Lapel pins have been used for many years, as an effective means of conveying an organization, rank, achievement, or a simple ideology. Not only do lapel pins convey these messages very effectively, but they also cost way less than the other means or propaganda for furnishing similar purposes.
At that, many, if not most lapel manufacturing companies, offer a variety of choices in providing theircustomers with the knowledge, in designing their own custom lapel pins.
Pin Types
a. Cloisonné Lapel Pins - These pins are die-struck from a copper bronze base. A die is designed to imprint a particular design onto the metal. The pin outline and any cut-outs are then cut using another mold. Colors are hand crafted with a glass-like powdered mixture. The colors are fired one at a time, at a temperature of 1,600 F for around two to four minutes. This two step process ensures that a bleeding of the colors is avoided. Next, the pins are individually polished by hand and plated with gold or silver. Lastly each pin is inspected to determine quality and is individually packaged.
b. Die Struck Lapel Pins - In die struck pins, a die is cut to the image of a particular design, a practical method used when orders are done repeatedly. The image is then stamped on a sheet of copper or iron. Copper results in a sharper image since it is a softer metal, but at a slightly higher cost than using iron. The cutting molds are designed separately, and the pins are carefully cut out to the outline of the design shape. Electroplating is next in the process, and for this type of pin the most common plating element is gold on gold, but other metals, such as silver and black nickel are also available. The raised metal surfaces are then artistically polished to an attractive luster finish while the recessed areas are left with a sandblasted effect.
c. Soft Enamel Lapel Pins - The process of soft enameling is based on the same technique when manufacturing die struck pins. A die is cut to the image of the design. The image is then stamped on the sheet of either iron or copper, and is carefully cut out to the outline of the design shape. Plating the cut out is the next step, and for this type of pin gold and nickel (silver) is commonly used, but copper and black nickel is also a readily available option. The raised metal surfaces are then polished to a luster finish while the recessed areas are filled with paint enamel of a particular color. The Pantone based paints allow the selected colors the pins to be clearly visible in the recesses of the pin, leaving the raised polished metal areas slightly above the color, which gives a 3-dimensional effect. The Soft Enamel is one of the most popular choices for custom designed pins, it offers a great looking item for a price slightly less than that of the cloisonné' type.
d. Offset Printed Lapel Pins - an image of the design is transferred from a photographic negative onto the surface of the metal base. The offset printed style of lapel pin is used in when a gradient of color shift is necessary in the design. Using the offset printed process manufacturers are able to print images, pictures, and camera ready artwork using the 4-color process. The image on the negative is offset printed onto the pin, with a choice of either gold or nickel (silver) as a base metal, then a clear epoxy dome is applied on the surface of the print as a protective film over the image. It is recommended that 300dpi Camera ready artwork is used for this process to ensure that the image is of high quality and readily formatted for printing.
e. Silk Screen Lapel Pins - These pins are an optimal choice as trade show giveaways. This pin style requires a .8mm pin blank and screens the design onto the pin one color at a time. This is the best choice of pin when corporate branding guidelines are not conducive for metal borders found in the die struck or cloisonné' pin types. There is usually a silk screen setup charge for this style of pin, which is something to keep in mind if you're ordering in smaller quantities and are looking for the best value. An epoxy protective coating is an extra option, and can be applied to protect the surface of the color enamels, keeping the design from fading or cracking over time.
With the lapel pin types explained in considerable detail, you will be able to determine which one best suits your needs, which makes it easier for you to pick the right one for the occasion, without burning a hole in your pocket. Happy pin hunting.
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