How to Design and Manufacture Your Enamel Pin

Enamel pins have blown up into the world of fashion and entrepreneurs are seeking how to make enamel pins by themselves. These little pins are highly capable to personalize and can feature any design, in terms of famous logos, innovative illustrations, and anything else you want. Enamel pins work as an extension of people’s persona and offer them an opportunity to personalize and accessorize backpacks, hats, jean dress and more.
Below are some of the steps you can follow to make enamel pin:

Step 1: Idea

When it comes to making something, you need to have a solid idea. Here is a list of things that you can use to sketch ideas.

• Your dreams and passions
• Color theory
• Places you like
• Wordplay

It is not the end of the list; you can add whatever you want to. Always add things that look appealing, and think about these things, as you are the customer. It will help you decide more reasonably.
You can make some designs that work for both pin collectors and people who use tattoos.

Step 2: Pitfalls in Design

Once the design is ready, you can draw it. While sketching, you will see lots of areas having issues. It will help you re-design a perfect drawing of the idea.
While sketching an idea, you have to consider a few things:

Your Linework will Translate to Raised Metal

Keep this thing in mind while sketching. You may integrate the color of the metal you pick to the color scheme for the pin itself. You can highlight with markers to clearly see the manufactured design.

Don’t Add too Much Detail

Avoid adding too much detail, as it may complicate the design. On the handle of the tattoo making a crisscross design is one of the examples. It can make the pin design as too messy and there will be nothing special in the pin.

Avoid Complicated Shapes and Gaps

Don’t try to add complex shapes or unwanted gaps as it also can make the design worse. It also makes difficult for the manufacturer to design accurately. Though it is possible to make the exact design, but it can charge extra bucks. Making extra holes and edges on the inner side of the pin can charge you extra for die-cutting.

Weight of the Final Pin

Is your pin long enough? Or could it spin easily while wearing?
You may have to add two posts of a pin on the back to help anchor the pin. Try keeping it lightweight, so it does not feel as too much heavy while wearing.

Step 3: Making Your File

Once you understand how to make and edit sketches, you can try them making in Adobe Illustrator, Inkspace or Coral Draw software.
Apart from that, you can use:

• A scanner
• Wacom Intuos 4 digital tablet
• Adobe Illustrator CS5.1
• Pantone Color Guide

Step 4: Choosing Finishing

Many types of metals are used and you can choose from them according to your needs. Here are various kinds of finishing available:

Hard Enamel

It means you can have a smooth surface with metal outlining all around the color enamel. These can be the most appealing designs and most proficient. Hard enamel is smooth and flat with the layering of the enamel and a hard buff at the end.

Soft Enamel

It can make the metal outlines raised above the enamel that fills the colored area. Also, it is a less costly procedure and most people prefer it.

Sandblasted and 3D

In these kinds of designs, there is no enamel used, still recessed area is maintained where it can sit usually.

Printed

In this design, the epoxy layer is on top to seal a printed image inside.

Step 5: Choosing a Manufacturer

Well, making enamel pins is not something that most people have the ability to do in the US. A number of manufacturers are there that make pins from start to end in the country. It makes pins a trade-in product that mostly made in China.
So, that’s it! You can simply follow the steps given above for the making and manufacturing of the custom enamel pins.

Soft vs Hard Enamel pins – What’s the Difference?

Do you really want to make your own enamel pins?
In the long run, you might have heard something about “hard enamel” and “soft enamel.” Well, it’s not only you, but many people also have a question regarding what is the difference between soft enamel pins and hard enamel pins?
To be honest, the main difference is the textured finishing. Another main difference is that the hard enamel process includes filling the level of the pin to the surface with paint. On the other hand, the paint in soft enamel pins in not level with pin surface. It only uses a thin coat of the base metal and uses paintless. For most of the applications, soft enamel is ideal as it costs less.
Keep in mind that hard enamel pins are plane and smooth, whereas soft enamel pins are made with metal edges. Both of the methods include using metal molding and both have vibrant colors. However, some exclusive options are there for soft enamel.

So, when you need to choose Soft Enamel?

