What's the difference between hard and soft enamel pins? Soft enamel pins have raised metal edges that give them texture, are less expensive, and offer more design flexibility. So you may have 99 problems, but now pin design ain’t one. We’ve partnered with 99designs to give you access to hundreds of artists and graphic designers, all competing for the chance to work with you. If you have a theme for your pin but lack the artistic background to make it a reality, we have the solution. Hard or soft enamel is an important consideration for your pin. You’ve got 99 designs but your pin ain’t one Ī post shared by WizardPins fact, any time you’re making a commemorative pin that needs to stand the test of time, hard enamel should be an easy choice. Those edges would be less clear on a hard enamel pin.Īnd here’s an incredible example from artist and WizardPin’s customer Freehand Profit. You can see the detailed edges of the palm tree and helicopter. Here’s a soft enamel pin we made as an homage to the movie Step Brothers. Since soft enamel pins don’t go through the polishing step, every exposed metal edge stays sharp. Some complex pin artwork needs some edges to remain sharp or the design becomes blurred. Polishing rounds out the metal edges of a hard enamel pin. They work well with both simple and complex designs Soft enamel pins have two design advantages since they don’t go through the polishing step in the production process. Soft enamel pins allow more design flexibility But notice it doesn’t stick out above any of the black or colored enamel sections. If you look closely at this funky pin we made, you’ll see the exposed, shiny gold plating. But you’re restricted to only shiny metals like gold or silver. The magic of electroplating still allows you to add a thin veneer of metal over the exposed iron or zinc edges of a hard enamel pin. You can still see the metal plating it’s just smooth so there are no raised edges. The enamel that’s been overfilled and baked gets polished down, so it’s level with the plating. So if a pin has five unique colors, it will be baked five times. Hard enamel pins are baked after each color of enamel is added. Also, note that the enamel filling happens before electroplating in this process. Unlike in soft enamel pins, each cavity of a hard enamel pin is overfilled with enamel. Hard enamel pin constructionīoth the number and order of steps it takes to make a hard enamel pin are different. The colored enamel is recessed.įinally, the pin gets placed in an oven and baked to set the enamel. In this wizardly little example, the silver plating is raised, forming both the outer edge of the pin as well as some of the design elements. That’s why you can feel the raised metal edges in soft enamel pins. In soft enamel pins, each cavity is only partially filled. The next step is to put liquefied colored enamel in the cavities of the metal base. The plating can also be dyed with a color at this stage. Once the plating is ready, there are three steps to completing a soft enamel pin.Įlectroplating is the process of adding an outer layer of metal, like gold or silver, to the pin’s base of iron or zinc alloy. After that, their paths to pin perfection diverge, with different steps required for each pin type. The production process for hard and soft enamel pins starts out the same: create a mold from the pin design, then use the mold to punch or form the pin’s plating (the metal base of the pin). Soft and hard enamel pins go through different production processes If you’re serious about creating a pin people will love, then understanding what makes hard and soft enamel pins unique is the first step. Those characteristics mean that each option is best for certain designs and pin purposes. Hard enamel pins are smooth and shiny, more durable, and take longer to make. What’s the difference between hard and soft enamel? Soft enamel pins have raised metal edges that give them texture, are less expensive, and offer more design flexibility. But before you get into color choice, artwork, or backer design, you have an important decision to make: soft enamel or hard enamel. Creating your first custom enamel pin is fun.
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