The application must include a clear drawing of the mark comprising either: (1) a claim of standard characters and the mark is comprised only of characters in the USPTO's standard character set, typed in the appropriate field of the electronic application form; or (2) a digitized image of a mark in special form. 37 C.F.R. §2.22(a)(10)-(11). The trademark electronic filing system will generate a digitized image of the standard character mark and attach it to the electronic application.

A "clear drawing of the mark" is the same standard used in 37 C.F.R. §2.21(a)(3), which sets forth the requirements for receipt of an application filing date. Thus, if the application does not include a clear drawing of the mark, the application will be denied a filing date, in accordance with standard procedures for processing informal applications (see TMEP §§202–202.03, 204–204.03). If the application meets the requirement for a clear drawing of the mark, the applicant will not be required to pay the insufficient information fee if the examining attorney requires amendment of the drawing because it does not meet all the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §§2.51–2.53. See 37 C.F.R. §2.22(b).

Marks That Include Color. If the mark includes color, the drawing must show the mark in color, or the application will not meet the base application requirements. 37 C.F.R. §2.22(a)(10). The application must also include a color claim and a statement in the "Description of the Mark" field naming the color(s) and describing where they appear on the mark. 37 C.F.R. §§2.22(a)(12), 2.52(b)(1); see TMEP §819.02(h).

See TMEP §§807.03–807.03(i) for further information about standard character drawings, and §807.05(c) for the requirements for digitized images.