When deciding to purchase pin badges, there are many things to consider. Not just the plating, enamel finish or fixing, but one of the most important elements is the size.
So why does size matter when it comes to your pin badge? Lets dive in to the details here.
The size of your badge should be at the forefront of your mind even at the design stage. This is because certain elements cannot be achieved by raised metal or enamel fill if it is too small. Intricate designs often require larger dimensions to maintain clarity and detail. Simple designs, on the other hand, can be effectively conveyed in smaller sizes. Any elements that do qualify as too small can always be achieved by pad printing on top of the enamel ground, but this will affect the overall look of your pin badge and incurs an additional cost.
In production of our enamel pin badges, both hard and soft, each colour is separated by a line of raised metal and the minimum thickness for this line is 0.2mm. The minimum area for colour fill is 0.3mm so please take these into account when designing. Now, it is important to consider any areas of writing in your design; often a cause for concern, as many logos or designs commonly feature small areas of text. Make sure that when using text in your design, the fonts should be no less than 5pt.
Ultimately, you want to ensure that the imagery and text is visible and legible, not only up close but from a natural standing or sitting distance between the wearer and the observer, or even from a few feet away. A pin badge is a great promotional or fashionable statement, so you should make sure that this statement can be easily seen!
The practicality of the size of your pin badge is also something to think about. The larger the badge, the heavier it will be and therefore may not sit well on certain materials or items of clothing, as well as potentially causing ripping, pulling or other damage. We often recommend additional fixing on larger badges, for example many badges bigger than 38mm would likely benefit from two metal or rubber clutch fixings for added security, rather than just one. This comes at a cost, or you could swap to a safety pin.
Try to consider the intended placement of your badge and the appropriate proportions - a lapel badge should be modestly sized but a badge for a bag or hat can afford to be bigger.
To conclude, size truly does matter. The ideal pin badge size strikes a delicate balance between visibility, aesthetics, and practicality, ensuring that the design shines without overwhelming the wearer. By carefully considering factors such as design complexity, intended use, and fashion trends, creators can craft pin badges that are both visually appealing and functional, leaving a lasting impression wherever they go.