Enamel pins have been around for over 1,000 years and have been used for promotion, reward and celebration by thousands of businesses all across the world.
The popularity of enamel pins has soared since about 2017, with art-based pins becoming a fashionable collectable item.
Their ongoing popularity means they are used in all sorts of ways, from school badges, to conference giveaways, or promoting the launch of new local businesses.
If you think creating a pin will help your business, then read on, as the below guide will tell you everything you need to know about making an enamel pin.
Design
First and foremost, every pin comes from a design, logo or piece of art.
If you wish to make a pin from an existing logo or artwork which already exists, we can help convert it into a proof ready for manufacture, for free.
If you don’t have the design ready but do have artistic flair, you can create the design yourself in Illustrator, Photoshop, GIMP, Inkscape or any other design package.
Alternatively, you can hire an artist/graphic designer locally or on a bidding site such as Upwork to produce an image for you.
Choosing the type of pin
Once you have your artwork ready, it’s time to decide what type of pin you should choose.
Hard enamel
Hard enamel pins are filled, baked and polished, which leads to thicker lines but a flatter smooth surface.
Soft enamel
Soft enamel pins are filled and baked, which means the enamel sinks a little, but means the integrity of the line work is kept and a lot of detail can be packed in.
Choose hard enamel if you want:
- A premium feel
- A design with fewer details
- A smooth, solid surface
- Have a design that works with thicker lines
Choose soft enamel if you want:
- To pack in a lot of detail
- Are designing a face
- Have a design that needs thin lines
Choose the add-ons
Our enamel pins come with a generous 5 colours as standard – however you may decide that your design really needs more to pop.
You will also be able to choose:
- Metal colour (gold, silver, gunmetal, copper)
- Whether to add any glitter
- Whether you need cut outs
- For fine detail, do you need to use screen print rather than just relying on linework?
Finishing touches
Depending on how you plan to use your pins, consider adding backing cards to your order to give the pins a ‘presentation’ feel.
Alternatively, consider whether an organza bag, velvet pouch or even a presentation box for an extra special touch will be right for you. We can help source all of these, including custom logo printing, on request.
How much do custom enamel pins cost?
Generally, enamel pins make a cost effective item whilst still having a luxurious feel.
Costs will be lowest with smaller pins, and unit costs will drop dramatically if a high quantity are ordered.
To get an exact cost visit the Hard Enamel Pin or Soft Enamel Pin pages.
Need a bit more support?
We’re here to help you every step of the way, from artwork through to final delivery.
So if you have any questions or need some advice, please do call us on 0118 234 9906 or email info@mottomerch.co.uk with the details.