subject: Custom Lapel Pins Have Multiple Styles, Many Uses [print this page] Custom Lapel Pins Have Multiple Styles, Many Uses
Custom lapel pins have many uses. Whether they raise awareness and funds for nonprofit organizations and social causes, promote businesses or celebrate the camaraderie of Little League, custom lapel pins are versatile enough to do it all.
Sports trading pins are some of the most popular custom lapel pins available. From the times when Olympic athletes traded pins at the Games to celebrate international friendship, they have grown into a major hobby and part of youth sports the world over. Little League baseball issued its first official trading pin in the 1980s, prompting the market for custom lapel pins for teams to explode. Trading pins are just about everywhere at Little League games and tournaments now, and other team sports have adopted custom lapel pins for trading as well.
For showing support for causes, ribbon custom lapel pins remain popular. Many people wear pink ribbon pins to support breast cancer research, camo or yellow pins to support U.S. troops, and many other colors to support specific causes important to them.
Employee recognition custom lapel pins are a great way to boost workplace morale. Many businesses recognize employees' years of service on the job with custom lapel pins. Others use them to identify team members, recognize outstanding job performance, or to promote the company's products or services.
Custom lapel pins are available in a variety of materials and styles, with pin sizes and types to fit just about any need and budget. The right style depends on the specific application.
Cloisonn custom lapel pins are the finest quality lapel pins available. These pins feature a fine jewelry-quality finish. The pins are die-struck to create raised and recessed areas. The recesses are then filled with a glass-like mixture of hard enamel and each color is individually fired at high temperatures. Because the manufacturing process is complex and time-consuming, these are the most expensive type of custom lapel pins. For that reason, cloisonn pins are most suitable for business pins, and used for sports trading pins only rarely.
The appearance of soft enamel custom lapel pins is similar to that of cloisonn pins. Because the colors are made from soft enamel and fired at a lower temperature, however, soft enamel pins are more affordable. These custom lapel pins are the most popular style for sports trading pins.
Die-struck custom lapel pins, which have no color added, are most commonly used for military-style pins. The custom lapel pins are stamped from a die, and recessed areas are sandblasted to give them a grainy appearance. These pins feature a formal, ceremonial look.
Offset digital custom lapel pins are perfect if you need to accurately reproduce fine lines, photographs, gradients and drop shadows. A photograph-quality image is printed directly onto the pins. Silkscreen printed custom lapel pins allow exact reproduction of logos, trademarks and drawings. They are an excellent choice for company custom lapel pins.
Photo etched custom lapel pins are an economical choice. Because they are made of a thinner metal than die struck pin styles, they will be lighter to wear, but also less durable. These custom lapel pins require an epoxy coating for maximum durability.
