stlen(s) ll s.size()-1
#define all(v) begin(v), end(v)
#define range(v,a) begin(v),begin(v)+a
#define range2(v,a,b) begin(v)+a,begin(v)+b
#define range3(v,a) begin(v)+1,begin(v)+a+1
#define range4(v,a,b) begin(v)+a+1,begin(v)+b+1
#define allr(v) rbegin(v), v.rend(v)
#define ranger(v,a) rbegin(v),rbegin(v)+a
#define ranger2(v,a,b) rbegin(v)+a,rbegin(v)+b
#define ranger3(v,a) rbegin(v)+1,rbegin(v)+a+1
#define ranger4(v,a,b) rbegin(v)+a+1,rbegin(v)+b+1
#define cout(n) cout<<std::fixed<<std::setprecision(n)
//#define sum(...) accumulate(all(__VA_ARGS__),0LL)
#define dsum(...) accumulate(all(__VA_ARGS__),0.0L)
#define elif else if
#define unless(a) if(!(a))
#define mp make_pair
#define mt make_tuple
#define INT(...) int __VA_ARGS__; in(__VA_ARGS__)
#define LL(...) ll __VA_ARGS__; in(__VA_ARGS__)
#define ULL(...) ull __VA_ARGS__; in(__VA_ARGS__)
#define STR(...) string __VA_ARGS__; in(__VA_ARGS__)
#define CHR(...) char __VA_ARGS__; in(__VA_ARGS__)
#define DBL(...) double __VA_ARGS__; in(__VA_ARGS__)
#define LD(...) ld __VA_ARGS__; in(__VA_ARGS__)
#define Sort(a) sort(all(a))
#define Rev(a) reverse(all(a))
#define Uniq(a) sort(all(a)); a.erase(unique(all(a))),end(a))
#define vec(type,name,...) vector<type> name(__VA_ARGS__)
#define VEC(type,name,size) vector<type> name(size); in(name)
#define vv(type,name,h,...) vector<vector<type>> name(h,vector<type>(__VA_ARGS__))
#define VV(type,name,h,w) vector<vector<type>> name(h,vector<type>(w)); in(name)
template<class T> inline const auto min(const T& a){ return *min_element(all(a));}
template<class T> inline const auto max(const T& a){ return *max_element(all(a));}
inline const ll popcnt(const ull a){return __builtin_popcountll(a);}
inline const ll gcd(ll a,ll b){while(b){ll c=b; b=a%b;a=c;}return a;}
inline const ll lcm(ll a,ll b){unless(a&&b) return 0;return a*b/gcd(a,b);}
inline const ll intpow(ll a,ll b){ll ans=1; while(b){if(b&1)ans*=a;a *=a; b/=2;}return ans;}
inline const ll modpow(ll a,ll b, ll p=mod){ll ans=1; while(b){if(b&1)(ans*=a)%=p;(a*=a)%=p;b/=2;}return ans;}
template<class T,class U>inline const bool chmin(T& a,const U& b){if(a>b){a=b;return 1;}return 0;}
template<class T,class U>inline const bool chmax( T& a,const U& b){if(a<b){a=b;return 1;}return 0;}
inline const vector<ll> iota(const ll n){vector<ll> a(n); iota(all(a),0);return a;}
inline const vector<pll> factor(ull x){vector<pll> ans; for(ull i=2;i*i<=x;i++)if(x%i==0){ans.push_back({i,1});while((x/=i)%i==0)ans.back().second++;}if(x!=1)ans.push_back({x,1});return ans;}
inline const map<ll,ll> factor_map(ull x){map<ll,ll> ans; for(ull i=2; i*i<=x;i++)if(x%i==0){ans[i]=1;while((x/=i)%i==0)ans[i]++;}if(x!=1)ans[x]=1;return ans;}
inline const vector<ll> divisor(ull x){vector<ll> ans; for(ull i=2;i*i<=x;i++)if(x%i==0)ans.push_back(i);rrep(ans.size()-(ans.back()*ans.back()==x))ans.push_back(x/ans[i]);return ans;}
inline const int scan() {return getchar();}
inline const void scan(int &a){scanf("%d", &a);}
inline const void scan(unsigned& a){scanf("%u",&a);}
inline const void scan(long& a){scanf("%ld",&a);}
inline const void scan(long long& a){scanf("%lld", &a);}
inline const void scan(char& a){ do{a=getchar();}while(a==' '||a=='\n');}
inline const void scan(float& a){ scanf("%f",&a);}
inline const void scan(double& a){ scanf("%lf",&a);}
inline const void scan(long double& a){ scanf("%Lf",&a);}
inline const void scan( string& a){cin>> a;}
template<class T>inline const void scan( vector<T>& a){for(auto&& i:a)scan(i);}
template<class T,size_t size>inline const void scan(array<T, size>& a){for(auto&& i:a)scan(i);}
template<class T,class L>inline const void scan( pair<T,L>&p){scan(p.first);scan(p.second);}
template<class T,size_t size>inline const void scan( T (&a)[size]){ for(auto&& i:a)scan(i);}
inline const void in(){}
template <class Head,class... Tail>inline const void in( Head& head, Tail&... tail){scan(head);in(tail...);}
inline const int ctoi(const char c){if(c>='a'&&c<='z'){return c-'a';} if(c>='A'&&c<='Z'){return c-'A';}return -1;}
inline const void print(){putchar(' ');}
inline const void print(const bool a){printf("%d", a);}
inline const void print(const int a){printf("%d",a);}
inline const void print(const unsigned a){ printf("%u",a);}
inline const void print(const long a){printf("%ld",a);}
inline const void print(const unsigned long long a){printf("%llu",a);}
inline const void print(const char a){ printf("%c",a);}
inline const void print(const double a){printf("%.15f",a);}
inline const void print(const long double a){printf("%.15Lf",a);}
inline const void print(const string&a){for(auto&&i :a)print(i);}
template<class T> inline const void print(const vector<T> &a){if(a.empty())return ;print(a[0]);for(auto i=a.begin();++i!=a.end();){putchar(' ');print(*i);}}
template<class T> inline const void print(const deque<T>&a ){if(a.empty())return;print(a[0]);for(auto i=a.begin(); ++i!=a.end();){putchar(' ');print(*i);}}
template<class T, size_t size>inline const void print(const T (&a)[size]){print(a[0]);for(auto i=a;++i!=end(a);){putchar(' ');print(*i);}}
template<class T>inline const void print(const T& a){cout<<a;}
inline const int out(){putchar('\n');return 0;}
template<class T> inline const int out(const T& t){print(t);putchar('\n');return 0;}
template<class Head,class... Tail>inline const int out(const Head& head,const Tail&... tail){print(head);putchar(' ');out(tail...);return 0;}
inline const int first(const bool i){return out(i?"first":"second");}
inline const int yes(const bool i){return out(i?"yes":"no");}
inline const int Yes(const bool i){return out(i?"Yes":"No");}
inline const int YES(const bool i){return out(i?"YES":"NO");}
inline const int possible(const bool i){return out(i?"possible":"impossible");}
inline const int Possible(const bool i){return out(i?"Possible":"Impossible");}
inline const int POSSIBLE(const bool i){return out(i?"POSSIBLE":"IMPOSSIBLE");}
 
