Guide · Printed
Printed Pins Explained: Offset, UV and Screen Printing
Printed pins put full-color artwork on a plated metal base under an epoxy dome. How offset, UV and screen printing differ and when print beats enamel.
A printed pin is a die-cast or stamped metal base, plated, with your artwork printed onto the flat face and sealed under a clear epoxy dome. It handles photos, gradients, tiny text and unlimited colors, which enamel cannot. Three print methods are used: offset for photographic detail, UV for durable spot color and white, screen for bold flat colors. These are metal pins with a plated edge and a clutch back.
What a printed pin is, and is not
The base is metal: zinc alloy cast to your outline, or brass or iron stamped flat. It is plated in gold, silver, nickel, black nickel or another finish, so the edge and back look like any other pin. The face is a flat recessed area that takes the print. An epoxy dome protects the print and gives a glossy, slightly raised surface.
Printed pins are metal throughout, with a proper post and clutch. They are not the pressed tin-and-plastic type.
Offset printing
Four-color process (CMYK) transferred from plate to blanket to metal. Best for photographs, gradients, skin tones and artwork with many colors. Fine text prints cleanly. Colors are process-built, so a specific Pantone is approximated, not matched exactly. Suits photo-based designs and complex illustrations.
UV printing
Ink is jetted directly onto the metal and cured instantly with UV light. Prints white as a layer, so bright colors sit on a white base rather than on bare metal. Good durability before the dome goes on. Handles spot colors and gradients. Suits designs that mix flat brand colors with a gradient or a small photo element.
Screen printing
Ink pushed through a mesh stencil, one color per screen. Thick, opaque, flat color. Pantone can be matched closely. Not suited to gradients or fine detail. Suits simple logos with one to four flat colors where the goal is a bold, saturated look at a lower cost than enamel.
The epoxy dome
Clear resin is poured over the printed face and cured. It seals the ink against scratches and moisture, adds depth, and gives a glossy finish. The dome slightly magnifies the artwork. It also rounds the edge of the print area, so keep critical detail away from the outline.
When to choose printed over enamel
- Photographs or gradients. Enamel is one flat color per cell.
- More colors than you want to pay for in enamel. Print does not charge per color the same way.
- Very small text. Print resolves text that enamel walls cannot.
- Tight budget on a simple design. Screen print on a stamped base is the lowest-cost metal pin.
When to stay with enamel: you want raised metal lines, a textured or flat jewelry face, antique plating, or a pin that will be judged by touch.
Choosing your method
| Your priority | What we'd suggest | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Photo or full-color illustration | Offset print, epoxy dome | Pantone approximated; dome edge rounds |
| Brand colors plus a gradient | UV print, epoxy dome | Slightly higher cost than screen |
| Bold flat logo, low cost | Screen print, epoxy dome | No gradients or fine detail |
| Print face with metal outline | Cast base with raised border, print in the recess | Border adds mold cost |
| Retail or fundraising run | Any print method, backing card | Card adds a printing job |
Fundraising and retail buyers usually take printed pins for artwork-heavy designs. See the retail and fundraising page.
Artwork for print
- Vector for logos and text; 300 dpi or better raster for photos.
- Pantone Solid Coated for screen and UV spot colors; CMYK for offset.
- Keep text and fine detail inside a safe margin from the outline.
- White areas: tell us if they should be white ink or bare plated metal. It changes the look.
Digital proof within 2 working days. Full options on the custom printed pins page.
Order Facts
- From 100 pcs per design · better price at 500+, best at 1,000+
- Free artwork proof within 2 working days
- Sample 10–14 working days · bulk 30–60 days · rush from 10–15 days
- DDP door-to-door available: duties and taxes included in the quote
- Bella replies within 12 hours
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the print fade?
Under the epoxy dome, no meaningful fading in normal indoor use. We do not recommend printed pins for permanent outdoor mounting in direct sun.
Can a printed pin have an enamel element?
Yes. A cast base can have enamel cells around a printed center, or a printed cell inside an enamel design. It is one pin with two processes.
Is the minimum the same as enamel?
Yes – from 100 pcs per design, with better pricing at 500+ and 1,000+.