If you already have an idea for a pin design, it's time to start making decisions and preparing an artwork file to have your own custom enamel pins created. Here are the steps we'll guide you through to bring your vision to life:
1. Soft Enamel vs. Hard Enamel
Differences between soft enamel vs hard enamel include texture, durability, and color. All enamel pins are baked in an oven at high temperatures to cure the enamel, yet this step occurs at different times during the process depending on which enamel is used. Soft enamel has more texture since it has raised metal lines that hold recessed enamel; this means that the surface is not smooth. On the other hand, hard enamel is polished flat to replicate a jewelry-quality finish. Hard enamel is a bit more costly than soft enamel and is polished and electroplated at the end of the pin-making process to bring out its glossy features.
When considering soft enamel vs hard enamel, you should note that there are similarities in how they are made. Both are made using a metal die, a special tool with the inverse of your design that is used to impress the image into a base metal (usually brass or copper), and both can showcase vivid colors. A wide range of custom color choices are available to really customize pin design.
Requiring no die and no engraving, USA enamel lapel pins are created with a revolutionary dimensional printing process. The result is a multi-layered design with the high-quality look and feel of a custom soft enamel pin, but which costs less to produce. This type of pin is also sometimes called embossed enamel, and it gives you a pin with a clear design and strong colors. While this type of pin can be produced more quickly and with less expense, it doesn't always have the fine jewelry quality of a hard enamel pin.
2. Artwork Design to Make Your Own Enamel Pins
Preparing artwork to design and make your own enamel pins can be daunting, especially if you aren't artistically or digitally inclined. The PinMart design team provides free artwork and ensures that all design details meet expectations before pin creation continues. Our team can take your enamel pin design idea all the way from concept to completion.
Is an enamel pin right for my design?
The best designs for enamel pins involve relatively simple artwork that incorporates a few distinct colors. While these pin styles lend themselves well to detailed drawings, consider custom printed pins or quick ship pins if you have a complex or photorealistic design. If you want a custom pin in solid silver or gold, consider die struck pins for a simple, elegant look. We also make custom wood pins with a unique, eco-friendly style and quick turnaround time.