 
using Graph = vector<vector<int>>;
using Graphw = vector<vector<pair<ll,ll>>>;
using mat = vector<vector<ll>>;
using vec = vector<ll>;
 
/*
namespace mp = boost::multiprecision;
// 任意長整数型
using Bint = mp::cpp_int;
// 仮数部長が32の浮動小数点数型
using Real32 = mp::number<mp::cpp_dec_float<32>>;
// 仮数部長が1024の浮動小数点数型
using Real1024 = mp::number<mp::cpp_dec_float<1024>>;
// 有理数型
using Rat = boost::rational<Bint>;
*/

using namespace std;


namespace internal {

template <class T> struct simple_queue {
    std::vector<T> payload;
    int pos = 0;
    void reserve(int n) { payload.reserve(n); }
    int size() const { return int(payload.size()) - pos; }
    bool empty() const { return pos == int(payload.size()); }
    void push(const T& t) { payload.push_back(t); }
    T& front() { return payload[pos]; }
    void clear() {
        payload.clear();
        pos = 0;
    }
    void pop() { pos++; }
};

}  // namespace internal

template <class Cap> struct mf_graph {
  public:
    mf_graph() : _n(0) {}
    mf_graph(int n) : _n(n), g(n) {}

    int add_edge(int from, int to, Cap cap) {
        assert(0 <= from && from < _n);
        assert(0 <= to && to < _n);
        assert(0 <= cap);
        int m = int(pos.size());
        pos.push_back({from, int(g[from].size())});
        g[from].push_back(_edge{to, int(g[to].size()), cap});
        g[to].push_back(_edge{from, int(g[from].size()) - 1, 0});
        return m;
    }

    struct edge {
        int from, to;
        Cap cap, flow;
    };

    edge get_edge(int i) {
        int m = int(pos.size());
        assert(0 <= i && i < m);
        auto _e = g[pos[i].first][pos[i].second];
        auto _re = g[_e.to][_e.rev];
        return edge{pos[i].first, _e.to, _e.cap + _re.cap, _re.cap};
    }
    std::vector<edge> edges() {
        int m = int(pos.size());
        std::vector<edge> result;
        for (int i = 0; i < m; i++) {
            result.push_back(get_edge(i));
        }
        return result;
    }
    void change_edge(int i, Cap new_cap, Cap new_flow) {
        int m = int(pos.size());
        assert(0 <= i && i < m);
        assert(0 <= new_flow && new_flow <= new_cap);
        auto& _e = g[pos[i].first][pos[i].second];
        auto& _re = g[_e.to][_e.rev];
        _e.cap = new_cap - new_flow;
        _re.cap = new_flow;
    }

