A complete guide to understanding the crucial differences in texture, durability, design, and cost, helping you make the perfect choice for your custom pin project.

You have the perfect design for a custom lapel pin. It’s creative, it’s meaningful, and it’s ready to be brought to life. But as you start the ordering process, you hit the first major crossroad: “Hard Enamel” or “Soft Enamel”? These terms are everywhere, but the real differences are crucial to your project’s success. It’s a choice that impacts everything from the feel in your hand to the longevity of the pin itself.

This guide will be the only resource you need to make that choice with confidence. We’ll go beyond the surface to explore every angle—the texture, the microscopic details of the manufacturing process, the color possibilities, and the cost implications. This information, drawn from our experience producing millions of custom pins, will empower you to select the perfect style for your vision. The decision is essentially a choice between a textured, dimensional piece of art (Soft Enamel) and a smooth, jewelry-quality emblem (Hard Enamel). To understand where this decision fits into the larger picture, you can always refer to our Ultimate Guide to Custom Lapel Pins.

What Is the Quickest Way to Tell the Difference? (The 10-Second Answer)

Before we dive deep, let’s give you the simple, immediate answer. If you have two pins in your hand and want to know which is which, you can tell in seconds.

The “Finger Test”: This is the easiest method. Gently run your fingertip across the face of the pin. If you can feel the raised metal lines and the slightly recessed areas of color, you are holding a soft enamel pin. The surface has a distinct, dimensional texture. If the surface is perfectly smooth, flat, and glossy, like running your finger over glass, it’s a hard enamel pin.

The “Light Test”: Hold the pin up to a light source and tilt it. A soft enamel pin will create tiny shadows along the inside edges of the metal lines, which enhances its textured appearance. A hard enamel pin will have a uniform, polished reflection across its entire surface, with no shadows to break the smooth sheen.

The Core Concept Table

For a quick, at-a-glance comparison that summarizes the most important distinctions, this table covers the essentials.

How Are Custom Enamel Pins Made, and Why Are the Processes Different?

To truly understand why these two pin types are so different, you need to look inside the factory. The final product’s characteristics—its texture, durability, and even color options—are a direct result of two distinct manufacturing paths. While they start from the same place, their journeys diverge in a way that fundamentally changes the outcome.

The Shared Origin: The Die-Struck Mold

Both hard and soft enamel pins begin their life in the exact same way. First, your digital design is converted into a production-ready file. Then, a CNC machine engraves this design into a block of hardened steel, creating a die, or mold. This mold is then used in a massive hydraulic press to stamp your design’s impression onto a sheet of base metal, typically iron or brass. At this point, you have a raw metal “blank” of your pin, and this is where their paths split.

The Soft Enamel Process: A Path of Plating First

Think of the soft enamel process as efficient and direct. The order of operations is key to understanding its unique properties.

1. Stamping & Trimming: The design is stamped into the metal sheet, and the individual pins are cut to their final shape.
2. Electroplating (The Key Step): This is the most important differentiator. The raw, stamped metal pin is plated with its final metal finish before any color is added. It’s dipped in a bath to receive its coating of gold, silver, copper, or black nickel. This early plating step is precisely why soft enamel has a wider range of available metal finishes, which we’ll cover later.
3. Enamel Filling: Using small, needle-like dispensers, skilled artisans carefully fill the recessed areas of the pin with liquid enamel paint. Crucially, they only partially fill these areas, so the enamel settles below the top of the raised metal die lines.
4. Baking (Curing): The pin is passed through an oven at a relatively low temperature. This single baking cycle hardens, or “cures,” the enamel, making it solid and durable.
5. (Optional) Epoxy Coating: After baking, a clear, protective epoxy resin can be poured over the top. This dome fills in the recessed areas, creating a smooth surface and adding a layer of protection.

The Hard Enamel Process: A Path of Polishing and Precision

The hard enamel process is a more labor-intensive craft, often referred to as “Imitation Hard Enamel” or by its traditional name, “Cloisonné.” It is a testament to precision and patience, resulting in a product of exceptional quality.

1. Stamping & Trimming: This step is identical to the soft enamel process.
2. Enamel Filling (The Key Step): Here, the enamel is overfilled into the recessed areas. The liquid color rises above the metal die lines, completely covering the face of the pin.
3. Baking (Multiple Times): This is where the labor and cost increase. The pin is baked in an oven at a very high temperature to fuse the enamel to the metal. This isn’t done just once; it’s baked after each individual color is applied. A pin with five colors will be sent to the kiln five separate times.
4. Grinding & Polishing: After the final baking, the pin’s surface is rough and uneven. It then goes through a mechanical grinding and polishing process. A stone wheel grinds the surface down until the excess enamel is gone, leaving the enamel perfectly level and flush with the metal die lines. This creates the signature smooth, glassy surface.
5. Electroplating: The pin is plated last. After the surface is perfectly smooth, it’s dipped in the electroplating bath to add the gold, silver, or nickel finish to the exposed metal lines. The harsh polishing process is why hard enamel is incompatible with more delicate finishes like dyed metal.

