1. Lock the cabinet drawing
Request the latest front, side and door-elevation drawings before adapting artwork. Confirm vents, handles, hinges, locks, glass borders, canopy dimensions and any service panels that must remain accessible.
Mark each proposed surface separately: cabinet side or body, canopy/lightbox, glass door, shelf messaging and lower panel. A concept on one cabinet is not proof that the same treatment fits another door, controller position or cooling-air path.
2. Define colour with a physical reference
Pantone or RAL references create a shared starting point, but gloss level, metal texture, printed vinyl and illuminated acrylic can change perceived colour. State the substrate and viewing environment, then approve a physical sample when colour is critical.
3. Choose the right branding method
Discuss printed wraps for campaign graphics and a painted finish for solid-colour panels. Identify the actual substrate, coating or print material before approving a sample. For a lightbox or illuminated logo, review legibility at the intended viewing distance together with wiring, heat and service access. Confirm durability against the agreed cleaning and placement conditions rather than the method name.
4. Protect legibility and ventilation
Keep mandatory labels readable and avoid covering air inlets, outlets, door seals or drainage access. Review artwork at actual size, not only on a small screen, and verify that important text remains visible behind stocked products.
5. Build an approval pack
A useful approval pack includes the cabinet model, drawing revision, colour references, print files, material notes, lighting behaviour when selected, logo position, packaging marks and signed visual proof. One controlled pack reduces ambiguity between design, purchasing and production teams.
Separate three decisions in the record: visual appearance, cabinet engineering and commercial scope. An attractive mock-up is not a released mechanical drawing, evidence of a current customer relationship or confirmation that an option is included in the quote.
6. Test durability before scale
For long rollouts, evaluate adhesion, scratch resistance, cleaning chemicals, temperature cycling and light exposure appropriate to the placement. Record the accepted sample so later production can be compared against the same standard.
7. Send a usable concept brief
Tell the supplier where the cabinet will be placed, what product pack it will hold, the target market and power supply, expected pilot and rollout quantities, preferred cabinet format, available brand files, required viewing distance and launch timing.
If the exact cabinet has not been chosen, request a platform recommendation first. The initial concept should identify which graphics are proposed and which structural, electrical or material changes still need engineering review.
Approve each surface with its own evidence
Select the production treatment only after the cabinet surface and material are identified. Printed graphics, colour finishing, transparent glass artwork and engraved treatment are options to discuss; neither an illustration nor a method name specifies the material, durability or hardware of a quoted cabinet.
| Surface | File or input | Approval object | Keep clear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side or body | Model elevation and print file | Substrate, seam, finish and sample | Vents, controls and service panels |
| Lightbox face | Face template and logo orientation | Material and illuminated sample | Panel edges and required labels |
| Glass | Door drawing and visibility brief | Treatment on the selected glass build | Seal, handle and product view |
| Shelf or base | Label size and edge drawing | Holder and attachment scope | Loading, door travel and air path |
Compare branding materials before approving the artwork
The same logo can read differently as a conventional printed graphic, metallic-effect foil, transparent film or engraved treatment. Start with the desired appearance, viewing distance, lighting and cleaning routine. Then ask which treatments are feasible on the selected cabinet surface.
MARKOOL's branding brief can explore these methods, with the actual material, finish, minimum quantity and price confirmed in the proposal. A digital rendering approves a visual direction; the material sample and production file identify what will be made.
| Treatment to discuss | Buyer input | Sample approval |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional printed graphic | Artwork, colour references, finish and intended surface | Colour on the chosen substrate, seams, edges and cleaning method |
| Silver foil / metallic effect | Which areas should appear metallic; lighting and contrast | Physical material/print sample under intended lighting |
| Transparent glass film | Clear viewing area, logo coverage and reading direction | Door sample with products behind it; film and cleaning compatibility |
| Engraved glass treatment | Artwork size, location and intended visual effect | Engineering feasibility on the selected glass construction and approved sample |
| Cabinet colour finish | Colour reference, texture and areas included | Material colour sample, batch scope and quoted minimum |
Release a material-and-artwork pair
Record the template revision, material or process, colour reference, approved sample and installation location together. For a lightbox face, review the illuminated appearance as well as the unlit proof. For shelf-edge and base graphics, confirm the attachment and keep the loading and air paths clear.
Ask how replacement graphics or treated panels would be supplied and what is included. Do not assume a removable lightbox face, reusable adhesive or field-replaceable glass treatment from the appearance of a concept. If a material or glass construction changes after approval, recheck the affected sample before production.
Apply the checklist
Turn your artwork into a cabinet concept.
Send the placement, product pack, available brand files and destination. The first response can identify a suitable platform and the graphics still requiring approval.
Request a branding concept ↗