Chapter 4: Security / ID — Locks, Tags, Seals (Depiction Only)

Created by Sarah Choi (prompt writer using ChatGPT)

Security & ID — Locks, Tags, and Seals (Depiction Only)

Purpose and Scope

This article equips prop concept artists to depict security and identification systems on containers and carry gear—crates, cases, bottles, and packs—without providing bypass instructions. It balances concepting needs—clear silhouettes, readable mechanisms, and narrative tone—with production needs—kit reuse, decal systems, shader discipline, and interaction tiers. We cover mechanical locks, tamper‑evident seals, ID/tagging systems, and “smart” indicators so your scenes feel controlled, tracked, and auditable without overwhelming readability or crossing into exploitative detail.

Principles of Credible Security Depiction

Security reads come from three signals: (1) Access control—a visible mechanism implies who may open it; (2) Tamper evidence—a device will clearly show if someone tried or succeeded; (3) Traceability—a mark or tag ties the object to a system or person. You don’t need to show internal workings in detail; hint at load paths, latch interfaces, and audit surfaces (labels, seals, sensors). Prioritize purpose over puzzle—players should grasp severity (low, medium, high) at camera distance.

Severity Ladder: Visual Language by Risk Level

  • Low: Zip tags, paper labels, simple swing latches with padlock holes, twist‑tie wire seals. Color: muted; small serials. Use on retail totes and bottle carriers.
  • Medium: Cam locks, hasps with padlocks, numbered plastic pull‑tight seals, tamper tape on case seams. Color: brighter tags for audit; barcode/QR decals.
  • High: Bolt seals, cable seals, recessed cam/butterfly latches with lockouts, locked RFID hard‑tags, security cages. Color: high‑contrast warnings, large serial plates, dual‑signature labels.
  • Critical: Multi‑factor indicators (mechanical + electronic), custody envelopes with dual seals, evidence boxes with witness signature patches, smart indicators with LED status. Color: coded panels, redundant IDs, and inspection windows.

Mechanical Locks (Depiction‑Only Patterns)

Padlocks (shackle + body): Communicate grade through body bulk, shackle diameter, and shroud. Hardened shackle text, laminated or solid body, and weather caps read use context (warehouse vs. outdoors). For family cohesion, keep one or two padlock models across a scene.

Hasps & Staples: The interface between door/lid and lock. Show hinge leaf, rotating hasp plate, and a staple (loop) backed by rivets/bolts into structure. Oversized washers or backing plates imply anti‑tear‑out strength.

Cam Locks: Small cylindrical locks for metal cases and lockers. Depict a round bezel, keyway or slot, and a rotating flat cam behind the panel that engages a strike. Use on doors, drawers, and access panels. A short throw arrow icon prevents confusion.

Butterfly Latches (Flight/road cases): Recessed dish with rotating wings that draw a tongue into a strike. Add a padlock eye for a secondary lockout. Keep screws around the dish consistent.

Combination Dials & Tubular Locks: Combination dials read institutional; tubular (radial) keyways read vending/arcade/industrial. Use sparingly for variety.

Lockout/Tagout Hasps: Multi‑eye hasps that accept several padlocks, visually communicating that multiple people control access. Great for story beats at electrical boxes or chemical lockers.

Depiction Note: Focus on exteriors, fastener patterns, and engagement points. Avoid internal pin/tumbler geometry or explicit bypass guidance.

Tamper‑Evident Seals

Pull‑Tight Plastic Seals: Numbered tails loop through a hasp; a one‑way locking head captures the tail. Show molded numbers, a logo, and a tear‑off tab. Ideal for crates, cage doors, and meter cabinets.

Bolt Seals: Two‑piece steel pin + locking barrel used on shipping containers. Convey strength with a thick shank, color‑coded barrel, and printed serial. Seat the pin through aligned locking lugs on door bars.

Cable Seals: Braided cable with a crimp body; the tail cinches to length. Useful on irregular latches and multi‑eye tie‑downs. Add length and a stamped serial.

Tamper Tape & Labels: Security tape bridging case seams; when lifted, leaves a void pattern. Print arrows and serials; place across lid gaps, not random surfaces.

Shrink Bands & Cap Seals (Bottles/Jars): Clear or printed bands around closures with a tear‑tab. Pair with induction or liner seals for believable double security.

Evidence Envelopes & Seals: Paper or polymer envelopes with witness lines for signatures/date. Edges show cross‑hatch slits that reveal lifting; use big, legible text.

Frangible Screws & Captive Fasteners: Screws with breakaway heads or captured washers imply “once sealed, always traceable.” Place a small paint dot (torque seal) across screw and housing for visual audit.

Identification & Tracking Systems

Barcodes & QR: High‑contrast decals on flat label panels. Add a human‑readable ID (e.g., “CRATE‑12 A‑03”). Align across a kit so scanning looks systematic. Avoid micro‑dense patterns that shimmer.

RFID/NFC Tags: Hard tags riveted to crates or soft sticker inlays under labels. Optional tiny LED/status dot for “active” tags in sci‑fi; include a tamper triangle icon.

