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When deciding the process (manufacturing method) of your custom lapel pins, please be questionable of what many claim to be the lowest cost or make the mistake of thinking the highest cost is the best. Most often this decision will greatly depend on your intended design because not every process is possible with all designs. Overall Epola hard enamel will give you the finest quality pins found anywhere! The vast majority of collectible pins such as Disney pins, Olympic pins, Pro Sports (NFL, NBA etc.)pins , Hard Rock Cafe and so many other Licensed pins are made of the Epola process.
US Pin charges the same for any of the most popular processes. If unsure of the process to utilize, send us your art for our recommendation and quote.
Cloisonné- Cloisonné is the original method of producing pins. For a
cloisonné pin, your design is imprinted into the base metal, providing depth and
creating a jewelry-like effect. The colors are separated by a fine metal line,
usually in gold or silver, depending on the base metal color, which both
prevents the colors from flowing together and helps to draw out the appearance
of the colors. For a cloisonné pin, we would refer to our AOKI chart of
approx. 150 colors to choose those that most accurately match your design. The
pins have a semi-smooth finish and are exceptionally durable, making them the
longest lasting pin choice. However, with cloisonné pins, there are natural
flaws in the enamels. This is to be expected, and is by no means a flaw in the
manufacturing process.
Epola-
Epola, often called Imitation Hard Enamel or
Imitation Cloisonné, is much like original cloisonné -and is our specialty. The
base metal is raised as fine lines to separate the colors so they will not
flow together and provides contrast in the design, as does the cloisonné. Also
similar to cloisonné, epola has a hard, glasslike, jewelry type appearance and
provides a smooth, shiny, finish. With an epola pin, there are nearly 1000
vibrant colors to choose from, making it much easier to match the colors exactly
to your design. Unlike cloisonné, the colors are even and regular, without any
inherent flaws in the enamel. Epola is a great choice for simple to moderately
detailed designs, and will convey your design with better detail and sharpness than traditional cloisonné. Epola has become the most popular type of pin today,
due to the various array of possibilities it provides in creating the perfect
custom pin.
Soft Enamel-
Soft Enamel pins are similar in appearance to
original cloisonné pins or Epola in that they are also made by imprinting your
design into a base metal. With soft enamel, there are 100’s of colors to choose
from to match the specifications of your design. Rather than a flat finish, the
surface of soft enamel pins can be coated in a epoxy glaze, which is a clear
coating that forms a slight “dome” over the surface of the pin as a means of
protecting the finish. Since the enamel colors are soft, they are more
susceptible to fading and scratching, which is why the epoxy glaze is highly
recommended with this type of pin. The coating will protect the colors, although
it too may scratch when in contact with hard surfaces such as other pins, keys,
etc, or from excessive handling.
Photo
Etching- With a photo etched pin,
your design is etched into brass and filled with soft enamel color. These are a
slightly thinner pin, making them more lightweight, which is great for larger
pins with very fine details. The outer shape of a photo etched pin cannot be cut
quite as sharp, so they tend to be a more rounded pin. Epoxy glaze protects the
finish of these pins.
Die
Struck/Stamp-
These pins are made as a medal is of just the base
metal color usually of gold or silver plating. Optional is sandblasting, brushed
finish or antiquing. They are produced by stamping your design into the metal,
similar to embossing. With the raised areas polished and the recessed
areas sandblasted a rich looking pin with great contrast is the
result. Die struck/stamp is a good choice for a classy pin with few or no enamel
colors.
Silkscreen-
Silkscreen pins are not as thick nor as heavy as
Cloisonné or Epola. Unlike the other methods, they are created by transferring
your design onto the surface of the base metal. They also do not have lines
separating the colors, and therefore can be more detailed. You may choose
whether you would like an epoxy coating to protect the finish. Silkscreen is a
good choice if a very thin, lightweight pin is desired.
Photo
Print- Photo
Print is an ideal process if you are looking to have a photograph or logo
transformed into a pin design. Photo Print provides for blending of colors,
gradients, and shading of colors, as well as complex designs. They are similar
to the silkscreen pins, yet not as thin. It is a good choice for photo-type pins
and those designs in which base metal lines separating the colors would not be
practical. Since it is a “photograph type” pin, there is no extra charge for a
large number of colors.
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