Do you have any idea? Let’s find out:
One of the most significant types of pins is soft enamel. Many people prefer the texture and look of custom made pins. An oven is used to bake enamel pins in order to cure and harden the enamel. In contrast to hard enamel pins, the metal plating procedure in the soft enamel is done before filling the enamel.
In the case, if you want to have a rainbow plated pin, painted black, or any custom made pin color, you have to use soft enamel.

When You Should Choose Hard Enamel?

Hard enamel pins are more sturdy as well as scratch-resistant as compared to soft enamel. Just because of the fine and finished look, people mostly prefer hard enamel pins to soft enamel. Well, lots of designs work perfectly in hard enamel as well as soft enamel, so it is up to your choice.
At first, hard enamel pins, are filled with color, then the face of the pin is ground down to make it flat and smooth. With particular metal finishes, the grinding and polishing make it incompatible. Hard enamel can be a good choice if you need the usual silver or gold metal plating.

Pros and Cons of Soft Enamel Pins

The ability to dye the base metal color is the main advantage of a soft enamel pin. Just because of this reason, plenty of designers and artists like to go for this process.

Pros & Cons

• Paint is not level with pin surface
• Any color can be used for base metal rather than nickel, bronze or gold
• Paint dries firm and bonds to metal
• A little bit thinner base metal than hard
• Significantly affordable than hard enamel
• Fine detailed rendered a bit better with hard enamel
• Soft enamel works better with glitter enamels

If you are an enamel pin designer and seeking greater margins in an online store, you can pick up a soft enamel process. Common users of the soft enamel process are sport trading pins and company logo pins.

Pros & Cons of Hard Enamel Pins

The main advantage of the hard enamel process is the quality feel and look of these pins. Usually, this process is used for logo pins, uniforms and service awards of employees. In the ’70s, this process was introduced to replace Cloisonne that is a glass-based enamel used before the invention of epoxy enamel.

Pros & Cons

• Paint dries too hard
• Costs 40% more
• Has a jewelry quality for the pin
• Paint level with a surface that some people link with quality
• Works better with transparent enamels
• Renders fine detail better than soft

Choose a hard enamel process, only if you can afford it. The hard enamel process surely has a wow factor and it avoids any perception of being cheap.

How are Enamel Pins Made – A Complete Guide

Undoubtedly, enamel pins are one of the top brands that go through plenty of life aspects. As an effective promotional tool and a personal adornment, these pins are used to articulate beliefs and characters. Since many people are snooping about enamel pins designs.
Here you will get to know about how to make enamel pins fruitfully.
Plenty of people think that the procedure of manufacturing your own custom enamel pins is intricate and extensive. Actually, it is not like that, instead, it is more simple and easy and most of the time it does not take more than 2-4 weeks.
So, how would you actually make your own enamel pins?

Get Ready for the Artwork File

At first, a pin plant needs a PDF file of the design to start manufacturing. You have to read a comprehensive design process for further structure.
You can draw or even color a draft of your design illustrated on a white piece of paper. Next, you can scan it as a PDF file or if you understand your way about one of the much graphic design software is available. You can even send a digital file of the drawing to finally make a pin.

Simplify

At about 1-2 inches clocking in dimension, pins are just like a small picture to work on so the less lines and particulars you can use to deliver an image. The more probably it is, it will interpret an obvious pin design.

Use Bold Lines & Strong Colors

Pins are not that big, they are slender lines and gentle colors. You can use bold lines also with strong colors in its place.

Evade Shading

The lines entirely define colors in a pin, which means that any kind of shading in a color is not likely possible. Avoid adding shading in pin design, you can save some time of yours and the factory as well.
Some designs have intricate thin lines with shading. It may not intricate well into a pin. On the other hand, some of the designs are simple enough as they use valiant lines that define all colors.
Now, in the next step, you need to decide what sort of material your enamel pin should have.

Material Used for Enamel Pin

No doubt, pins are made from a huge range of materials; two typical formats are used that most of the pin-makers prefer. Hard Enamel and Soft Enamel pins, what is the difference?

