PatentFig AI Help Docs

PatentFig AI turns a written description, a sketch, a photo or a CAD screenshot into black-and-white patent drawings: line art with reference numerals, multi-view product sets, shaded renderings and method flowcharts. This page covers the whole product: where to click, what each option does, what it costs in credits, and what you get back. Use the table of contents to jump to a topic, or start with the quick start below — the free sign-up credits cover it.

PatentFig AI is a drawing tool, not a law firm. Review every figure before you file it, and check it against the rules of the office you file with.

Quick start

To make your first figure, open the workspace, keep the Custom mode, describe the figure in the box at the bottom of the chat panel and press Enter. The figure appears on the canvas as FIG. 1. Type a follow-up such as "make the hinge larger" to change it, then click the download icon to save it.

Sign up and get free credits

You can create an account with Google, GitHub, or an email address and password. No credit card is needed.

• Every new account gets 20 credits at sign-up. They are valid for 30 days.
• Every account, free or paid, gets 10 credits each day, added automatically. There is nothing to claim. Daily credits expire after 1 day, so unused ones don't pile up.

One figure costs 10 credits, so the daily gift covers one figure a day. The Free plan has no monthly credits; for more, subscribe to a plan or buy a credit package (see Credits and pricing).

If you open the workspace without signing in, you see a read-only demo project. Sign in and click Exit Demo Mode to start your own.

Your first figure, step by step

1. Open the workspace. Go to /generate. Each piece of work lives in a project; click New Project to start a clean one.

2. Pick a mode. The mode rail offers Custom, Product, Logic and Tools. Keep Custom for a single figure.

3. Describe the figure. Name the object, its parts, and the view you want. For example:

   Exploded perspective view of a foldable phone stand: a base plate with a
   non-slip pad, a hinged back support that adjusts the viewing angle, a front
   lip that holds the phone, and a cable slot in the base. Black-and-white
   patent line art, no shading.

4. Optional: attach a sketch. Click the image button to the left of the input and add up to 3 reference images (see Sketches and reference images).

5. Generate. The line under the input shows the cost (10 credits / image). Press Enter or click the send button. A figure can take from about 20 seconds to a few minutes; leave the tab open.

6. Refine. Type one change, such as "Add reference numerals to the base, hinge and front lip", and press Enter. The change is saved as a new version of the same figure.

7. Download. Hover the figure and click Download. Downloading a single figure is free.

If something goes wrong

Features

Everything happens in the browser; there is nothing to install. The workspace is where you draw, edit and export figures. The standalone tools — Convert, Enhance, Vectorize and Figure Checker — work on any image, including drawings made elsewhere.

Workspaces

The mode rail on the left of the workspace has four modes. Pick the one that matches the figure you need.

Figures in a project are numbered FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and so on, and grouped on the canvas into Custom, Line Art, Rendering and Flowchart sections.

Custom is the quickest way to one figure: a perspective view, a cross-section, a circuit-style block drawing, a figure redrawn from a photo. It has an Image / SVG switch:

• Image draws a raster figure. Best for photorealistic renders, complex scenes, and product photography — and for most patent line art.
• SVG draws a vector figure directly. Best for line art, diagrams, and icons. Avoid prompts heavy with text labels. It also costs 10 credits.

Custom mode has no reference-numeral switch. If you want numerals, ask for them in the prompt ("label the base 10, the hinge 12 and the lip 14"), or add them afterwards with Edit numerals (see Reference numerals).

Product builds a consistent multi-view set from one master drawing, the anchor (FIG. 0):

1. Describe the product (and optionally attach one photo or sketch) and send. PatentFig AI draws the anchor.
2. Refine the anchor by chat until its shape and parts are right. Every view is drawn from it, so fix problems here, not view by view.
3. Open Views and choose which views to generate: Front, Side, Top, Perspective, Exploded and Cross-section. Cross-section is off by default because offices require section hatching that the model often misses; turn it on if you need it.
4. Click Generate line art for black-and-white patent views, or Generate rendering for shaded versions of the same views. The button shows the total, 10 credits per selected view — 50 credits for the default five views.

Each view lands in its own slot. Use Regenerate on a slot to redraw one view (10 credits) without touching the others. Renderings are useful for checking each line drawing against its shaded counterpart, but filing sheets only take line art.

