Welcome to the World of Pins!
Let us help you select the type of pin that works best for you.
Pins are versatile - fun to collect, trade, and display. Whatever your needs, HPI Emblem has lots of custom pin options for you to choose from.
Types of pins:
Hard Enamel - To create this type of pin, the hard enamel paste is hand-filled into the mold, baked, ground flat, and then polished to make a smooth and scratch-resistant surface. Hard enamel pins look similar to cloisonné, an ancient enameling technique that’s still popular today.
pros - Hard enamel is perfect if you want to add a jewelry-like finish to your design, or would like a smooth, polished surface.
cons - Keep in mind that the metal plating will show on the design, and hard enamel pins can’t have painted plating. Also, gradients won’t work with hard enamel.
Soft Enamel - The process for soft enamel is a bit different. First, the recessed areas of the mold are hand-filled with soft enamel. Then, the metal is plated with your choice of metal finishes or custom colors. To protect the enamel from scratches, we can add an epoxy dome.
pros - Soft enamel is perfect for adding contrast in lines and dimension to your design. It’s a great option for customers who need standard lapel pins for promotional giveaways, souvenirs, or team merch.
cons - Soft enamel isn’t ideal for small details on a pin or very small pins with lots of details. Gradients do not work with soft enamel pins, either.
Printed - Using offset printing, your design is printed directly onto the metal, then an epoxy dome is added over top of the pin.
pros - Printed pins are a cost-effective choice for highly detailed designs, or for artwork that has a lot of colors /gradients. There is no additional color cost for printed pins and we can match PMS colors.
cons - Although you can print lots of details on printed pins, the epoxy that protects the design can yellow over time.
Soft Rubber - These pins are created with a mold process using sturdy plastic material (PVC - Polyvinyl chloride).
pros - Although they’re not very common, soft rubber is a great choice for 3D shapes or pins having a soft, cute design. These pins are waterproof and durable. They can also be made into croc charms.
cons - Soft rubber doesn't work well with lots of details and colors.