Process – Pinzone Pins | Award Pins

Welcome to our Gallery. Getting set up with your own customized pin is as simple as following the five steps below. Do you have your own artwork? Skip step 1 and go straight to step 2.

STEP 1: Category

If you don’t already have your own artwork use the categories below to inspire your creative juices. Found a pin that you love, you can simply order that one as well. If you have your own artwork you can skip this step.

Sports

Corporate

Charity

Misc.

STEP 2: Pin Types

Use the navigation on the left to find the pin type that you are interested in.

Cloisonne (CLOY-ZUN-NAY) Trading Pins

Cloisonne is most traditional and jewelry-like process to produce pins. Base material is die struck copper. All colors are created using a cloisonne material which is placed onto the metal by hand and oven baked at high temperatures to obtain a smooth jewelry like finish. Colors are usually outlined with metal.

Cloisonne trading pins are inherently scratch resistant and do not require an epoxy dome for protection. Cloisonne pins are top of the line pins. Hard enamel is the most expensive among the other processes due to the sophisticated skills and attention to detail.

Soft Enamel Trading Pins

Soft enamel trading pins are similar to hard enamel pins, but more affordable. That’s why they've gained popularity. Like hard enamel cloisonné, soft enamel pins have that fine jewelry feel. They are the #1 choice for many sports teams for trading pins.

Dir-Struck Trading Pins

Die-struck pins provide a 3-d, jewelry effect for classy pins. These pins are great for a high quality pin at a competitive price. Many finishing options are available with this process. Our highly trained customer service representatives can guide you in designing your pins using this process.

The production for die-struck is almost the same as cloisonné or soft enamel, but without hard enamel or soft enamel color. Since there are no colors on the pin, we can use various finishing options for your pins using this technique. You can choose sand blasting, antique bronze, two-tone (gold and silver). Satin or matte finishes provide different textures or finishes for your background choices.

Photo Etched Trading Pins

Is good choice for sports trading pins, larger pins and pins with blinking lights. With lighter weight of 0.8mm thick brass material, pins are produced by a photographic and chemical etching process as opposed to die striking, while allowing for more detailed designs and colors. Pins are cheaper and lighter than die-struck soft enamel pins.

Your custom pin design is etched onto a brass plate. The design is then filled with soft enamel colors (from PMS color chart). The pins are then fired at a high temperature to ensure durability and high quality. Pins are polished and the surface may be protected with a clear finish/epoxy dome recommended to protect the colors of your pins. Low cost method of production and low minimum production quantity.

Screen Print Trading Pins

Newest method of pin production. Colors are silk screen printed onto abrass base material in a method similar to screening T-shirts except on a very small scale. PANTONE colors are utilized and protected with an epoxy dome. The process is relatively low cost and the pins are high quality. This process is great for designs with many small details and gradient coloring.

It s easy to tell a screen printed pin because there is no separation of metal between the colors, because the design is simply screened onto the metal. There are no "grooves" that you can feel on the pin, because the colors are not separated by metal like die-struck or soft enamel pins. The cut-out of the pin is still the same though. Many sports teams pick this process due to lower cost and HIGH level of design detail. What you see on your computer screen for design, is what you get on the pin. It s exactly the same black outlines and colors. Like cloisonné, soft enamel or die-struck production methods, an epoxy coating is recommended to seal the design and protect your pins from scratching and fading.

STEP 3: Addons

Do you want your pin to look unique? We have a variety of addons that you can choose from to give your pin that special appearance you are looking for.