Common Enamel Pin Types: Differences, Costs & Mistakes (2026)

1. Soft Enamel Pins

Soft enamel is the most common pin style you’ll see from independent artists and small brands. The metal is die struck to create recessed grooves along the design’s outlines, then each section is hand-filled with colored enamel. Because the enamel isn’t polished flush with the metal, you can feel the raised metal lines with your fingertip — this texture is actually the main visual signature of soft enamel.

Soft enamel is forgiving on color count and generally the cheapest and fastest option to produce, which is why it’s the default recommendation for a first pin run.

2. Hard Enamel Pins (Cloisonné)

Hard enamel pins go through the same stamping process as soft enamel, but the enamel is filled slightly above the metal lines, then ground and polished down until the entire surface is completely smooth and flush — almost glass-like. This is the traditional “cloisonné” technique used for military and university pins for over a century.

Hard enamel typically costs more than soft enamel because of the extra grinding and hand-polishing labor, but it holds up better to daily wear and looks noticeably more refined.

3. Die Struck Pins (No Enamel Fill)

Die struck pins skip the enamel entirely. The design is stamped into metal to create a raised, sculptural surface, and color comes only from the plating (gold, silver, antique brass, black nickel) or from an optional oxidized “antiquing” wash that settles into the recesses to add contrast.

4. Offset Printed Pins

Instead of filling recessed metal cells with enamel one color at a time, offset printed pins have the artwork printed directly onto a flat metal disc, then sealed with a clear epoxy coating. This process supports unlimited colors, gradients, and photographic detail that enamel simply can’t replicate.

5. Glitter Enamel Pins

Glitter enamel pins use the same soft-enamel process, but fine glitter particles are mixed into the enamel fill for specific sections of the design. They’re popular for whimsical, celestial, or kids’-brand designs where a bit of sparkle adds personality.

For a deeper look at how much glitter to use and where it works best, see the Glitter Enamel Pins design guide.

6. Epoxy Dome (Bubble) Pins

Epoxy dome pins start as a soft or hard enamel base, then a thick clear epoxy resin is poured over the entire face, creating a rounded, glass-like bubble. The dome adds depth, protects the color from scratching, and gives the pin a candy-like shine that reads well in photos.

Read the full Epoxy Dome Pins guide to see when a full dome vs. a partial dome makes more sense for your design.

7. Sandblasted & Antique-Finish Pins

Sandblasted pins skip enamel fill and instead use a matte, sandblasted texture on the recessed areas combined with a shiny raised metal outline, often finished in black nickel, antique gold, or antique copper. The contrast between matte and polished metal gives a rugged, vintage badge aesthetic.

8. Cut-Out (Open) Pins

Cut-out pins remove the background metal entirely, leaving only the silhouette of the design — with or without an enamel fill inside the remaining shape. This creates a lightweight, graphic look that works especially well for icon-style logos or negative-space illustrations.

9. 3D / Bevel (Sculpted) Pins

3D pins are sculpted in multiple depth levels rather than one flat plane, giving certain elements (a character’s head, a raised badge shape) a rounded, statue-like presence. They’re typically finished in a single or dual-tone metal plating rather than full enamel color.

10. Translucent Enamel Pins

Translucent pins use a see-through enamel fill instead of an opaque one, so light passes through the color the way it does through stained glass. Held up to a window or light source, the design glows in a way opaque enamel never can.

Because translucent fills behave differently under studio lighting than they do in real life, it’s worth reading the Translucent Enamel Pin Design Guide before finalizing your palette.

11. Glow-in-the-Dark Pins

Glow-in-the-dark pins mix phosphorescent powder into specific enamel sections, so those areas absorb light and glow softly after the lights go out. They’re a favorite add-on for space, Halloween, or nighttime-themed designs, and can be combined with soft or hard enamel bases.

See the full Glow in the Dark Enamel Pins guide for tips on which colors glow brightest.

12. Digital / UV Printed Pins

UV printing sprays full-color ink directly onto a metal or acrylic base and cures it instantly with UV light, without needing separate enamel cells for each color. This means there’s effectively no limit on the number of colors or gradients, making it the go-to choice for photo-realistic or heavily shaded artwork.

Unsure whether UV printing or traditional screen printing is right for your art? Compare them in UV Printing vs. Screen Printing for Enamel Pins.