Custom metal badges are becoming popular increasingly in recent years as their versatile uses and affordable cost. They are a great item to promote business, raise awareness, raise funds, and more. Custom metal badges are fun to wear and easy to create. Here at Morning Craft, we can high custom metal badges. You can wear your metal badges on T-shirts, suits, jeans, jackets, hats, bags, and shoes.
If you want to create your custom metal badges, well, you are at the right place. Today, we will cover everything you need to consider when you create your custom metal badges from design, and production to order. We will walk you through the whole manufacturing process step by step.
1, Custom Metal Badges Design
The first thing to do is to create your unique design. The basic rule is as simple as possible. Custom metal badges are not so big. So, try to express your message which is most important to your design.
color
Most custom metal badges use Pantone solid color for enamel color filling. So, try not to use CMYK or RGB colors. Colors may vary from screen to screen. If you think the color is very important, just buy a Pantone color book for reference. Here at Morning Craft, we can create sample metal badges before running into mass production.
line works
Keep all the lines connected. Do not use small text as they will not always come out well.
format
Normally, design files in vector format are the most preferred. Many manufacturers use Adobe Illustrator to create metal badges. Sending your manufacturer’s vector file can save time for proof and keep the details as close to your design as possible. Here at Morning Craft, we can also work with a JPGE file if you don’t have a vector file.
2, Metal Badges Manufacturing
Hard enamel or soft enamel?
Before running into manufacturing, there is some basic knowledge you need to know. Enamel is the fluid paint. There are two types of enamel which include hard enamel and soft enamel. These are two different coloring processes. So, which one is your best option? Here are the differences you need to know before making a decision.
soft enamel
A thin layer of soft enamel is filled into the recessed area color by color. The is a dimensional look on the soft enamel metal badges. The enamel paint is lower than the metal lines. You can feel the metal ridges if you touch the badges. If you have a low budget, soft enamel is an ideal option.
hard enamel
A thick hard enamel is applied to the custom metal badges. When it is dried, excess enamel is polished off the surface. The enamel and metal lines are at the same level. Hard enamel badges have a beautiful smooth finish. If you want your custom metal badges to have a flat surface like a jewelry look, hard enamel is an ideal option.
Finishes of Custom Metal Badges
Specify your color for metal on your design file. If you want black, black nickel is an ideal choice. Here at Morning Craft, we can do gold, silver, copper, bronze, dyed black, antique gold, antique silver, matte gold, and more. Most of them are available for soft enamel metal badges and some are suitable for hard enamel metal badges. For hard enamel, plating comes after color filling so dyed black and antique plating are not applicable because they will make the enamel dirty.
Back stamp
Some text or simple design can be put on the back of the badges. It can be embossed or engraved. Embossed or raised back stamp is the common option. If your metal badge is huge, a recessed back stamp with ink can be done.
Other special enamel options for Custom Metal badges
If you want your custom metal badges to stand out, just add glitter, glow-in-the-dark, or translucent enamel. They will make difference from the rest.
glitter
Glitters are a good way to make a metal badge sparkle in the light. The commonly used glitter colors are gold, silver, red and purple. You can choose to fill the glitters into the whole badge or just add a little to highlight the details.
glow-in-the-dark enamel
If you want your badges to glow or be in the dark, glow-in-the-dark is a great option. It is great for designs related to Halloween, fairies, galaxies, and more.
translucent Enamel
Translucent enamel gives the metal badges a transparent look that is creative, unique, and attractive.