How to Design and Choose Enamel Pins To Promote Your Brand

It can be difficult for you to choose between the soft enamel pins and the hard enamel pins you want to showcase your brand identity. In this article, we’ll break down the differences between two important types of pins, hard enamel vs soft enamel, to make it easier for you.

Choosing your own business pins should be an exciting process, and you’ll feel good about it. pride. It can be overwhelming to choose from so many options. However, by the end of this article, you’ll know everything you need! Get the most out of your branding with our exclusive pins! We consider many factors and use our professional experience to determine the best approach for you.

1. What are Enamel Pins and How to Use Them to Promote A Brand?

An enamel pin is a small decorative pin with a hard enamel coating. These pins are often used for branding, and given as gifts or prizes to promote a company. This is because they are small, memorable, and easy to wear. They can also be used as accessories for clothes or bags.

Enamel pins can be brooches or pins. The brooch version is more ornate and decorated and is usually marketed to women, while the pin version, which is slightly less ornate but still fully detailed, is marketed to men. Pins can also be made of other materials such as metal or plastic.

2. Soft Enamel Pins

Soft enamel is a fairly new invention that has been gaining traction in the jewelry world of late. For starters, these are stamped dies, meaning all the little dots on them are going to be filled with some enamel or something.

If you want your soft enamel products to look more like hard enamel, you can coat them with epoxy for a smoother finish. It also works well if Flash or other extras are involved. Because that way there’s no confusion with the glitter since it sits on top of a clear surface with nothing else “shining”.

Advantages and Disadvantages

It is less expensive to start making soft enamel pins (but this is subject to availability, you can contact us for more information), but it can be difficult for new designers to create recognizable graphics for them. We have noticed that some enamel pin manufacturers may not be applying enough enamel to their pins.

If the material is still wet when it enters the pin, there is a higher risk of underfilling the pin. The problem is, there is no barrier like an enamel cover on it. Dust sticks to surfaces and you’ll see it on metal surfaces. We also note that you can be at risk if you don’t handle the pins carefully when packaging them, as the pins are enameled without any protection. So be careful.

3. Hard Enamel Pin

Hard enamel pins are different. Hard enamel pins have a smooth finish (unlike their soft enamel counterparts). They are made by polishing the surface of the pins after manufacture so they are very smooth and shiny. Watch this video to see the polishing process: You can find a range of hard enamel styles on our website. When using these types of pins, you may need to size your design so they don’t get too thick. This can happen after polishing but is worth keeping in mind when designing.

1) Pros:

Generally considered high quality due to cost and sleek design. The shiny smooth finish outlasts soft enamel pins. It is scratch-resistant and shatter-resistant thanks to the protective layer on top. The exterior has a bubbly luster.

2) Cons :

A bit pricey, a longer turnaround due to the polishing work included. Plating options are limited. Like silver, or nickel. Gold works best with simple colors; overly complex designs are not recommended. So how to choose soft pins and enamel pins: Compared with hard enamel pins, soft enamel pins are more widely used and easier to locate.

If you are on a tight budget but want a high-quality back pin with intricate designs and more colors, if you want your pins to stand out in terms of texture and detail then soft enamel pins are the way to go. You don’t even need to look at your pins because you can feel every detail.

On the other hand, one of the most notable advantages of hard enamel pins is their durability. These pins are built to last without breaking. If you expect your pins to be exposed and used frequently, you should consider hard enamel pins. Scratch Resistant Hard Enamel Pins They are less likely to break or chip because there are no ridges. If you want your pins to be more elegant and stylish, you should use hard enamel pins. A smooth, detailed finish is generally considered to be of high quality and pleasing.

4. What Criteria Should Be Kept in Mind When Designing A New Pin?

Designing new pins is an art in itself. There are many characteristics that should be kept in mind when designing new pins. It’s important to understand what your PIN is for, what it’s for, and how other people perceive it. The pin design is more than just aesthetics. You need to make sure your pins are functional and can easily convey their message to your audience.

It is important to ensure that your pin has a unique shape and design that can easily differentiate it from other designs and appeal to people of all ages. It is also important for your design to be versatile so that it can be used across many different media platforms.

When designing a new pin, you should know what the three main types of pins are: Assembled – This type of pin consists of a metal clip on top of the center section (head) and a metal pin on the bottom. The metal clip is attached to a rigid “rod” with two stubs on either side.

They are inserted into the backing of the pin, held together by snaps or nuts, and then riveted to the surface by their shank. The surface is then painted and decorated with designs, text or other graphics. Assembly pins can only be mass-produced in limited color options because they have no moving parts.

5. Tools for Creating Enamel Pins

You can use a variety of tools to make your own enamel pins. One way is to use an online tool that lets you design the pins and then prints them for you. Another way is to use a site like Etsy or Redbubble, which has templates for creating your own designs. It is important to consider the type of pin you want to make and how you will market your pin.

If you’re getting a specific message, it’s best to use an online tool where you have more control over your design. You can find us to discuss your ideas. Once you’ve created your designs and chosen a tool or platform to manufacture them, there are many things to consider when creating your own enamel pins, such as the type of material used and the manufacturing process.

Material Type: The first decision to make before creating a design is what material to use to create the pins. You have many options like metal, and plastic. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a material you might like:

1) Metal

Metal is a more durable (but heavier) material than plastic, and can be stamped into designs. However, it has the potential to corrode or tarnish over time.

2) Plastic

Plastic is thinner and lighter than metal, but it can crack or shatter if dropped. Finishing: When designing your own pins, the next decision you need to make is the type of finishing that will be done on your design before placing it on the manufacturing floor.

