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Custom lapel pins, trading pins, medals, challenge coins, lanyards and more, at the best possible price.

Special Effects

🎨 Quick Special Pin Effects rundown….

             (Scroll down for examples)

Effect TypeExamples / OptionsCost RangeBest ForNotes / Tips
Visual PopGlitter enamel, Glow-In-The-Dark, Transparent enamel, Pearl Swirl enamel, Stained Glass  pins (translucent enamel), Color Changes, New Rainbow Plating, New Invisible Ink effect, Heat Sensitive Enamel, and NEW Mother-of-pearl, Opal, Transparent enamel, UV gradients, and Hollow Paint special effects processLow–HighPin trading events, creating collectable sets, logos with depth…and really making your pins super sought after!Glitter, glow-in-the-dark & color changes are low cost; great ROI. Stained glass pins are truly unique and beautiful. Mother-of-pearl great for larger spaces. Hollow paint to jazz up negative space
Dimension & Shape3D/High-Relief Sculpt, Custom Cutouts, Photo Inlay, Puzzle Pins,  Special Edges…Rope, Reeded, Wave, Swirl, Slash Criss Cross or SmoothMed-HighPremium feel, medals, unique shapes3D works best with zinc alloy or die-struck
Motion & InteractionStandard (small flat) Spinners, Large Spinners, Vertical Spinners (V-Spinners),  Sliders, Hinge pins, Bobbleheads, Dangles, Lenticular Photo Inlay (up to 5 images allowed per pin!)Med–High“Super Trader” pins, fun collectablesAdds production time; avoid for rush orders, but if time allows and your budget isn’t too tight…these can REALLY be SUPER traders
Light & ElectronicsBlinkies (LED lights) and Multi-blinkies (printed circuit board or PCB pins)Med–HighShowstopper pins, nighttime eventsFor when you really want to catch someone’s eye
Plating & FinishDual Plating(special),  Gold, Silver, Bronze, Copper, Black Nickel, Black Stain, Rose Gold, available in Shiny, Antiqued or Matte, New Rainbow Plating, Painted Finish, and Spray Painted FinishLow–HighContrast, detail pop, modern or vintage lookDual plating adds sophistication and beauty
Hardware & PackagingRubber Backs, Metal Deluxe Clutch, Magnet, Backer Cards, Polybags, Velvet Bags, Cardboard Boxes, Acrylic CasesLow–MedAwards, retail sales, giftsMagnets avoid clothing damage; packaging adds perceived value

New MOTHER-OF-PEARL Inlay Pins

This is a beautiful new process for pins with empty space, to really make them pop! Similar color of enamel is painted in the larger recessed area of a pin, then Mother-of-pearl flakes are added while it is still wet. Once dry we add a clear coat to make sure everything stays in place. We can just add enough that you can feel the texture….or completely fill for a smooth finish. Lots of Mother-of-pearl colors available. Just a few colors shown below. Bring us your ideas!

Beautiful Mother of pearl inlay in our special effects for custom pins.
Beautiful Mother of pearl inlay in our special effects for custom pins.
Beautiful Mother of pearl inlay in our special effects for custom pins.

New OPAL filled Pins

Opal flakes adds an amazing finished product. The textured look with so many color options that do so much more than simple enamel can do. Truly beautiful results!

Beautiful Opal inlay in our special effects for custom pins.
Beautiful Opal inlay in our special effects for custom pins.

Transparent Enamel and Pearlescent enamel

A great inexpensive way to jazz up your pins and add a bit of ‘perceived’ dimension and depth.

UV Printing with Die Struck pins

We really can accomplish so much by printing on enamel. Essentially, we can now create GRADIENTS on a soft enamel or hard enamel pin! This has been an imposibility in the past and we were forced to choose one or the other. The sky is the limit!

New RAINBOW Plated Pins

This is a great new process for plating metal that can be used with or without enamel to great a truly unique pin. Adds almost no cost to the pin to do this plating process.

special effects on pins lapel pin custom pin
rainbow plated custom pins custom coin

New PAINTED Pins

Painted pins is different from ENAMEL pins. Notice where you usually see METAL is now COLOR….PAINT! So, the metal can now be colored different from the enamel fill. Brilliant!

die struck painted pins custom pin softball pin baseball pin

New SPRAY PAINT PROCESS Pins

This NEW process allows us to SPRAY PAINT over the pins, where the metal is, giving us a completely new look….we can change colors over different areas to give a one-of-a-kind look.

