8 Design and Finish Options for Pins and Medals
Pin and medal finishes affect how a design looks, feels and reproduces at its final size. Soft enamel and hard enamel create different surfaces; printing handles artwork differently; cutouts and cast relief change the shape of the metal itself.
The eight options below are design choices, not eight steps that every order goes through. Some can be combined, but each combination needs to be checked against the artwork, dimensions and intended use.
1. Soft enamel
Soft enamel leaves the colour below the raised metal outlines, so the face has a textured feel. It works well for artwork with distinct colour areas separated by metal borders.
Check fine lettering and narrow gaps on the proof at actual size. The plating colour also becomes part of the design wherever metal remains exposed.
2. Hard enamel
Hard enamel is filled and polished to give the colour and metal a smoother, more level face. It is often chosen when a flat surface is part of the design brief.
Very small lettering or narrow colour areas may need adjustment. Ask which plating and special-effect combinations are available for the proposed process, rather than assuming every soft enamel option transfers unchanged.
3. Printed artwork
Printing is useful for artwork with gradients, photographic detail or features that would be difficult to separate into metal-bordered enamel areas. The appropriate printing method depends on the artwork and base surface.
Confirm the colour proof, image resolution and any clear coating. A coating changes the appearance and feel; it is not a reason to assume the product is scratch-proof or suitable for every environment.
4. Die-cast shapes and relief
Die casting forms molten metal in a mould. It can produce shaped outlines, openings and sculpted relief, depending on the design. It is a way to form the base, rather than a colour finish.
Review thickness, raised details and any narrow connecting sections with the manufacturer. A physical sample helps you judge depth, weight and edge quality more clearly than a flat artwork proof.
5. Rhinestone accents
Rhinestones add reflective points to a pin or medal. They are decorative stones, not diamonds. Their size, colour and position should be included in the artwork and quotation.
The design needs suitable space and a secure setting or fixing method. Check a sample for alignment, retention and whether the stones interfere with text or other details.
6. Glow-in-the-dark colour
Photoluminescent pigment absorbs light and then gives off a glow in darker conditions. Mark the areas that should glow on the artwork, and confirm the appearance both in normal light and in the dark.
Brightness and duration depend on the pigment, application and light exposure. Compare samples under the same conditions. A decorative glow effect should not be assumed to meet safety-sign or visibility requirements.
7. Cutouts
Cutouts leave open spaces inside the outline of a pin or medal. They can separate letters, frame a central motif or make part of the design feel lighter.
Keep enough metal around openings and between connected parts. Ask the manufacturer to check narrow bridges, sharp corners and attachment positions before approving the shape. The suitable production method depends on the base metal and geometry.
8. Glitter effects
Glitter particles add sparkle within selected colour areas. Particle size and density affect the result, so specify where the effect belongs rather than applying it across every detail.
Small text can become harder to read against a busy glitter background. Review a sample and confirm whether glitter can be combined with the other finishes in your design.
Choose the finish with the artwork in view
Send the artwork, finished size, quantity, metal or plating preference and required date when requesting a quote. Identify the details that must remain readable and any effects you want to compare. Ask for the same specification across quotations, including tooling, attachments and packaging.
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