Logic draws method flowcharts, system block diagrams, data-flow and state diagrams. See Logic flowcharts.

Sketches and reference images

You can give PatentFig AI a sketch, a product photo, a CAD screenshot or an old figure to work from. Click the image button next to the input to attach it.

• Formats and size: JPEG, PNG or WebP, up to 4 MB per image.
• How many: up to 3 images in Custom; 1 image in Product and Logic.
• Image only: you can send an image without any text. PatentFig AI then creates a patent-style technical figure using the uploaded image as the primary reference.

Photograph sketches flat and evenly lit, and crop away the desk. Write the part names in your prompt even if they are on the sketch: names tell the model what each shape is.

Editing vs. referencing. When you click a figure on the canvas, a thumbnail appears above the input with a chip:

• Editing FIG. n — your next prompt will modify this figure, as a new version.
• Referencing FIG. n — your next generation will be based on this image and creates a new figure.

Remove the thumbnail (the × in its corner) to generate a new figure from scratch.

For more on turning drawings into patent figures, see Sketch to patent drawing and Photo to patent drawing.

Reference numerals

Reference numerals are the numbers with leader lines (10, 12, 14…) that tie each part in a drawing to the specification. How you turn them on depends on the mode:

• Product: before your first generation in a project, the input shows a Numbered / No numbers switch. Your choice is locked for the project, so every view uses the same numbering; to change it, create a new project. The anchor is always unlabeled.
• Logic: the same switch adds step numbers to a Flowchart, or reference numerals to the other diagram types.
• Custom: there is no switch; ask for numerals in your prompt.
• Renderings never carry numerals; numerals are available only for patent line drawings.

Edit numerals. To change numerals by hand, open a figure's More actions menu (or the large view) and choose Edit numerals. Numerals already on the drawing are turned into editable labels. Press on a part and drag to where the numeral goes to add one; drag a numeral to move it, or drag the dot at the end of its leader to change what it points at. The editor flags duplicate numerals, crossing leaders and empty labels. Click Save as new version when you're done.

Numeral editing is available on any paid plan or credit pack. It doesn't cost credits.

For numbering conventions, see Patent figure numbering.

Logic flowcharts

The Logic mode draws the diagrams that describe how an invention works rather than what it looks like. Choose the chart type at the top of the input:

Two more switches sit next to the send button: the layout direction (Vertical or Horizontal) and the line style (Right Angle or Rounded). Numbered adds step numbers or reference numerals.

Name every step or block in your prompt, in order:

Method of authenticating a user: receive login request; verify password;
if the password is wrong, increment the failure counter and return an error;
if correct, send a one-time code; verify the code; grant access.

To change a diagram, select it and describe the change ("add a step 'log the attempt' after 'verify password'"). The chart type is fixed for an existing diagram; switch type by creating a new one. Each diagram or edit costs 10 credits.

See the patent flowchart generator and the patent block diagram generator for examples.

Refining a figure by chat

After the first figure, the chat panel becomes the editor. Click a figure to select it (Editing FIG. n appears above the input), type what to change, and press Enter (Shift + Enter for a new line). Each change is saved as a new version of that figure, and earlier versions stay in its version timeline, so you can always go back.

Every edit costs 10 credits; failed edits cost nothing. Write edits so the model knows what to keep:

Make one change per message. If an instruction fails twice, rephrase it rather than repeat it. For an exact numeral position, use Edit numerals instead of a prompt.

The More actions menu on each figure also has:

• Upscale to 4K — upscale for sharper printing (20 credits), saved as a new version.
• Convert to vector line art — convert to SVG line art (20 credits), saved as a new version. On accounts with any purchase, numerals are kept as an editable layer.
• Regenerate — redraw a Product view from the anchor (10 credits).

Standalone tools

The standalone tools take one image at a time and work on drawings from any source. Open them from the Tools mode in the workspace or directly by URL. Each tool shows its cost and your balance before you run it, and charges only when the file is ready.

Convert. The 2K preset makes sure the longer side is at least 2048 px and stamps 300 DPI; the 4K preset targets 4096 px and 600 DPI. Smaller images are AI-upscaled to reach the target; larger ones are not shrunk. TIFF output is flattened with LZW compression. The PDF contains a raster image — for vector output, use Vectorize.

