Custom enamel pins fall into two main categories: soft enamel pins and hard enamel pins. If you’re planning to use custom enamel pins in your next promotional campaign, you’ve come to the right place.
Organizations across many industries rely on enamel pins as powerful branding tools that showcase identity and promote their message. These small, eye-catching items help businesses advertise products, recognize achievements, and foster team spirit. For instance, companies often reward top performers with custom pins, while clubs use them to represent membership and unity.
To select the best type of pin for your needs, it’s important to understand the key differences between soft enamel vs hard enamel pins. Each style offers distinct advantages depending on your goals, budget, and design preferences. By learning their unique strengths, you can confidently choose the perfect custom enamel pin for your brand or event.
However, many people struggle when deciding between hard and soft enamel pins due to a lack of understanding of their differences. By reading this guide, you’ll gain the insight needed to make an informed choice that suits your brand’s vision.
Soft Enamel Pins
Soft Enamel vs Hard Enamel. We begin creating a soft enamel pin by stamping and cutting the design from a metal sheet. After plating the metal, the stamping process forms raised and recessed areas, which create varied surface levels. Then, we fill the recessed areas with enamel paint to add vibrant color and detail.
This technique gives soft enamel pins their characteristic textured or “bumpy” feel, caused by the raised metal edges surrounding each color section. As a result, these pins stand out with a bold, tactile appearance.
Soft enamel pins generally cost less to produce than hard enamel pins, making them a budget-friendly option. Furthermore, many manufacturers offer a complimentary epoxy resin coating to protect the pin’s surface if desired.
The textured finish of soft enamel pins allows for intricate detailing and a wider variety of colors compared to die-struck pins, which lack enamel paint entirely.
Hard Enamel Pins
Also known as cloisonné pins, hard enamel pins offer a durable, jewelry-quality finish. They are known for their superior appearance and long-lasting wear. The process starts similarly to soft enamel pins, by stamping the design into a metal base. However, instead of enamel paint, colored resin fills the recessed areas.
Each color is baked individually at high temperatures. This curing process hardens the resin and locks in vibrant colors. After baking, the pin surface is polished to remove excess resin. This creates a smooth, even finish that sits flush with the metal lines.
As a result, hard enamel pins have a flat, flawless surface. This feature sets them apart from soft enamel pins. Their sleek and polished look not only enhances their appearance but also improves scratch resistance. Therefore, they are ideal for long-term wear and high-end presentations.
Moreover, using resin instead of traditional glass allows for a full range of Pantone colors. This offers greater flexibility without sacrificing durability. Compared to the textured metal lines of soft enamel pins, hard enamel pins provide sharper and more vivid designs.
In summary, hard enamel pins combine strength, precise colors, and elegance. This makes them a premium choice for brands seeking high-quality custom enamel pins.
Key Difference
| Hard Enamel Pins | Soft Enamel Pins |
| are high in durability. | have a medium durability. |
| These pins are effectively scratch-resistant. | These pins are prone to scratches. |
| Hard enamel pins come with a clean and polished look and feel. | Whereas, soft enamel pins come with a textured look with raised metal edges. |
| Hard enamel pins are not designed with complicated designs. They are kept clean as much as possible. | On the other hand, in soft enamel pins, intricate designs can be applied. |
| The hard enamel pins are primarily filled with enamel and then polished to make them flat. Hard enamel pins are the best option if you want silver or standard gold metal plating. | The metal plating step is executed for these pins before the enamel fill-in process. Hence, rainbow-plated or colored metal plates are available in these pins. |
| We offer the option of silk screen printing for this pin, allowing us to fill very small areas with enamel for precise, detailed designs. | In soft enamel pins, no option for silk screen printing is available. |
| Hard enamel pins are expensive to produce. | Enamel is applied once, so these pins are cheaper to make. |
When Should You Pick Soft Enamel and Hard Enamel Pins?
Soft enamel pins are popular for their intricate designs and textured appearance. If you want your pins to feature custom colors—whether rainbow-plated, painted black, or any other vibrant shade—soft enamel pins are an excellent choice. Their raised metal edges and colorful detail allow for creative, eye-catching designs with a tactile feel.
On the other hand, choose hard enamel pins if you need custom pins that are extremely durable with a smooth, polished finish. These exquisitely crafted pins are perfect as limited-edition keepsakes or rewards for top-performing staff members. Their flat, glossy surface offers a refined look that stands up well to wear over time.
Conclusion
Personalized pins provide a unique way to represent your company, celebrate milestones, and build lasting connections. Whether you prefer the textured charm of soft enamel or the sleek sophistication of hard enamel, The Pin Creator can craft the perfect pins to match your vision.
By understanding the key differences in this soft enamel vs hard enamel comparison, you can confidently select the ideal style for your pin-tastic projects. After all, the details make all the difference!