What distinguishes pins made of?
What distinguishes hard from soft lapel pins is a frequently asked subject.
The short response is: Because of the metal die lines, hard enamel has a smooth surface and soft enamel feels textured.
Best Response: The finishing texture is what differentiates hard and soft lapel pins the most. Soft enamel pins generally allow for more designs and colors, are less smooth, and are cheaper. Hard enamel, also known as Cloisonné, is more robust, scratch-resistant, and has a better finish.
The enamel is placed into a mold and heated to a relatively low temperature to create soft lapel pins. This baking technique results in the enamel drying all at once because the enamel is added all at once. This is what gives the soft lapel pins emblem a raised sensation when you run your finger over it.
Lapelpinshardens beneath the metal ridges of the mold, which hold the various components or colors and prevent them from blending. Your badge will appear layered or “dimensional” as a result.
indicating that soft lapel badges are not touchably smooth. The design’s recessed and raised elements can be felt.
Hard Lapel Pins (aka Cloisonné)
The best name badges are polished and more durable to maintain their luster over time.
The creation and baking of hard enamel differ slightly from that of soft enamel. Not only is the enamel added incrementally rather than all at once. To solidify and “cure” the lapel pins, it is baked at a significantly higher temperature.
Once baked, it is polished to a smooth finish, causing the lapel pins to level off with the metal die lines (the metal which keeps the colors from mixing). So you get a smooth finish when you rub your finger over the hard lapel pins badge.
How to pick？
-How to Choose Soft lapel pins
choosing soft lapel pins
The use of soft enamel is the only option to obtain an enamel badge with distinctive finishes such as rainbow plating, painting in black, or painting in any other bespoke color. Less scratch resistance exists in soft lapel pins. The most widely used enamel badges are soft enamel ones because they are long-lasting, inexpensive, especially when purchased in large quantities, and are what most people picture when they think of lapel pins badges.
One of the most well-liked pin varieties is soft enamel because it has a raised, textured appearance and feel that many people find appealing.
To cure and solidify the enamel, lapel pins need to be cooked in an oven. Soft enamel pins undergo metal plating before the enamel is filled in, in contrast to hard lapel pins. This indicates that some metal finishes are limited to soft lapel pins. Use soft lapel pins if you want your pin to be rainbow-plated, painted black, or painted any other bespoke color.
-How to Choose Hard lapel pins
choosing hard lapel pins
Because hard enamel is produced at far greater temperatures than soft lapel pins and is subsequently polished down, hard lapel pins are significantly more robust and scratch resistant. The choice between soft and hard enamel is typically only a matter of preference.
Hard lapel pins are much better suited for some finishes, such as gold and silver metal plating. Hard enamel is what you want if you require a badge that will last for a long time. Because they appear to be of superior quality, they are preferred in upscale settings.
Compared to soft and hard enamel pins are more robust and scratch-resistant. Because it has a more polished appearance than soft enamel, hard enamel is frequently preferred. Most of the time, it comes down to personal preference because both hard and soft lapel pins can accommodate a wide variety of designs.
Before being smoothed and flattened, the color is initially filled in with hard enamel pins. They are incompatible with some metal finishes because of the grinding and polishing. Pins might be an excellent option for your design if you desire traditional gold or silver metal plating.
-Black nickel versus painted black metal
The fact that some metal treatments are only available with soft lapel pins highlights a crucial difference between hard and soft lapel pins. Your metal can be painted any specific color you like using soft lapel pins. Black is the color of choice.
The only option if you want a black metal with durable lapel pins is black nickel. An extremely dark gray hue, black nickel has a subtle sheen to it. Soft lapel pins are your best option if having your metal be a real, dark black is crucial to your design. Only soft lapel pins can be anodized, commonly known as rainbow plating.
Do hard and soft lapel pins have a higher price difference?
Soft enamel pins are at the forefront of the enamel pin trend and are available in gift stores, The Best enamel pins manufacturer, and businesses alike. They are slightly more affordable to create and order than hard. However, a hard enamel pin’s smooth finish is more robust and has a significantly higher perceived value.
What Material Is Better for My Design?
Both soft lapel pins and hard lapel pins are fantastic, premium pin choices. Depending on your pin design, you should make the best decision. (Have you yet created your pin? Discover here how to create a fantastic enamel pin.)
A soft badge is perhaps your best option if your design is more intricate or detailed. Fine details can be accommodated more easily with soft enamel pins than with hard badges.
A hard enamel pin is a perfect option if your design doesn’t require a lot of fine detail and you prefer a smooth, untextured finish.
Don’t forget to take your preferences for both quality and price into account. Hard badges are generally more expensive than soft badges but are also more robust, scratch-resistant, and of higher overall quality.
This choice is just a matter of preference to some extent! Examine some images of both hard and soft enamel pins to help you decide which design you (and, more importantly, your clients!) prefer. You really can’t go wrong either way, I promise!