7.1 Drawings of lines and strokes 

The decision of the President of the EPO dated 25 November 20227 July 2025 (OJ EPO 2025, A49) sets certain standards for lines and strokes in the drawing to permit satisfactory reproduction by the various means described in Art. 2 of that decision.

The drawings must be executed in black and white. As of 1 October 2025, colour and greyscale is also permitted in drawings, provided they are filed in electronic form (see A‑II, 1.1.1) (see the decision of the President dated 7 July 2025 (OJ EPO 2025, A49) and the notice from the EPO dated 5 September 2025 (OJ EPO 2025, A57)). Drawings containing colour or greyscale in applications filed before 1 October 2025 or filed on paper are can be submitted but will be scannedpublished , printed and made available via file inspection in black and white only (see also A‑IX, 1.2 in respect of colour photographs). In respect of the content of priority documents issued by the EPO in such a case, see A‑XI, 5.2.

In all cases the thickness of the lines and strokes must take into account the scale, nature, execution and perfect legibility of the drawing and of the reproductions.

All lines must be drawn with the aid of drafting instruments save those for which no instrument exists, e.g. irregular diagrams and structures.