Which Enamel Style is Best for My Specific Artwork?

The choice isn’t just about feel; it’s about what best serves the art itself. The two different manufacturing processes have a direct impact on how your final design will look, especially when it comes to fine details and color presentation.

When Soft Enamel Shines: Intricate Details and Sharp Lines

The soft enamel process is the champion of fine detail. Because the pin does not go through a final, aggressive grinding process, the metal die lines remain as sharp and thin as they were in the original mold. This makes soft enamel the superior choice for designs that are complex, intricate, or rely on very fine lines and text.

If your design includes delicate features, subtle textures, or small, legible text, soft enamel will preserve that complexity with greater fidelity. Artists and illustrators often prefer this style because it faithfully reproduces their detailed line work. For more guidance on optimizing your artwork, our guide on the 10 Critical Design Tips for Creating an Unforgettable Lapel Pin is a must-read.

Soft enamel preserves the sharp, thin metal lines required for highly detailed artwork.

When Hard Enamel Excels: Bold Logos and a Clean, Modern Aesthetic

The intensive polishing process that gives hard enamel its signature smoothness can have a slight effect on the metal lines. The pressure can cause them to widen marginally, which might lead to very fine details blurring or “filling in.”

However, this characteristic makes hard enamel absolutely perfect for bold, graphic designs. Corporate logos, minimalist artwork, and designs where clean color fields are the main focus look exceptionally crisp and professional. The flat, jewelry-like surface provides a high-end, modern look that exudes quality and sophistication, making it the go-to choice for major brands and prestigious awards.

Hard enamel provides a sleek, flat surface that is perfect for bold, professional branding.

What Are My Plating and Metal Color Options?

This is a critical, often overlooked, deciding factor that can make the choice for you. The different manufacturing timelines directly impact the types of metal finishes that are compatible with each style. This is one area where soft enamel offers significantly more creative freedom.

The Expansive Palette of Soft Enamel Finishes

Because soft enamel pins are plated before the heat-sensitive enamel is applied, they are compatible with a much wider array of finishes. This opens up a world of creative possibilities that are simply not possible with the high-heat, high-pressure hard enamel process.

• Dyed Metal: This is a game-changer. The metal can be coated in a true, matte black paint or any other custom Pantone color. This allows for stunning contrasts and is extremely popular with artists.
• Rainbow Plating (Anodized): This special process gives the metal an iridescent, multi-colored, oil-slick appearance where the colors shift with the light. It’s a unique and eye-catching option exclusive to soft enamel.
• Antique Finishes: Finishes like antique gold, silver, and bronze are chemically aged to create dark recessed areas. This effect works beautifully with the natural texture of soft enamel, adding depth and a vintage feel.

The Classic Selection for Hard Enamel Finishes

Because hard enamel pins are plated after the intense baking and polishing process, they are limited to only the most durable, traditional electroplated finishes that can withstand the treatment. These include:

• Polished Gold
• Polished Silver
• Polished Nickel
• Polished Copper
• Rose Gold
• Black Nickel

A Crucial Distinction: Black Nickel vs. Dyed Black Metal

It’s vital to understand this difference. Black Nickel is an electroplated finish available for both styles. It has a shiny, metallic, dark charcoal gray or gunmetal appearance. Dyed Black Metal is a true, matte (non-shiny) black paint coating that is only available for soft enamel. If your design requires a genuine black outline, soft enamel is your only choice.

Which Pin is More Durable? A Comparison of Strength and Longevity

When you invest in a custom product, you want it to last. The durability of your pin is a key factor, especially if it’s intended for frequent wear on jackets, backpacks, or uniforms.

The direct answer is that hard enamel is significantly more durable.

The best way to think about it is with the “glass vs. paint” analogy. Hard enamel is created by fusing finely ground glass powder (cloisonné) to metal at extremely high temperatures. The resulting surface is incredibly hard, resilient, and almost impervious to scratches. Furthermore, the colors are sealed within this glassy matrix, making them UV-stable and resistant to fading over time. A hard enamel pin is built to look just as good in ten years as it does on day one.

Soft enamel is still a robust and perfectly suitable product for most applications. However, the exposed enamel paint, sitting recessed in its metal cavities, is more susceptible to scratching or chipping if subjected to heavy, repeated impacts. While not “soft” to the touch, it doesn’t have the same level of surface integrity as its hard enamel counterpart.

The “Third Way”: Can an Epoxy Coating Make Soft Enamel More Durable?

What if you want the cost and design flexibility of soft enamel but desire a smoother, more protected surface? There is a solution: an epoxy coating.

An epoxy coating is a clear, protective resinous dome that is applied over the top of a finished soft enamel pin. It completely fills the recessed areas, creating a smooth, glossy surface.

