{"id":80,"date":"2018-01-23T22:37:50","date_gmt":"2018-01-23T22:37:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.badges-etc.com\/blog\/?p=80"},"modified":"2019-11-06T15:43:12","modified_gmt":"2019-11-06T15:43:12","slug":"top-10-things-to-consider-with-custom-badge-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.badges-etc.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/23\/top-10-things-to-consider-with-custom-badge-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Things To Consider With Custom Badge Design"},"content":{"rendered":"<table border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"MSOZoneCell_WebPartctl00_m_g_ff824a74_ef80_4f79_88b7_7519e20138dd\" class=\"s4-wpcell-plain\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"s4-wpTopTable\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<div id=\"WebPartctl00_m_g_ff824a74_ef80_4f79_88b7_7519e20138dd\" class=\"ms-WPBody\">\n<div id=\"ctl00_m_g_ff824a74_ef80_4f79_88b7_7519e20138dd\">\n<div id=\"Div1\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"fb-root\" class=\" fb_reset\">\n<div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold;\">Top 10 Things To Consider With Custom Badge Design<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"blog-rows\">\n<div class=\"b-col1\">by Blackinton on\u00a0<span id=\"ctl00_m_g_ff824a74_ef80_4f79_88b7_7519e20138dd_ctl00_lblEventDateTime\">Thursday, January 18, 2018<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"b-col2\">\n<div class=\"addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style\">\n<div class=\"atclear\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"blog-bg\">\n<div id=\"ctl00_m_g_ff824a74_ef80_4f79_88b7_7519e20138dd_ctl00_pnlImgBorder\" class=\"blog-post-box\"><img id=\"ctl00_m_g_ff824a74_ef80_4f79_88b7_7519e20138dd_ctl00_imgBlog\" src=\"https:\/\/www2.blackinton.com\/PublishingImages\/Blog\/custombadgewbadges.png\" \/><\/div>\n<p>\u200bYou may be a new Chief looking to change your badge style, or maybe it\u2019s your department\u2019s anniversary and you would like a commemorative anniversary badge.\u00a0 Whatever your need, when you are looking to purchase a new badge there are some very important items to consider that will affect price, time-frame, and badge quality.<\/p>\n<p>We have listed the top ten items you should consider when looking to purchase a new law enforcement, fire, military, or security custom metal badge.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>B<\/strong><strong>UDGET:\u00a0<\/strong>With your budget in mind you should determine how much you want to spend before you jump into designing it.\u00a0 As you will see reading through our listing just like a car certain add-on\u2019s or features add additional cost to a badge.There are three levels of customization to consider.\n<ul>\n<li>\u200bThe most\u00a0economical is ordering what we call a catalog badge (a badge\u00a0design that already exists and is sold to the masses).\u00a0 You can personalize this badge with a custom center seal, at Blackinton\u00ae if you order more than 25 badges the seal die would be FREE.<\/li>\n<li>A\u00a0semi-custom badge is a mid-tier badge as it would utilize existing dies \u2013 you could have one custom applied panel created (die would cost ~$150.00 waived if &gt;50 badges ordered at Blackinton\u00ae)<\/li>\n<li>Unique custom shape and design, which would require a new steel die which has a one-time cost between $900 &#8211; $3,000<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u200bTIME-FRAME:<\/strong>\u00a0At Blackinton\u00ae we manufacture to order, and much of what we do is done by hand.\u00a0 So, it is important to consider when you will need your badge in hand and then work backwards.\u00a0 A custom badge can take upwards of 8 to 12 weeks from receipt of a purchase order.\u00a0 This includes the production and approval of your new custom mold, a preproduction sample, and then production of the full order.\u00a0 It is important to factor in the time it will take to work through the design process as well to achieve consensus on the look of your new badge prior to placing an order.\u00a0 \u00a0 Once your initial order has been delivered, reorders can be shipped in a reasonable 4-6 weeks. Check out our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www2.blackinton.com\/Pages\/BadgeBuild.aspx\">#badgebuild series\u00a0of videos (CLICK HERE &gt;&gt;)<\/a>\u00a0to get a full look at what goes into making a custom metal badge.<\/li>\n<li><strong>USE\/FUNCTIONALITY:\u00a0<\/strong>What will the badge be used for?\u00a0 Duty wear, dress, commemorative etc.\u00a0 For duty you want a badge or symbol that is easily recognizable for proof of authority.\u00a0 You may want to consider size and weight of that badge, durability.\u00a0 If you are Undercover or Swat you may want a more subdued finish like black or gunmetal, etc.\u00a0 If you are looking for the badge to go into a wallet you will want a flat badge (not dapped \u2013 arched), and size will be very important.<\/li>\n<li><strong>S<\/strong><strong>TYLE:<\/strong>\u00a0Most badge manufacturers have 1,000\u2019s of badge styles available to choose from.\u00a0 Browse through a website, make note of badge style numbers you like (on our site you can email yourself the images).\u00a0 \u00a0If you are going the custom route be sure to get a high-resolution picture of the image\/design element you want to include in your badge design.\u00a0 For instance, if it is a building or landmark take a picture at the angle you would like it to appear on your badge, with as few obstructions as possible.\u00a0 If it is your patch or logo and you can get a file, a vector file would be most useful to the artist as they could edit the image \/ text (.eps, .ai, .svg).\u00a0 A high-resolution (300 dpi) picture would be the next best thing (.jpg, .psd, .pdf, .png, .bmp, etc).\u00a0 The more prepared you are to work with the artists the faster the design process will progress.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Q<\/strong><strong>UANTITY:<\/strong>\u00a0 How many badges do you need 10-20, 50-100, 1,000\u2019s?\u00a0 For very large quantity orders many manufacturers will add a week or so to the manufacturing time.\u00a0 Also, many manufacturers offer quantity discounts.\u00a0 At Blackinton\u00ae, starting at quantities of 13 you can get a discount on your order.\u00a0 It may help you decide how many badges to initially order.