Serial Plates: Anodized or printed metal plates with model, weight, date code, and service instructions. Rivets at corners ground them to the chassis.

Color Bands & Icons: Fast family recognition: contents (hazard, perishable), destination, or clearance level. Use a consistent legend across the set.

Custody Labels: “SEALED BY / DATE / TIME” with signature lines. Place near the security device, not randomly.

Integration by Container Type

Crates (Wood/Plastic/Metal): Put hasps at reinforced corners; route seals through aligned holes in latch plates. Reserve smooth label panels away from ribs. Plastic totes get molded seal eyes on the lid.

Cases (Flight/Equipment): Use recessed butterfly latches with padlock eyes and tamper tape over the lid seam. Serial plates on the long side; small RFID at a corner.

Bottles/Jars/Cans: Pair primary closure (crown, ROPP, lug) with tamper band or shrink band. Induction seal prints become a story beat when opened (foil disc left behind).

Packs & Soft Goods: Add zipper lock loops on sliders, cable‑lock pass‑throughs on daisy chains, and numbered pull‑tight seals through grommets. Admin pouches get clear windows for ID cards.

Readability & Silhouette Strategy

From mid‑distance, communicate security with three graphic anchors: (1) a distinct lock/seal shape, (2) a bold ID patch or serial plate, (3) a clean seam or door break that the device relates to. Keep hardware finishes limited (two metals, one plastic color family). Reserve vivid colors for seals/tags so they pop against neutral crates and cases.

Materials, Shaders, and Wear Language

  • Metals: Zinc, stainless, or painted steel for locks/hasps; edge wear at corners, subtle orange‑peel on powder coat.
  • Plastics: Polypropylene seals with light translucency; molded serial numbers catch rim light.
  • Adhesives: Tamper tape shows lifted fibers or void ghosts; labels curl at corners.
  • Soft goods: Webbing fuzz and stitch bartacks near seal grommets; glossing where cable locks rub. Use focused wear at touchpoints (keyways, shackle tops, seal heads) and leave broad planes clean for audit clarity.

Interaction Tiers (Game/Cinematic Read)

  • Scenery: Static seal/lock; no animation. Use decals for serials and void patterns.
  • Implied Interactables: Highlight the device with a small value halo and clean surrounding field; no need for UI.
  • Hero Interactables: Separate meshes for lock body, shackle, latch plate, and seal tail. Provide simple pivots (rotate shackle, flip hasp) but omit internal mechanics. Add a short status animation for smart tags (LED blink).

Audio & VFX Accents (Non‑Exploitative)

Subtle cues sell material truth: dull metal clack for hasp contact, soft plastic snap for pull‑tight seal, adhesive peel for tamper tape, faint servo whirr for a smart tag. Avoid foley that implies exploitation techniques.

Modularity & Production Kits

Build a Security Kit:

  • Locks: small cam, medium padlock (open/closed variants), recessed butterfly latch with padlock eye.
  • Seals: pull‑tight (short/long tails), bolt seal (pin/barrel), cable seal, shrink band ring, tamper tape strip.
  • IDs: barcode/QR decals, serial plates, RFID puck, custody label.
  • Mounts: hasp plates, latch plates, rivet sets. Share UVs and trim sheets; keep decals interchangeable. Provide color variants for seals (red/yellow/blue) and a black/steel palette for locks.

Placement & Callout Guidance

On sheets, annotate: “Seal path” (through holes ↔ around handles), “Lock path” (shackle through hasp/staple), “Audit surfaces” (label zones), and “Reinforcement” (backing plates). Mark seam lines so the audience understands what is being protected. Include a severity tag (Low/Med/High/Critical) for art direction consistency.

Ethics & Safety Framing

Depict security respectfully. Focus on presence, tamper‑evidence, and traceability, not bypass. Avoid step‑by‑step diagrams or exploit vectors. If a narrative requires compromised security, show aftermath cues—broken seal, torn tape, pried seam—rather than methods.

Common Failure Modes to Avoid

  • Locks floating with no hasp or staple.
  • Seals placed on decorative loops that don’t actually secure the seam.
  • Tamper tape bridging textured, dusty surfaces that it wouldn’t adhere to.
  • Serial numbers duplicated across multiple props in the same shot.
  • RFID tags with no plausible backing or placement consistency.
  • Hyper‑busy sticker walls that destroy readability.

Practical Design Workflow

Define container and severity. Choose a locking interface and a complementary seal. Place an ID system (serial + barcode/RFID) on a clean panel. Add reinforcement hardware at stress points. Set a restrained material/finish palette. Add two focused wear cues (keyway polish, tape edge lift). Package as a kit with color and scale variants, plus callouts of seal/lock paths and label zones.

Conclusion

Security and ID reads are about clarity and accountability. With a clean lock/seal interface, a visible audit trail, and disciplined placement, containers and carry systems feel part of a managed world—without drowning shots in noise or revealing harmful detail. For concept artists, that means strong silhouettes and consistent severity cues. For production artists, it’s modular kits, smart decals, and simple rigs. Design for control, evidence, and traceability—and the story will feel protected.