All the sheets contained in the European patent application must be numbered in consecutive Arabic numerals. These must be centred at the top of the sheet, but not in the top margin.[Rule 49(6); ]

The sheets of drawings must be numbered within the maximum usable surface area as defined in Rule 46(1).

4.1 Usable surface area of sheets

4.2 Numbering of sheets of drawings

As regards the figure, or exceptionally figures, to accompany the abstract, where a European patent application contains drawings, reference should be made to A‑III, 10.3 and F‑II, 2.3 and F-II, 2.4. The figure(s) illustrating the abstract must be the figure(s) most representative of the invention and must be chosen from the drawings accompanying the application.

All drawings must be grouped together on the sheets specifically for drawings and may in no event be included in the description, claims or abstract, even if these finish at the top of a page or leave sufficient room, and even if there is only one figure.[Rule 49(9); ]

The EPC makes no express provision for photographs; they are nevertheless allowed where it is impossible to present in a drawing what is to be shown and provided that they are directly reproducible and fulfil the applicable requirements for drawings (e.g. paper size, margins, etc.). Colour photographs can be submitted but will be scanned, printed and made available via file inspection only in black and white.