Glitter Pins

Glitter is always popular and gives a really cool look to pins. Just a small sample of color options below. This is a cheap way to spice up your design. We can add glitter to all types of pins.

custom softball die struck soft enamel lapel pins
Glitter enamel lapel pins
softball team pins custom

Gemstones

What a great accent to your pins. Add one or a dozen. As you add more gemstones the price gets less. If you have an idea that incorporates MANY gemstones, give us a call so we can quote you properly. This is a cheap way to spice up your design. We can add gemstones, in all colors, to all types of pins.

gemstone lapel pin cheap
custom pins gemstones special effects lapel pins trading pins
zinc alloy 3D gemstone custom pins

 

Color Changes to create SETS of Pins

For little or no extra cost, we can change some of the colors in your pins to create a collectible set. This is a great way to make your pins very popular and collecting the set can become quite competitive!

SDA pathfinder trading pin set zinc alloy soft enamel.
antique die struck soft enamel with transparent soft enamel

Stained Glass Pins (translucent enamel with no metal behind)

We can make you a Stained Glass pin. This is a super cool process. We use transparent enamel and remove areas of the metal backing, that will allow light to shine through the back of the pin, creating a great effect. We can get very creative and create an amazing pin! (This process is only available with Zinc Alloy pins)

3D/High-Relief Sculpt, Custom Cutouts, Photo Inlay, Puzzle Pins,  Special Edges

3D zinc alloy enamel lapel pin
custom pin sda pathfinder camporee photo inlay die struck iron.
puzzle pin trading pin enamel pins

Spinner and Slider Pins

Spinners and sliders are a great way to add a little motion and uniqueness to your pins. We can make spinners and sliders with all types of pins, and even mix pin types for a more dramatic result. 

V-Spinners, Lenticular Printed pins and Large Spinners….very cool.

custom pathfinder sda pins spinners special effects
Die struck lenticular photo inlay lapel pin.

Hinge Pins

A super unique effect is to incorporate a hinge in your design. Your pins can open up like a door or with two hinges can open like shutters. We can add hinges to all types of pins, and even mix pin types for a more dramatic result. 
bible custom hinge pins special effects pathfinder pin trading

Blinkie Pins

Blinkies are very popular and fun to add to pins. This process can really add personality to you trading pins. Colors available are red, orange, yellow, blue, green or clear (white). White and blue blinkies have a slightly higher cost associated because they tend to use more power so we must use an upgraded battery pack.

We can make them flash in any desired sequence, rotational, or all at once if more than one are added. Feel free to make just a portion of your regular pins with blinkies in order to create a ‘special’ pin for ‘special’ trades.

fbla trading pins
soft enamel baseball trading pins
Soft enamel baseball trading pins

Multi-Blinker Pins

Multi-Blinkies are a newer process, and fun to add to pins. You can add up to seven Multi-Blinkies per pin in red, orange, yellow, blue, or green. We can make them flash in any desired sequence. The Multi-Blinkies are different in that they flash much faster than regular blinkies, and use a different on/off mechanism. They are quite a bit less cost than the traditional blinkies because they are lighter. The pin material is a very hard, durable plastic, on which the design is screen printed. If you are on a tight budget, but want a pin that really stands out, this may be the way to go. Although these are a plastic pin…they do not appear cheap and are very well made and solid.(This process is only available with screen printed pins. Minimum quantity 500pcs please). 
custom printed blinkie lapel pin
custom printed blinkie lapel pin

Dangle Pins

Dangles are the single most popular item to add to a pin. We offer several stock dangles to choose from in order to save you money; of course, you can create one unique to your pin.
custom printed lapel pin with dangle
custom soft enamel baseball trading pin for Cooperstown
custom pin die struck soft enamel sda pathfinder trading pin

Dual Plating

This process really makes your emblem stand out from the rest.

Sda pathfinder camporee 3D zinc alloy dual plated pin.
sda pathfinder custom pin