Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-11-13 Origin: Site
Custom pins are a fantastic way to bring your brand, artwork, or message to life. They're a tangible piece of marketing, a wearable piece of art, and a powerful way to connect with an audience. If you've started exploring the world of custom pins, you've likely come across the term "soft enamel."
But what exactly are custom soft enamel pins, and are they the right choice for your project? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know. We'll cover what makes soft enamel unique, its pros and cons, and how it compares to its main alternative, hard enamel. By the end, you'll have the confidence to design and order the perfect pins for your needs.
Soft enamel is one of the most popular and classic styles for custom lapel pins. The name "soft enamel" is a bit misleading—the final product is anything but soft. It refers to the enamel paint itself, which is applied into the recessed areas of a die-struck metal base.
Here’s a breakdown of the manufacturing process:
1.Stamping the Design: Your design is stamped onto a metal sheet (usually iron or zinc alloy), creating raised metal lines that act as walls.
2.Filling with Enamel: Liquid enamel paint is carefully applied into the recessed areas of the design.
3.Baking: The pin is baked at a high temperature to harden the enamel. The key here is that the enamel fill settles below the level of the raised metal lines.
4.Finishing: An optional epoxy coating can be added on top to create a smooth, glossy surface, but the traditional soft enamel pin has a textured, dimensional feel.
This process results in a pin with a distinct look and feel. When you run your finger over a custom soft enamel pin, you can feel the raised metal outlines and the recessed, colored enamel. This gives the pin a tactile, 3D quality that many people love.
Feature | Description |
|---|---|
Texture | Raised metal lines and recessed enamel create a dimensional, tactile feel. |
Material | Typically made from die-struck iron, brass, or zinc alloy. |
Vibrancy | The enamel colors are bright and vibrant, making designs pop. |
Cost | Generally more budget-friendly than hard enamel pins. |
Detail | Excellent for designs with clear, defined lines and distinct color separation. |
Optional Coating | An epoxy dome can be added for a smooth, glossy finish and extra durability. |
Soft enamel pins are a popular choice for good reason. They offer a great balance of quality, affordability, and design flexibility. Here are some of the main benefits that make them a go-to option for artists, brands, and organizations.
One of the biggest advantages of custom soft enamel pins is their price point. The manufacturing process is less labor-intensive than hard enamel, which translates into lower costs, especially for larger orders. If you're working with a tight budget or need to produce a high volume of pins for an event, giveaway, or retail, soft enamel offers excellent value without compromising on impact.
The signature feature of soft enamel is its textured surface. The recessed enamel and raised metal lines create a tangible sense of depth that many designers and collectors find appealing. This dimensional quality can make intricate designs stand out and gives the pin a classic, traditional feel that's been popular for decades.
Soft enamel paints hold their color extremely well, resulting in vibrant, bold, and eye-catching designs. If your artwork relies on bright, poppy colors to make a statement, the soft enamel process ensures that those hues will be rendered accurately and vividly. The colors sit within their own metal-lined pockets, which prevents bleeding and keeps each part of the design crisp.
Because the process involves fewer steps than hard enamel (which requires repeated polishing and baking), the production time for custom soft enamel pins is often shorter. If you’re on a tight deadline for a product launch, conference, or event, choosing soft enamel can help you get your pins in hand more quickly.
When choosing a custom pin style, the most common decision you'll face is between soft and hard enamel. While both produce high-quality, durable pins, they have distinct differences in look, feel, and cost.
Hard enamel pins, also known as cloisonné, go through a different process. After the enamel is added, the pin is polished down until the enamel and the metal lines are on the same level. This creates a completely flat, smooth surface with a jewelry-like finish.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison to help you decide:
Feature | Soft Enamel Pins | Hard Enamel Pins |
|---|---|---|
Surface Finish | Textured with recessed enamel. | Flat, smooth, and polished. |
Feel | Dimensional and tactile. | Smooth and sleek, like a coin. |
Durability | Very durable, especially with an epoxy coating. | Extremely durable and resistant to scratching. |
Cost | More affordable. | More expensive due to the extra labor. |
Appearance | Classic, traditional look with noticeable depth. | Modern, high-end, jewelry-quality appearance. |
Metal Lines | More prominent and thicker. | Thinner and less prominent. |
When to choose hard enamel: Opt for hard enamel if you're aiming for a premium, jewelry-quality product. Its durability and smooth finish make it ideal for corporate logos, high-end retail merchandise, and designs where a sleek, modern aesthetic is paramount.
Ready to start designing? Keep these tips in mind to ensure your custom soft enamel pins turn out perfectly.
Pins are small, so complex designs with gradients or tiny details can get lost. Opt for bold lines, clear shapes, and distinct color areas. The raised metal lines are essential to the soft enamel process, so make sure they are an integral part of your design. A typical minimum thickness for these lines is 0.2mm.
Use a solid color palette. Soft enamel works best with Pantone Solid Coated colors, which allows for precise color matching. Limit your color count to keep the design clean and the costs down, as most manufacturers charge extra for each additional color.
The metal plating of your pin is the color of the raised metal lines and the back of the pin. Common options include:
◆Gold, Silver, and Copper: Classic, shiny finishes.
◆Black Nickel: A modern, sleek, gunmetal look.
◆Antique Gold/Silver: A darker, more rustic finish that can highlight details.
◆Dyed Metal: You can even dye the metal to match a Pantone color, often used for an all-black look.
Choose a plating that complements your design's colors and overall mood.
Pins typically range from 0.75 inches to 2 inches. A 1.25-inch pin is a popular and versatile size. You'll also need to select a backing clutch. A standard rubber clutch is the most common and comfortable choice, but locking pin backs are a great upgrade for added security.
Custom soft enamel pins offer a versatile, affordable, and visually striking way to share your message with the world. Their classic textured feel and vibrant colors make them a favorite for artists, brands, and organizations of all kinds. By understanding the unique characteristics of this style, you can make an informed decision and create a custom product that people will be proud to wear and collect.
Whether you're creating merchandise for your brand, rewarding employees, or commemorating a special event, soft enamel provides a reliable path to a high-quality, memorable product.
