You’ve had a brilliant idea, and you want to get your patent application in as soon as possible. After all, protecting your intellectual property could make the difference between you making a fortune, and someone else with a similar idea or worse yet, a copy of your idea, hitting the big time instead.

There’s just one problem. Patent applications require drawings, and you’re not so sure of your draughtsmanship abilities. There’s a specific set of circumstances under which you’re allowed to use photographs instead of drawings, but your idea might not match them. What’s to be done?  Use this hack to overcome your problem.

Take a Series of Photos Very, Very, Carefully

For this trick, we’re going to convert a series of photographs into drawings. You will need to be very careful about angles. Remember, on a flat surface, some lines may appear foreshortened. You need all proportions to reflect reality. Make sure that there are no unwanted light reflections and that you have good image resolution. Photograph components from all the necessary angles (top, bottom, back, front, and sides) and edit them to remove the background. Use a free bg remover for the job, and you end up with images of the components and nothing else.

Use a Plain White Background and Convert to Line Art

By now, you can see where this is going. Your image will be transformed into line art. That’s why clarity and perspective were so important in your original images. Your first step in this direction is to adjust the contrast. Every line should be as clear as you can get it. Now prepare layers that will help you with editing. Add a grayscale adjustment layer to get a black and white image. So far, so good. Now for the acid test! Convert your image into a line drawing. Now it’s time for the background, which is probably the simplest step of all. Select plain white.

Add Finishing Touches and Information

Now that you have a basic line drawing for your patent application, check it carefully, adjusting lines as needed – it’s way easier than making a drawing from scratch. You can also add a little shading if you like, but don’t overdo it. Your drawing is a practical one rather than an artwork that would be used for marketing, so don’t worry if it doesn’t look “pretty.” It doesn’t have to!

You’ll have some additional information to add, however. Fill in the measurements and proportions and provide information about the materials you’ll be using, even including properties such as texture in your description. Make sure that every feature that’s included in your design is illustrated and explained.

Consider Getting Help

Applying for a patent is a long and complex process. Even if this isn’t your first rodeo, you should consider getting help from a patent attorney. This type of lawyer works on patents, and nothing but patents, so he or she will know how to submit your application as well as how to follow it up. It is an added expense, but if you think you have the next invention to take the world by storm, it will be well worth the investment.