Choosing a Custom Pin Style

Soft Enamel Pins are the most popular style of pin. It is the standard option that we recommend to 90% of our customers for it’s high-quality and inexpensive price point.

The Look: Soft Enamel Pins are made from metal (iron or zinc alloy) and then filled with enamel color. The result is a textured surface where you can feel the raised and recessed details of the design. It has the “grooved” or “textured” feel. Enamel colors cannot have shading/gradients. The colors must be solid and separated by metal lines. Custom shapes are allowed at no additional cost.

Production Time: 2-3 weeks

Hard Enamel Pins are the second most popular style of pin. They are produced in the same manner as Soft Enamel Pins however, the enamel color is filled to the top of the mold and the surface is polished flat.

The Look: Hard Enamel Pins have a higher perceived value and are slightly more expensive than Soft Enamel. There are no raised/recessed details and they have a “smooth” and “polished” feel. Custom shapes are allowed at no additional cost.

Production Time: 2-3 weeks


Photodome Printed Pins are recommended for highly detailed designs that have shading or gradient colors. Even the most complex designs can be achieved in Photodome. The designs are printed rather than filled with enamel colors, unlike hard and soft enamel.

The Look: Photodome Pins have a lower perceived value than enamel pins and are only recommend for customers who have highly complex designs that can’t be achieved in hard or soft enamel. The printed designs are typically covered with an epoxy dome to increase durability and longevity. Custom shapes are allowed at no additional cost.

Production Time: 2-3 weeks

Diestruck Antique Pins are similar to soft enamel without colors. There is a textured surface where you can feel the raised and recessed details of the design. The metal is "antiqued" meaning it provides a matte or lusterless look. Custom shapes are allowed at no additional cost.

The Look: All antique metal and no colors.

Production Time: 2-3 weeks

Sand Blast Polish Pins are similar to Diestruck Antique pins, however the finish is polished and shiny. Custom shapes are allowed.

The Look: All shiny metal and no colors.

Production Time: 2-3 weeks

Rush Printed Pins are the only option for customers who need their pins sooner than 2 weeks. The design is a digitally printed laminate that is applied to a stock shape (ie. circle, square, or rectangle). Custom shapes are not allowed.

The Look: Rush Printed Pins most closely resemble Photodome in that the designs are digitally printed and can accommodate the highest levels of detail. However, they are typically not covered in an epoxy dome.

Production Time: 2 days

See All Articles