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If there is one thing our customers bring up more than anything else during the design process, it’s metal plating. Choosing the right metal finish is an important part of the design process that will have a big effect on the look and feel of your coins and pins. But the choice is ultimately up to you - the customer!
The right plating can enhance design details, create a distinctive look, and set the tone of your artwork. With that in mind, we’ve put together a small guide on choosing the best metal plating for your next project! Whether you prefer the shine of high polish metal, the rustic look of antique metal, or the boldness of colored metal, we’ve got you covered!
High Polish
High polish plating creates a sleek, eye-catching effect. Gold, silver, and copper all give you a bright, reflective surface that we find works best for:
- Elegant and professional designs
- Awards and recognition
- Business branding and corporate gifts
The most important thing to keep in mind is that high polish plating is very reflective in direct light, and it might make the more intricate details of your design hard to see. If you have fine lines or complex details in your artwork, we recommend adding enamel colors to the design or choosing an antique plating option to create some natural contrast.
Antique Plating
If you want a more rustic appearance for your design, antique plating is the way to go! Antique gold, silver, and copper create a natural sense of depth and contrast to your artwork thanks to the weathered look of the metal. Small details and text are easy to appreciate on antique designs, making them ideal for:
- Military and commemorative challenge coins
- Detailed lapel pins
- Historical or vintage-themed artwork
Something else to keep in mind is that antique plating minimizes the appearances of fingerprints and smudges, so it’s a practical choice for items that will be handled frequently.
Colored Metal Plating Options
For those looking to break away from more traditional gold or silver products, colored metal plating is your best option!
The most popular variant is black metal, which creates a bold, modern look. When paired with bright enamel colors like white, pink, green, or yellow, the black metal plating creates a striking contrast that makes the artwork pop. We recommend black metal for:
- Character illustrations and contemporary artwork
- Tactical law enforcement and military coins
- Sports teams and gaming related organizations
If black metal isn’t what you’re looking for, that’s okay too! We can use any color for the metal plating. Just let us know what you’d like the base color to be for your coins or pins, and our team will help make it a reality!
Dual Plating
The last thing to keep in mind is the ability to dual plate your coins and pins. You can combine two antique plating options or two high polish plating options to create an amazing effect. Gold and silver are the most popular pairing, but we’ve seen black nickel and copper plating together, and so many more combinations!
We find that dual plating is great for adding a premium value to your design. However, keep in mind that we can’t dual plate colored metals like black metal. If you need something to celebrate your team or commemorate an important event, dual plating antique or high polish plating styles is sure to elevate your design!
See Which Plating Option Works Best For Your Design!
Choosing the best plating option for your design is up to you! We generally recommend high polish plating to help create a pristine, high-end appearance for your artwork. Antique plating is perfect for designs with a historical or commemorative purpose, and colored metal options help make your coins and pins feel unique!
If you’re not sure which option is best, try a few different plating styles to see which one feels right! Artwork and revisions are always free, so send us your ideas and ask to see a few of your favorite plating options! We’re excited to help bring your vision to life!