Enhance upscales a low-resolution drawing with AI super-resolution and saves it as PNG or TIFF at the 2K (300 DPI) or 4K (600 DPI) preset. Use it on scans, screenshots or old figures before converting or vectorizing them.

Vectorize has two conversion methods:

• Patent line-art redraw — AI redraws the figure as clean single-stroke line art, so each line becomes one path. Best for patent figures and CAD; you watch a live drawing preview.
• Faithful trace — traces the input pixels exactly, preserving fills and shading. Best when the output must match the original image. It produces filled outlines, so DXF output may contain double lines; for CAD use, choose the line-art redraw.

DXF files open in AutoCAD, LibreCAD, DesignCAD and SolidWorks; SVG opens in any browser and edits in Illustrator or Inkscape; the PDF embeds the SVG so it can be extracted later. Image Preprocessing can remove thin lines and hatching before conversion, with Noise reduction and Line threshold sliders and a Preview.

Figure Checker applies the rules for the Patent Office (USPTO or CNIPA) and Patent Type (Utility or Design) you choose. The report covers resolution (estimated printable DPI against the 300 DPI minimum), format, transparency, color mode, and text and lines (figure numbers and reference numerals found), with an AI review for photo-like content, problematic shading and missing labels. Each item is marked Pass, Warning or Fail, with recommended actions such as upscaling or converting.

Export and filing

There are three ways to get figures out of a project:

Filing sheets lay out every figure on office-compliant sheets, ready to file. Choose the Patent office and Format:

Sheet size, margins, figure labels (FIG. 1, Fig. 1, 图1 …) and sheet numbers follow the selected office, at 300 DPI black and white. For offices that take one image per figure, the export includes a figure index so you can paste the headings into your filing. Every sheet gets an automated compliance report: after the export you see how many sheets pass, need review, or need fixing. Line drawings, custom figures and flowcharts are included; shaded renderings are not. One export can hold up to 40 figures, and you get a preview of the first sheet before you export.

You can still download individual figures for free on any plan. For the underlying rules, see Patent drawing requirements and the office-by-office Patent drawing standards. To check a figure before filing, run it through Figure Checker.

Credits and pricing

Everything that calls an AI model is paid for with credits. Every plan is metered: a paid plan adds a fixed number of credits each month, and each figure, edit, conversion or check spends some of them. Prices below are in US dollars; the pricing page always shows the current offer.

Plans

• Free has no monthly credits. Free accounts run on the sign-up gift and the daily gift.
• Monthly plans renew each month; each renewal adds the plan's monthly credits.
• Yearly plans are charged once a year, but the credits arrive month by month: the same monthly allowance as the monthly plan, one month at a time.
• Lifetime is a single payment with no renewals. It adds 5,000 credits every month.
• Paid features. Filing-sheet export and numeral editing are unlocked by any purchase — a plan or a credit package.

Students and educators can get a discount (see the FAQ).

Credit packages

A credit package is a one-time purchase with no subscription. It suits a deadline, a one-off case, or topping up a plan without upgrading. Package credits are valid for 30 days.

What each operation costs

Every operation has a fixed cost, shown before you run it. Downloading a figure you already have is free.

A full Product set with the five default views costs 10 for the anchor plus 50 for the line art, or 110 if you also generate the five renderings.

Expiry and spending order

Your balance is made of separate batches, each with its own expiry:

When you spend credits, PatentFig AI takes them from the batch that expires soonest. Settings → Credits shows your balance and how many credits expire soon; the Transactions tab lists every credit added, spent or expired.

Failed jobs, cancelling and refunds

• You only pay for results. Your balance is checked before a job starts, and credits are deducted after the figure or file has been created. A failed job costs nothing.
• Cancelling. Go to Settings → Billing and click Manage Subscription and Billing. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period; you keep access until then.
• Refunds. Refunds are reviewed case by case. If something went wrong, email contact@patentfig.ai or use the contact page. See the Terms of Service.

FAQ

Credits

How many figures do my credits make?

One figure, view, diagram or edit costs 10 credits, so 500 credits make about 50 figures. Upscaling, vectorizing, converting and checking cost 20 credits each.

