Making an Offset Pin From Scratch
While they each have distinctive features, die struck pins, soft enamel pins and cloisonne pins have a very similar production process. It starts with creating a custom die of your design and then striking sheets of metal with that die, leaving detailed impressions of your artwork in the metal.
From there, each goes through deburring, metal plating and coloring at different times and in different ways to create the characteristic look and feel of each type of pin. When it comes to offset printed lapel pins, the process looks very different.
It starts with a photograph. If you’re looking for a way to capture a loved one’s face, a detailed image or even a company logo, all you need to get started is the image in question. Once you send it our way, our art team will set to work formatting the image for production. Our production team reproduces the image in the form of small photo prints and seals them into freshly struck lapel pins.
It’s called “offset” printing because the actual ink of the photograph is not applied directly to the pins. The small photo prints are created on a rubber blanket and then rolled onto the pins. From there, the images are sealed in place with a layer of clear epoxy. At the end of this process, you get a picture-perfect design.
While many of the photo printed lapel pins we help create only have an offset printed photograph making up the design, there are ways to mix and match offset printing with soft enamel or cloisonne designs. This gives you the best of both worlds, resulting in a truly one of a kind pin design.
Mixing Offset Printed Designs with Soft Enamel and Cloisonne
Whether you have a photograph in mind or you need help coming up with a unique design to offset print onto a set of custom lapel pins, we’ve got you covered. While a design that’s entirely dedicated to an offset image will have incredible detail, embellishing the artwork with a soft or hard enamel frame can help the design shine even brighter.
Just like a painting or a family photo on the mantel benefits from an intricate frame, so too does an offset pin. Using a soft enamel border around the offset printed photograph is a great way to accentuate the artwork and add labels or emblems that are not included in the image.
Soft enamel designs are well suited for incorporating text or colorful borders, but the jewelry quality and smooth texture of a cloisonne design melds perfectly with the seamless epoxy coating used on photo pins. Choosing between the two is a matter of personal preference, but if you aren’t sure which one you like best, be sure to let us know. Our sales team will be happy to offer advice based on our years of experience, as well as provide more examples for you to peruse.
Getting Started on Your Own Photo Printed Pin Design
To get started on a photo printed pin design of your own, all you need to do is fill out a free quote form on our website. While filling out the quote form, you’ll be able to upload the artwork you want included in the offset pin design, let us know what size pins you need, and choose an attachment option.
Every order of pins includes a butterfly clutch or rubber clutch attachment free of charge, but we also have magnetic backings, safety pin backings and even cufflink attachments should you be looking for an upgrade.
Once the quote form is completed, our art team will set to work and have your first free proof of artwork ready within 48 hours. From there, feel free to make as many adjustments as you need until the artwork is just right. You won’t have to pay a dime until you’re completely satisfied with your offset pin design and ready to order.
The production process for offset pins has a few more steps than the other types of pins we offer. To cover the cost of formatting your image for production, creating the photo prints, and sealing the images into the pins, a $100 plate fee is included on every order of offset printed lapel pins. Even though the process takes a little more time on average, you can still expect your custom pins to arrive in 14 days or fewer once you place your order.
Choosing the Industry’s Best Custom Pin Maker
Here at Signature Pins, we take pride in our craft and work hard to ensure every customer receives high-quality products and the best customer service available. Every order is backed by our 100% quality guarantee and comes with free shipping to the continental United States.
Offset pins can capture life’s most important moments with beautiful detail and color. Adding a soft enamel or cloisonne border around the design is a sure way to make your artwork stand out from the crowd, but even without a decorative border, a custom printed pin is something special to behold. If you have an idea for your own photo pins, give us a call today, and see what makes us the best custom pin maker online.