Here are some popular options available: Brass, Copper, Gold Plated, Nickel Plated, and Silver Plated.

6. What is the Best Size for Your Pins?

After deciding whether to go for hard or soft enamel, the second thing you need to know before looking for a custom badge pin manufacturer is what size pin you will be making. The most common sizes for custom lapel pins are:

• 1/2 inch
• 3/4 inch
• 7/8 inches
• 1 foot
• 1 1/4 inches
• 1 1/2 inches

Summary

• The larger size means a higher price because more material is used and longer production time.
• For more detailed designs, larger sizes are better.

If you have a very detailed design and try to squeeze it into a small size, a lot of detail will be lost. When choosing a size, you need to weigh these two factors.

7. How Many Colors Will You Use on Enamel Pins?

You can use as many or as few colors on your pins as you want, but you should keep this in mind – the best pins communicate a single idea and aren’t too heavy and overwhelming. In other words, using lots of colors can distract from your design. You want your pins to look attractive.

Here’s more information on pin colors: Most custom brooch makers only use Pantone colors. This shouldn’t be a problem as the “Pantone Wheel” of colors is very broad. If you need a specific color, it will most likely be on the steering wheel. One more thing to keep in mind when using colors – they won’t look the same on a computer screen as they will look on a finished pin! Please keep this important fact in mind.

Color choice plays a huge role in the overall appeal of a pin design. To ensure your designs are as attractive as possible, you may want to request a color guide to get a better idea of ​​how your colors will look. You can also get a Pantone color swatch or swatch book to get a closer look at colors.

8. How Many Pins Do You Want to Order?

In short, the larger your order quantity, the more options you will have and the chances are you will get a better price. Most enamel pin manufacturers have an MOQ (minimum order quantity).

If your order quantity is small, the company may charge additional fees, such as installation fees or tooling fees, to complete the project. You will need to take this additional fee into account when deciding on the amount of your order. Now that we’ve covered the four things you need to know before looking for a pin maker, it’s time to turn our attention to how to distinguish a good custom enamel lapel pin maker from a bad one.

9. Tips for Choosing A Custom Enamel Pin Manufacturer

The following details 5 tips for choosing a custom enamel pin Manufacturer:

1) Check the Reviews of Enamel Pin Manufacturers

These days, most enamel pin manufacturers post customer testimonials on their websites. If there are no testimonials from the pin manufacturer, that’s a red flag. So go to the website of the enamel pin company and check for testimonials.

If they post multiple customer testimonials and success stories on their website and throughout their marketing materials, take that as a good sign. On the other hand, a lack of referrals may indicate that they don’t have enough clients willing to provide good references.

2) Look at the Pin Styles Provided by the Manufacturer 

Obviously, since you’re looking to make hard or soft custom enamel lapel pins, you’ll want to look for a manufacturer who can offer these pin styles. Finding a custom enamel pin manufacturer should be no problem, as enamel is a popular pin material. However, some pin manufacturers may only offer other pin styles such as 3D cast, stamped, or offset printing.

Ideally, you want to find a pin manufacturer that specializes in enamel pins. To determine the quality of a company’s custom enamel pin designs, start by checking their reviews. Manufacturers of enamel pins should also provide a gallery of past pins they have created. Be sure to look through the pictures carefully to get an idea of ​​the quality of work the company offers.

3) – Look for An Easy Online Ordering Process

Long gone are the days when you had to send an inquiry and wait two days to hear back confirming your order. We live in rapidly changing times, and your push-pin maker should keep up with them. Looking for a convenient online ordering system that allows you to submit your designs and orders online instantly by clicking the submit button?

A confirmation email should be sent to you shortly after that. Modern society relies heavily on online ordering systems. Enamel pin manufacturers can take care of more orders with fewer employees using this system. These savings are then passed on to you by many companies.

Online ordering systems allow brooch makers to charge 10% less than non-online ones. Online ordering should also allow you to place and receive your order faster. In the case of a rush order, this can be very important.

4) – Look for A Live Chat Service on the Enamel Pin Maker’s Website 

There really is no faster way to contact a company than via live chat. You can chat with a company representative in real time – what could be better? Let’s look at an example: Suppose you urgently need to change your collar pin design. If you call a business, you may have to wait anywhere from half an hour to an hour or more before speaking with a representative.

If the enamel pin manufacturer outsources their customer service, you may also need to speak with people from other countries and work out language difficulties. If you email a company, you may have to wait a full day for a response. In the case of our urgent design changes, you can simply click on the live chat icon, send your new design, and it can all be taken care of within seconds.

Many potential customers don’t consider a lapel pin manufacturer that offers a live chat feature on their website when choosing a custom enamel pin company – but they should! With live chat, you can instantly interact with a customer service representative.

5) – Find An Enamel Pin Manufacturer Who Doesn’t Charge A Tooling Fee

Most companies charge a tooling fee, especially for custom designs. You should look for an enamel pin manufacturer with manufacturing management and supply chain management that enables them to factor a small tooling charge into their basic service price instead of charging a separate tooling fee.

Tooling fees charged separately tend to be higher, and many companies increase these fees on smaller order quantities. That’s why it’s important to look for companies that include fees as part of the price of their basic service.

10. Where to Find A Skilled Designer or Artist?

Finding a skilled designer or artist to help you design your pin can be a daunting task. You may have to search many different websites to find the one that fits you best. But what would you do if we told you that there are plenty of sites out there with full databases of skilled designers and artists eager to help you with your pin designs?