The figures on the sheets of drawings must be numbered in Arabic numerals, consecutively, independently of the numbering of the sheets and, if possible, in the order in which they appear. The numbers of the figures should be preceded by "Fig.", irrespective of the language of the international application. Where a single figure is sufficient to illustrate the claimed invention, it should not be numbered and "Fig." should not appear. Numbers and letters identifying the figures must be simple and clear and may not be used in association with brackets, circles or inverted commas, except in the case of partial figures intended to form one complete figure, irrespective of whether they appear on one or several sheets. In this case the complete figure may be identified by the same number followed by a capital letter (for example: Fig. 7B).[R. 11.13(k); 49.5(f); ]

The figures should preferably be set out, as far as possible, on each sheet in ascending numerical order from left to right and from top to bottom. If one of two figures illustrates on a larger scale a detail from the other, each figure should be numbered separately and, if possible, consecutively.