• Pros: It provides a strong protective layer against scratches, gives the pin a smooth feel, and can create a “faux hard enamel” look on a budget. It’s also excellent for securing special additions like glitter, preventing them from shedding. Explore more in our Guide to Special Effects for Pins.
• Cons: Aesthetically, it creates a distinct “bubbly” or “glassy dome” look, which is different from the perfectly flat surface of hard enamel. The primary drawback is that, over several years of exposure to direct sunlight, some epoxy formulations can yellow slightly. This is most noticeable on pins that feature large areas of white or very light colors.

Understanding the Cost: Why Are Hard Enamel Pins More Expensive?

One of the most immediate differences you’ll notice when getting a quote is the price. So, why are hard enamel pins more expensive?

The price difference is almost entirely due to increased labor, time, and resources during the manufacturing process. It has less to do with the raw materials and everything to do with the craftsmanship involved.

Let’s recap the key cost-adding factors:

1. Multiple Baking Cycles: A soft enamel pin goes into the oven once. A hard enamel pin with six colors goes into the oven six times. This consumes significantly more energy and time.
2. Labor-Intensive Polishing: The process of grinding and hand-polishing each pin to achieve a perfectly smooth surface requires skilled labor and adds a significant amount of time to each pin’s production journey.

You can typically expect a hard enamel pin to cost 20% to 40% more than the exact same design produced in soft enamel. The choice then becomes an investment question: are you paying for a cost-effective promotional item, or are you investing in a premium, long-lasting piece of merchandise? For a complete overview of all the factors that influence your final price, we highly recommend reading our guide to Understanding Custom Pin Pricing.

The Ultimate Checklist: How to Choose the Right Enamel Type for YOU

We’ve covered a lot of ground. To make your final decision as easy as possible, here is a simple checklist. If you find yourself nodding along with the points in one list more than the other, you’ve found your answer.

Choose SOFT Enamel If…

• ✅ Your budget is a primary consideration.
• ✅ Your design has very fine, intricate lines and details that must be preserved.
• ✅ You want one of the exclusive metal finishes like rainbow, antique, or true dyed black.
• ✅ You desire a textured, 3D, tactile feel for your pin.
• ✅ You need the pins delivered on a tighter deadline.

Choose HARD Enamel If…

• ✅ Durability and a long lifespan are your absolute top priorities.
• ✅ You want a premium, professional, jewelry-quality finish that looks and feels high-end.
• ✅ Your design is bold and graphic, and a smooth, modern surface would complement it best.
• ✅ The pins are for corporate branding, service awards, luxury retail, or will see heavy, daily use.
• ✅ Your budget allows for an investment in a superior quality product.

Frequently Asked Questions (People Also Ask)

Here are answers to the most common questions we receive every day from clients deciding between these two excellent options.

Is “soft” enamel actually soft to the touch?

No, it is completely hard and solid. The term “soft” is a historical industry term that refers to the production process before the enamel is baked hard. It’s used to distinguish it from the traditional “hard-fired” glass cloisonné process. Once cured, it is a very durable product.

Can my design be made in both styles?

In most cases, yes! The vast majority of designs can be successfully produced in either hard or soft enamel. The choice often comes down to your personal aesthetic preference, budget, and desired finish. However, if your design absolutely relies on a feature like rainbow plating or contains extremely fine, delicate text, we would strongly recommend soft enamel as the superior choice.

Which type is better for artists selling pins?

Soft enamel has traditionally been the most popular choice for independent artists and creators. The primary reasons are its lower cost, which allows for a better profit margin, and its ability to faithfully capture intricate artistic details. However, as the pin market has grown, many modern illustrators and brands are choosing the premium feel of hard enamel to make their products stand out.

Does this apply to Challenge Coins and other metal items too?

Yes, absolutely. The exact same principles of soft and hard enamel—the manufacturing processes, the resulting textures, and the durability—apply to other die-struck metal products like challenge coins, keychains, and medals.

If I add an epoxy coating to a soft enamel pin, is it the same as a hard enamel pin?

No, it is not the same. While an epoxy coating does create a smooth surface over a soft enamel pin, the look and feel are different. An epoxy-coated pin will have a clear, raised dome, giving it a “bubbly” or magnified appearance. A true hard enamel pin has a perfectly flat, polished surface that is level with the metal. While both are smooth, the aesthetic is distinct.

Making a Confident Choice

The decision between hard and soft enamel is a wonderful part of the creative process. It’s not about which one is “better” overall, but which one is perfect for your specific project. You are simply choosing between key trade-offs: the classic texture of soft enamel versus the modern smoothness of hard enamel; the cost-effectiveness of one versus the extreme durability of the other; the wide design flexibility of soft enamel versus the premium, jewelry-like finish of hard enamel.

With the knowledge you now have, you can make an informed, confident decision that will ensure your final product looks exactly as you envisioned. There is no wrong answer, only the right answer for you.