When looking to chose the right pin for your team, there are a lot of factors to consider. What type of pin is right for your needs and budget? How big should your pin be? Should my pin have a dangle? Should you put a date on the pin? Do I want to have a pin with lights or gemstones? Should you design a Hard Enamel Cloisonne, Stamped Soft Enamel, a Soft Enamel with an Epoxy Dome, or a Photo Etched Enamel with an Epoxy Dome? All of these questions go into the decision process. Without getting into a lot of technical details here are the differences between the types of pins you may be considering.
The most popular pin on the market today is the Hard Enamel Cloisonne Pin. This is the original cloisonne pin which dates back at least 2000 years in Europe and 500 in China where the art form reached its greatest expression to date. This pin is die cast, colors added, and polished to a brilliant finish. Each color is added to the pin, fired, then polished. The thickness of the pin is usually between 1.2 to 1.6mm according to the size of the pin. Every 0.2mm thickness you may want will add to the cost of the pin. You are limited as to the number of colors you may choose with this type of pin.
The Soft Enamel Pin is made similar to the Hard Enamel, but the color is added in a different manner. Resins are used to apply the colors to the pin and you can match any of the Pantone (PMS) colors that are standard in the printing industry worldwide. This type of pin is die struck into a metal, a copper bronze metal surface just like the true Hard Enamel pin.
When you are considering the design of your pin, an important consideration is the choice of colors. Usually, most pin manufacturers will allow you to design your pin with up to five colors at no additional charge. Some manufactures will charge you extra for more than three colors. Be sure to ask how many colors are included when you order you trading pins. The color of the base metal is not considered a color when you are talking colors on your pin. The colors of the trading pin are important when you are communicating with your pin manufacturer. All pin manufacturers should go by the universally recognized color matching system of PANTONE COLORS, or PMS colors. Your pin manufacturer should be able to furnish you swatches of the colors you have chosen. This will insure that you get the colors on your pin that you want. You will not be surprised when your pins arrive!
When you are ready to design and order your pin, you need to know a few common points generic to all pin manufactures. You will be asked for camera ready art. Camera ready art is a black and white rendition of your pin with each color represented individually. This is commonly known as color separated camera ready art. Faxed art is not considered camera ready. Some manufactures will prepare your camera ready art for you if you furnish them a drawing of your pin design. Any good manufacture that wants your business whould provide you with a color rendition of your design based upon your fax or drawing. This color rendition of your pin design will help you decide if the colors you chose are really the ones you want. Don’t look for the pin manufacturer to furnish you with a copy of color separated camera ready art unless you have placed your order for pins with the manufacturer.
The size of the pin is determined by measuring your pin design from the farthest point to the opposite farthest point. For example, if your pin is in the design of the state of California with copy in the state, the size would be determined by the distance from the top of the state to the bottom of the state. Pin sizes can range from ½ inch and up. One important point to remember when considering size is to remember what you want to have displayed or written on your pin. If you try to put to much verbiage or graphic detail on your pin it will be crowded and you won’t be able to read what is on the pin. You will be dissatisfied with the pin and the pin manufacturer. It is always wise to listen to the advise of the manufacturer when he tells you that your pin is getting to cluttered.
These are attachments to the main pin either attached to some exterior portion of the pin or attached in a cut out area in the main pin itself. Dangles are actually separate pins themselves without a fastener on the back. They are usually attached with a chain or a single loop. There are many different "Stock" dangles out there that can save you money if you choose them, but if you really want to make your pin show your own character of your team, design a unique dangle that represents your team theme.
Production time is always the first question asked after the cost. Production time can vary from three to six weeks depending upon the manufacturer you chose. It is very important to remember, DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE to order your pins. Always give a specific date that the manufacturer agrees the pins will be delivered by. Since most of the pins are made overseas, they must clear customs. Sometimes there are delays in clearing customs and this it totally out of the control of your pin manufacturer. It can take as little as three hours and as long as five days to clear customs. Remember these are Federal employees!
In the end there is the bottom line. What will my pins cost per pin? If a manufacturer charges for art, die, per color, etc., just remenber to add it all up and divide by the number of pins to get the TRUE COST per pin. Also be sure that each manufactruer you seek out to get quotes is quoting on the same type on pin (Hard Enamel Cloisonne, Soft Enamel Cloisonne, Photo Etched, Etc.)
And Remember there is NEVER a
at TOM’S PINS
Above all ENJOY TRADING YOUR TEAM PINS!