    Cap flow(int s, int t) {
        return flow(s, t, std::numeric_limits<Cap>::max());
    }
    Cap flow(int s, int t, Cap flow_limit) {
        assert(0 <= s && s < _n);
        assert(0 <= t && t < _n);

        std::vector<int> level(_n), iter(_n);
        internal::simple_queue<int> que;

        auto bfs = [&]() {
            std::fill(level.begin(), level.end(), -1);
            level[s] = 0;
            que.clear();
            que.push(s);
            while (!que.empty()) {
                int v = que.front();
                que.pop();
                for (auto e : g[v]) {
                    if (e.cap == 0 || level[e.to] >= 0) continue;
                    level[e.to] = level[v] + 1;
                    if (e.to == t) return;
                    que.push(e.to);
                }
            }
        };
        auto dfs = [&](auto self, int v, Cap up) {
            if (v == s) return up;
            Cap res = 0;
            int level_v = level[v];
            for (int& i = iter[v]; i < int(g[v].size()); i++) {
                _edge& e = g[v][i];
                if (level_v <= level[e.to] || g[e.to][e.rev].cap == 0) continue;
                Cap d =
                    self(self, e.to, std::min(up - res, g[e.to][e.rev].cap));
                if (d <= 0) continue;
                g[v][i].cap += d;
                g[e.to][e.rev].cap -= d;
                res += d;
                if (res == up) break;
            }
            return res;
        };

        Cap flow = 0;
        while (flow < flow_limit) {
            bfs();
            if (level[t] == -1) break;
            std::fill(iter.begin(), iter.end(), 0);
            while (flow < flow_limit) {
                Cap f = dfs(dfs, t, flow_limit - flow);
                if (!f) break;
                flow += f;
            }
        }
        return flow;
    }

    std::vector<bool> min_cut(int s) {
        std::vector<bool> visited(_n);
        internal::simple_queue<int> que;
        que.push(s);
        while (!que.empty()) {
            int p = que.front();
            que.pop();
            visited[p] = true;
            for (auto e : g[p]) {
                if (e.cap && !visited[e.to]) {
                    visited[e.to] = true;
                    que.push(e.to);
                }
            }
        }
        return visited;
    }

  private:
    int _n;
    struct _edge {
        int to, rev;
        Cap cap;
    };
    std::vector<std::pair<int, int>> pos;
    std::vector<std::vector<_edge>> g;
};

int main() {
    int n, m;
    cin >> n >> m;

    vector<string> grid(n);
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        cin >> grid[i];
    }

    /**
     * generate (s -> even grid -> odd grid -> t) graph
     * grid(i, j) correspond to vertex (i * m + j)
     **/
    mf_graph<int> g(n * m + 2);
    int s = n * m, t = n * m + 1;

    // s -> even / odd -> t
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        for (int j = 0; j < m; j++) {
            if (grid[i][j] == '#') continue;
            int v = i * m + j;
            if ((i + j) % 2 == 0) {
                g.add_edge(s, v, 1);
            } else {
                g.add_edge(v, t, 1);
            }
        }
    }

    // even -> odd
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        for (int j = 0; j < m; j++) {
            if ((i + j) % 2 || grid[i][j] == '#') continue;
            int v0 = i * m + j;
            if (i && grid[i - 1][j] == '.') {
                int v1 = (i - 1) * m + j;
                g.add_edge(v0, v1, 1);
            }
            if (j && grid[i][j - 1] == '.') {
                int v1 = i * m + (j - 1);
                g.add_edge(v0, v1, 1);
            }
            if (i + 1 < n && grid[i + 1][j] == '.') {
                int v1 = (i + 1) * m + j;
                g.add_edge(v0, v1, 1);
            }
            if (j + 1 < m && grid[i][j + 1] == '.') {
                int v1 = i * m + (j + 1);
                g.add_edge(v0, v1, 1);
            }
        }
    }

    cout << g.flow(s, t) << endl;

    auto edges = g.edges();
    for (auto e : edges) {
        if (e.from == s || e.to == t || e.flow == 0) continue;
        int i0 = e.from / m, j0 = e.from % m;
        int i1 = e.to / m, j1 = e.to % m;

        if (i0 == i1 + 1) {
            grid[i1][j1] = 'v';
            grid[i0][j0] = '^';
        } else if (j0 == j1 + 1) {
            grid[i1][j1] = '>'; grid[i0][j0] = '<';
        } else if (i0 == i1 - 1) {
            grid[i0][j0] = 'v';
            grid[i1][j1] = '^';
        } else {
            grid[i0][j0] = '>'; grid[i1][j1] = '<';
        }
    }

    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        cout << grid[i] << endl;
    }

    return 0;
}

Measured memory_bytes: 5572