Do failed generations cost credits?

No. Credits are only taken for figures and files that are actually produced. If your balance was too low, the job didn't run and nothing was deducted.

Do I have to claim the daily credits?

No. 10 credits are added to every account once a day automatically. Whatever you don't use expires after a day.

Do subscription credits roll over? Do yearly plans give all credits at once?

Each batch of plan credits expires 30 days after it is added and doesn't roll over. Yearly plans give the same monthly allowance as monthly plans, one month at a time.

Do the API and MCP use the same credits?

Yes. The API and the MCP server spend credits from the same balance as the website.

Billing

Which payment methods are accepted?

Payment goes through Stripe checkout. Cards are accepted, and Alipay is supported; the checkout page shows the methods available for your order.

Is there a student or educator discount?

Yes: 40% off for students and 20% off for teachers. Apply on the Education discount page with proof of your status.

How do I cancel my subscription?

In Settings → Billing, click Manage Subscription and Billing and cancel in the portal. You keep the plan until the end of the paid period.

Can I get a refund?

Refunds are handled case by case. Email contact@patentfig.ai with your account email and what went wrong.

Using your figures

Who owns the figures I make?

Under the Terms of Service you retain ownership of the content you upload and create, subject to applicable law and third-party rights. PatentFig AI only gets a limited licence to store and process it to run the service.

Are my uploads used to train AI models?

No. PatentFig AI does not use your content to train its own models and does not let third-party AI providers train on it. Uploads and outputs are treated as confidential customer content. See the Trust & Security page for retention, subprocessors and security details.

Can I sign an NDA before uploading an invention?

Yes. Click Sign NDA in the workspace, or open Legal agreements in settings. You can sign a mutual NDA with TopLocalAI, LLC online in about two minutes; a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) is available too.

Are the figures ready to file?

Figures are drawn as black-and-white patent line art, and filing-sheet export lays them out to the selected office's sheet, margin and labeling rules with a compliance report. You are still responsible for reviewing every figure before filing; PatentFig AI does not provide legal advice.

Exports and editing

Can I get a vector or CAD file?

Yes. Use Convert to vector line art on a figure for SVG, or upload any drawing to Vectorize for DXF, SVG or vector PDF. Choose Patent line-art redraw for clean single lines in CAD.

Why is Cross-section off by default?

Offices require 45° section hatching that the model often misses. Turn Cross-section on under Views when you need it, and check the hatching before filing.

Can I change one numeral without redrawing the figure?

Yes, with Edit numerals (any paid plan or credit pack). You can also ask for the change in a chat edit, which redraws the figure as a new version.

Why can't I turn on numerals in my Product project?

The Numbered / No numbers choice is locked once a Product project has generated. Create a new project to switch.

Account

How do I change my password or delete my account?

Change your password in Settings → Security, or use Forgot password on the login page. To delete your account, request it from your dashboard or contact us.

How do I change the language?

The language menu in the site header changes the interface. Write your prompt in whichever language you like.

API and agents

PatentFig AI has a REST API for generating figures and converting images from your own code, scripts or AI agents. It uses the same credit balance and the same prices as the website.

Create a key. Go to Settings → API Keys, click Create key, give it a name, and copy it — the key is shown only once. Deleting a key revokes it immediately. The same page lists your recent API calls.

Calls are synchronous; complex figures can take a few minutes, so set your HTTP client timeout to at least 300 seconds. Paid endpoints accept an Idempotency-Key header for safe retries. Start with the API quick start, then see Authentication and Errors.

For Claude Code and other agents that read SKILL.md files, PatentFig AI publishes an open-source agent skill; see Use with AI agents.

Use PatentFig AI in AI assistants (MCP)

PatentFig AI has a remote MCP (Model Context Protocol) server, so an AI assistant that supports MCP can generate patent figures and convert drawings without leaving the conversation. The assistant spends credits from your existing balance.

The server offers five tools:

For example, you can ask: "Use PatentFig to draw an exploded view of a coffee grinder with numbered parts", "Convert that figure to TIFF for filing", or "How many PatentFig credits do I have left?"

To disconnect, remove the server in your assistant's settings, or delete the API key it uses in Settings → API Keys.