\u00a0 Usually the discounts only apply to the same style badge ordered on the same purchase order, there may be restrictions when it comes to different names, etc.<\/li>\n<li><strong>FINISH:<\/strong>\u00a0 Finish is more\u00a0than just the color of your badge it helps to determine cost, durability, and authority.\u00a0 In some departments the higher ranks get a \u201cgold\u201d finish color and lower ranks \u201csilver\u201d finish color.\u00a0 Just like jewelry, the finish helps to determine the cost of your badge.\u00a0 Also, different finishes have different levels of durability, so again what are you using the badge for?\u00a0 If your badge is to just go on a dress Class A uniform durability doesn\u2019t need to factor in as much as it would with active duty wear.\u00a0 \u00a0A plated badge, although it is durable, will not be as durable as a badge made with a base metal like Blackinton\u00ae\u2019s Rho-Glo\u00ae or Hi-Glo\u00ae.\u00a0 These finishes are not plated, instead the base material, being a solid silver or gold color throughout, is polished and lacquered.\u00a0 Take a look at our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.badges-etc.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/23\/understanding-blackinton-badge-finishes\/\">finishes, CLICK HERE &gt;&gt;<\/a>,\u00a0and their descriptions to get a better understanding.<\/li>\n<li><strong>BADGE ANATOMY:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yes there are a myriad of different ways a badge can be made.\u00a0 Do you want a one-piece badge or a badge with applied panels?\u00a0 Applying panels allows for a bit more customization, but it will add to the weight of the badge and its thickness.\u00a0 A badge can have a solid back (smooth solid back when flipped over) or shell back which weighs less, but when you look at the back of it you can see a reverse depiction of the badge.\u00a0 A badge can be made flat or dapped (arched) \u2013 if you are looking to wear a badge on your uniform a dapped badge may work best with the safety catch, if you are putting your badge in a wallet you may want a flat badge.\u00a0 These are small items but things to consider.<\/li>\n<li><strong>COLOR \/ ENAMEL:<\/strong>\u00a0 How much color do you want on your badge?\u00a0 You will notice some lines of lettering will have color in the letters (incised) this type of lettering is very flexible as we can engrave whatever you would like in this line.\u00a0 Other lines of lettering match the finish of the badge and have a background color.\u00a0 These letters are raised and are the color of the metal.\u00a0 (reverse panel).\u00a0 This means the letters are in the die and cannot be changed, so if you were going to have many different names or ranks you might want to consider an incised or engraveable panel, as it would be more economical.The biggest thing to consider is if you want a hard enamel or regular enamel.\u00a0 \u00a0Hard enamel, while a more durable and crisper look, will add cost and time to your badge as this process adds a week onto the badge production.\u00a0 With hard enamel, the letters are flush with the metal.\u00a0 Regular is the process of paint flowed into an area then wiped out, letters are not flush with the metal you can feel an indentation.\u00a0 This process is much faster and typically included at no extra charge.<\/li>\n<li><strong>SEALS:<\/strong>\u00a0 If your department is ordering a custom seal for a breast badge it is important to let the designers know if you plan to also put this seal on a cap or wallet badge, because these badges generally take a smaller seal.\u00a0 Knowing this up front will help influence the design, so it will work with all seal sizes.\u00a0 Also, at Blackinton\u00ae if you order a custom seal we will waive the seal die charge if you order 25 or more badges.There are four types of seals to consider.\u00a0 A plain seal (no color) at Blackinton\u00ae this is free with all badge finishes.\u00a0 A modeled plain seal is a three-dimensional seal also free.\u00a0 A one color or rim seal has either a background color or color around the rim, at Blackinton\u00ae this type of seal is free with high-end finishes and all other finishes incur a $3.00 add on charge.\u00a0 Lastly a full color seal contains 2 or more colors, at Blackinton\u00ae this is free with high-end finishes and all others incur a $5.00 charge.<\/li>\n<li><strong>LETTERING:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0When considering a badge style you should also consider what is going to be lettered on each of the panels\/lines.\u00a0 If you will be having ranks listed on one of the lines try to determine what the longest rank is, this will help influence the panel size.\u00a0 How many different ranks do you have?\u00a0 Also, how many lines of lettering will you need?\u00a0 All are very important considerations.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Badges Ex Cetera will ask you the right questions to help guide your badge design down a successful path.\u00a0 We hope this listing was helpful and thought provoking.\u00a0 Should you need assistance with a new badge design contact Badges Ex Cetera &#8211; www.badges-etc.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whatever your need, when you are looking to purchase a new badge there are some very important items to consider that will affect price, time-frame, and badge quality.<\/p>\n<p>We have listed the top ten items you should consider when looking to purchase a new law enforcement, fire, military, or security custom metal badge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[26,11,21,16,24,15,25],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.badges-etc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.badges-etc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.badges-etc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.badges-etc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.badges-etc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.badges-etc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":216,"href":"https:\/\/www.badges-etc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80\/revisions\/216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.badges-etc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.badges-etc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.badges-etc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}