Soft Enamel Pins
Glitter Lapel Pin
A glitter lapel pin is a soft enamel pin whose colour has metallic flake mixed into the enamel before it is filled.
Overview
Product Overview
A glitter lapel pin is a soft enamel pin whose colour has metallic flake mixed into the enamel before it is filled. Under direct light the filled areas sparkle instead of reading as flat colour, which is why the finish turns up on fan merchandise, festival badges and anything aimed at a younger audience. The flake can be used across the whole design or restricted to a few areas so the rest of the artwork stays clean. Minimum order is 100 pieces per design, with production generally 10-15 days after sample approval.
Why It Works
Key Benefits
- Metallic flake makes a small pin visible across a crowded room or trade stand
- Glitter can be limited to selected areas so key artwork stays legible
- Costs the same base process as soft enamel, so the effect is inexpensive
- Sells better on merchandise stands than flat colour at the same price
- Available in several flake colours, including a flake that contrasts its own enamel
Where It Is Used
Application Scenarios
Fan and character merchandise sold at conventions and online stores
Festival and music event badges sold or handed out at the gate
School and youth club awards where the pin has to look like a prize
Seasonal and holiday pin ranges refreshed each year
Trading pin series where a sparkle variant is the rare chase piece
Fit
Who It Is For And What It Fixes
Who It Is For
- Merchandise buyers building a pin range for a fan audience
- Event organisers who need a badge that photographs well
- Artists and illustrators producing enamel pins of their own work
- Distributors quoting youth, school or festival programmes
Problems It Solves
- Flat enamel looks dull on a merchandise table next to competing products
- Small pins get lost against dark clothing at evening events
- Special-edition variants normally need a different die and a second tooling cost
- Premium finishes usually push a merchandise pin past its retail price point
Construction
Technical Features
- Die struck from a steel mould cut to the buyer's vector outlines
- Metallic flake blended into the enamel before filling, not sprinkled on top
- Glitter applied to nominated areas only where the artwork calls for it
- Optional clear epoxy dome to seal the flake and smooth the face
- Attachment welded or glued to the back before final inspection
Data
Specifications
| Minimum Order | 100 pieces per design |
|---|---|
| Base Metal | Brass or iron |
| Colour Fill | Soft enamel with metallic flake blended in |
| Surface Option | Bare enamel or clear epoxy dome |
| Plating Options | Gold, silver, nickel, black nickel, antique finishes |
| Attachment Options | Butterfly clutch, rubber clutch, safety pin, magnet |
| Artwork Formats | Adobe Illustrator preferred; JPG, PNG or PDF accepted |
| Sample Lead Time | 3-5 days |
| Production Lead Time | 10-15 days |
Making It
Materials And Manufacturing
Materials
- Brass or iron struck base, plated before the enamel goes in
- Soft enamel carrying metallic flake in the nominated colours
- Standard soft enamel in the areas left without flake
- Clear epoxy resin where a sealed domed face is specified
Manufacturing Process
- Artwork review and colour breakdown
- Steel die cutting
- Die striking
- Trimming and edge finishing
- Plating
- Glitter enamel filling
- Standard enamel filling
- Curing
- Attachment welding
- Inspection and packing
Control
Quality And Customization
Quality Control
- Vector proof approved by the buyer before the die is cut
- Pre-production sample approved before mass production starts
- Colour checked against the approved reference while the pieces are filled
- Every piece checked for surface faults, plating marks and attachment strength before packing
Customization Options
- Glitter across the whole design or restricted to nominated areas
- Flake colour matched to or deliberately contrasted with the enamel
- Optional epoxy dome to seal the surface and even out the texture
- Any outline cut from your own vector artwork
- Backing cards and poly bags for retail display
- Numbered backstamps for limited or chase variants
Trade-offs
Compared With Other Options
| Standard soft enamel pin | Glitter adds sparkle for very little extra cost; plain soft enamel reads cleaner for corporate work |
|---|---|
| Hard enamel pin | Hard enamel is flatter and more formal; glitter is deliberately decorative |
| Offset printed pin | Printing reproduces photographs; glitter enamel gives depth and light that printing cannot |
| Glow in the dark enamel | Glow works in darkness, glitter works in light; some designs use both in different areas |
Practical Notes
Use Guide
- Mark on the artwork exactly which areas should carry flake and which should not
- Avoid glitter behind fine text, since the sparkle competes with the lettering
- Add the epoxy dome if the pin is going on a backpack rather than a lapel
- Supply a colour reference for the base enamel, because flake shifts the perceived shade
- Photograph samples under the lighting your stand will use before signing off
See Also
Related Products
Soft Enamel Pins
Soft Enamel Lapel Pin
Costs less per piece than hard enamel at the same size and colour count
View Product →
Hard Enamel Pins
Silkscreen Lapel Pin
Handles fine detail, small text and gradients that enamel cannot reproduce
View Product →
Hard Enamel Pins
Transparent Color Pin
Clear epoxy coating protects the enamel color from everyday handling and display wear
View Product →Related Applications
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum order for glitter pins?
100 pieces per design.
Can I have glitter on only part of the design?
Yes. Mark the areas on the artwork and the rest is filled with standard soft enamel.
Does the glitter rub off?
No. The flake is blended into the enamel before filling rather than applied to the surface, so it cannot be worn away separately.
How long will a glitter pin order take?
Samples generally 3-5 days and mass production generally 10-15 days after sample approval.
What artwork do you need from me?
Adobe Illustrator vector files are best, because the die is cut from outlines. JPG, PNG and PDF are accepted too, and we redraw them when the detail needs it.
Can I change the design once production has started?
Sometimes. Depending on how far the run has gone it may be free or chargeable, because a die that has been cut cannot be altered.
How are the goods shipped?
By FedEx, UPS or DHL, chosen to suit the destination and the deadline.
Get A Price For Glitter Lapel Pin
Send the artwork and the quantity and we will price glitter lapel pin against your design. Minimum 100 pieces.