In figures, skaters trace "figure circles" painted on the surface of the floor. This is different to compulsory figures on ice, who skate on blank ice and draw their own circles, leaving tracings on the ice as they skate. The official dimension of plain figure circles, measured at their diameter is 6 meters (19 feet, 8 inches). The official dimension of smaller loop figure circles measure at 2.4 meters (7 feet, 10 inches). Circles are typically painted in "serpentines"—sets of three circular lobes.