How to Choose the Right Enamel Type for Your Pin Design
Choosing the correct enamel type is one of the most important decisions in custom pin manufacturing. Your enamel type affects the texture, color brightness, durability, cost, detail level, and overall visual style of the final product.
The Main Enamel Types Explained
At CreatePins.com, we produce hundreds of thousands of enamel pins each year—this guide breaks down all enamel options with data, examples, and design recommendations for beginners and professionals.
A. Soft Enamel
Most popular option — ~60% of all CreatePins.com orders
What it looks like: Recessed color areas (you can feel the dips), metal lines sit higher than the color, strong contrast between metal & enamel.
Characteristics
Best For
- Anime-style pins
- Cartoon art
- Pins with many tiny details
- Pins meant to look crisp and bold
- Merch lines and online shops
Limitations
- Color surface is not smooth
- More prone to scratching compared to hard enamel
- Metal ridges can snag fabric if the design is very sharp
B. Hard Enamel
Second most popular — ~30% of CreatePins.com orders
What it looks like: Completely smooth surface, metal and enamel polished to the same level, luxurious “jewelry-like” effect.
Characteristics
Best For
- Jewelry-style pins
- High-end brand pins
- Corporate or award pins
- Pins with large enamel areas
- Designs requiring durability (keys, backpacks, hats)
Limitations
- Cannot support ultra-micro details (soft enamel is better)
- Colors may appear a bit softer after polishing
- Slightly higher cost
C. UV Printing (Printed Enamel)
Fastest growing option — ~15% of CreatePins.com orders
What it looks like: Photo-level detail printed on top of enamel, smooth surface (with option for gloss or matte).
Characteristics
Best For
- Highly detailed artwork
- Portraits, tattoos, digital illustrations
- Flags, textures, gradients
- Designs with tiny shadows or linework (0.1 mm possible)
Limitations
- Lack of raised metal texture (unless combined with soft enamel)
- If used alone without metal boundaries, the effect is more “printed badge” than “classic enamel pin”
D. Die-Struck (Metal Only)
Premium metallic option — ~5% of CreatePins.com orders
What it looks like: Pure metal with no enamel colors, intricate 3D details, polished or antique finish.
Characteristics
Best For
- Corporate logos and emblems
- Military and police badges
- Minimalist designs
- Vintage or antique-style pins
- High-end jewelry pieces
Limitations
- No color options (only metal finishes)
- Higher cost for complex 3D designs
- Less vibrant than enamel options
E. Epoxy Coating
Protective layer — Applied to ~10% of CreatePins.com orders
What it is: Epoxy is not an enamel type, but a protective transparent layer applied on soft enamel or printed pins.
Characteristics
Best For
- Pins on backpacks or keys
- Kids’ products
- Pins with glitter or printed textures
- Designs with stickers/logo style
- High-abrasion environments
Limitations
- Softens the crisp look of soft enamel
- Makes colors appear slightly deeper/warmer
- Adds extra thickness to the pin
F. Special Effect Enamels
Many enamel enhancements can be added to soft or hard enamel designs.
Glitter Enamel
Sparkling particles inside enamel
Best For: Cute characters, magical themes
Pearl Enamel
Smooth, pearl-like swirling effect
Best For: Elegant or ocean themes
Glow in the Dark
Glows after charging with light
Best For: Halloween, fantasy, animals
Translucent Enamel
See-through stained glass effect
Best For: Windows, water, crystals
Neon Enamel
Extremely bright fluorescent colors
Best For: Pop & street art designs
Rainbow plating + enamel
Color-changing reflective metal
Best For: Limited editions, collectors
Direct Comparison: Soft vs. Hard vs. UV Printing vs. Die-Struck
| Feature | Soft Enamel | Hard Enamel | UV Printing | Die-Struck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texture | Raised metal | Smooth | Smooth | 3D sculpted |
| Detail Level | Very high | Medium-high | Highest | Excellent for 3D |
| Durability | Medium | Very high | High | Extremely high |
| Color Options | Bright colors | Pantone colors | Unlimited colors | Metal finishes only |
| Finish | Textured | Glossy, premium | Gloss/matte | Polished/antique |
| Cost | Low | Medium | Medium | Medium-high |
| Best For | Line art, anime, cute pins | Premium & corporate | Detailed illustrations | Minimalist, corporate, vintage |
Cost Comparison
Average pricing at CreatePins.com
What Enamel Type Should You Choose? (Quick Guide)
Most Popular Choices at CreatePins.com
Based on thousands of orders (2024–2026)
Soft Enamel
Hard Enamel
UV Printing
Die-Struck
Epoxy Coating
Soft Enamel + Glitter
Choosing the right enamel type is about balancing texture, detail, durability, and style. At CreatePins.com, you can mix enamel types (Soft + UV Print is very popular) or apply special finishes to create a unique, premium result.
If you’re not sure which enamel type fits your artwork, our design team can recommend the perfect option during your Free Art Preview or Express Quote.