Hard Enamel Pins

Slim metal lines define the characteristics of these pins that separate all colors and a flat, hard enamel finishing.
Die-struck iron metal is used for the manufacturing of these pins and heating with a high temperature further executes the production process. Next comes polishing that helps to make a fine soft surface, which typically allows them a premium and strong feel.

Soft Enamel Pins

The textured pin face is the fine line that defines characteristics with a grant to more features and a little bit cost. Die-struck iron metal together with the electroplated and elective epoxy coating is the main ingredient of production. It usually gives them a thinner look in contrast with hard enamel pins.
Both of them are tried and proved materials so whatever you decide to choose can make a great pin. Feel free to go with the best style you can communicate with your design.

Decide Size for Your Enamel Pin

Next, you need to decide finally, what size is the best for your enamel pin.
Now your artwork and pin material is ready, how would you choose the size of your pins? Usually, minor pins are among .75-1.25 inches wide or long. All it makes them portable and more convenient to adjust to any surface and typically they are affordable.
One drawback to smaller pins is they generally don’t have space to put more details when you need to design.
Pins bigger than 1.25 inches wide or long, possibly allow more detailing area when you are working on a larger picture, but the size confines the places where they may be pinned too. Most likely people on their collars, don’t wear pins bigger than a 2-inch.
If you run out of budget or need an effortless design, smaller pins are more likely the best bet. Usually, size is the major factor that determines the price. In the case, if you need detailed pins or don’t want a higher price, then bigger pins are the best deal.

How to Create Own Custom Lapel Pin

With custom pins, you can smoothly promote your business, raise awareness while spreading buzz around a new thing or incite your fan following. You can get guidance throughout the process of making own lapel pins.  
Together with a reliable firm, you can simply and amazingly put your idea in terms of making pins. 

Why Choose Our Pins? 

Our wholesale lapel pins are made with the utmost care. We do wholesale custom pins. And since it is cheaper to buy in bulk, you can pick up custom pins for the whole company. You won’t go out of your budget. We will help you in selecting the colors, fonts, fills, backing, and so much more. And in case you don’t know what any of that means, fear not. We have helpful staff. They are dedicated to making sure you get what you want. They understand your order fully. You will feel great handing the pins out to your coworkers, friends, and family.

Customization Examples

The sky’s the limit with our custom pins. If you want neon colors, primary colors, neutral tones or something in between, we can make it happen. We can do glitter work; make lapel pins glow in the dark and more. We can put a cool finish on a pin to make it look stylish. There are plenty of shapes to choose from. We can put your lapel pins in a neat square or circle. Or, we can do a custom shape as well, that will make your pin’s design really catchy for everybody around you.

Lapel Pins Help Employees Feel Appreciated

Lapel Pins, challenge coins, medals, and more. These are all things you are likely to find in any great office. Why is it so?
Well, they help employees feel like a part of something greater. They recognize that the employee is a part of a group doing something great for the people you serve.
Employees can look back at times they took part in a special event commemorated by a pin. Then they can feel great about the hard work they put in that day.
Employees also love decorating work uniforms with lapel pins. Foodservice employees or retail workers that have to wear vests or hats can show off their personality.

Stand Out At Trade Shows 

Giveaways work with creative designs of pins. They keep people coming back. They make an impression. You can make an impression too.
Try giving away a pin at the next trade show. The custom pins go anywhere. It can go on a purse, backpack or bag. Even if used as a tack it will stick in mind.
Plus, our prices are very competitive. You can order enough to give to the whole crowd. Alternatively, you can order enough pins to use as a reward in games at your booth.
It will get the people clamoring to see what you and your company are all about.

Boost Your Brand

You are not on the clock all the time. However, you can never miss a chance to make a sale or make your name known.
Custom pins are a nice non-intrusive way to get conversations started. A fun shaped lapel pin on your jacket is a way to do this.
Prospective clients will want to know what are you offering and what your company does. This could very well lead to a sale or contract down the road.

Ready to Buy?

If you’re ready to buy so are we. Contact us to get the best price and quality for your money. We are excited and ready to help with any design or style. Your recipients will treasure their pin for years to come.