To help you further understand what we do at Diversified Products, we wanted to explain a couple of the terms you may hear us use when developing your custom designed products. 

• Cloisonné:

Is the traditional high quality durable method of producing lapel pins. The base material is die struck copper. All colors are created using a finely ground glass called silica that is placed onto the base by hand and oven baked at high temperatures. When heated, this forms a glass like paint and gives a relatively smooth surface. Cloisonné pins are inherently scratch resistant and do not require an epoxy dome for protection. A very durable process.

• Hard Enamel:

Is sometimes referred to as "Imitation Cloisonné", offers a high quality low cost alternative to cloisonné. The base material is die struck copper or brass. Because Hard Enamel uses a plastic based paint instead of glass (silica), we can produce a wider more luminescent range of colors, especially orange and red.  When finished the color is level with the surface of the piece giving the same appearance as cloisonné.

• Soft Enamel:

This item is produced in a similar manner to cloisonné except that the colors are produced using enamel or lacquer paint.  The base metal can be die struck brass, copper, or zinc and can also be die cast.  Soft Enamel paint shrinks as it dries allowing you to feel the ridges in the metal.  Add a clear epoxy finish to create a nice shine and a smooth protected surface.

• Photo Etch w/ color:

The base is produced by a photographic and chemical etching process instead of a die struck/stamping process.  The base metal is usually brass or precious metal.  Photo Etch creates a shallow impression allowing thinner metal to be used.  Soft enamel paint is used for color fill.  Clear epoxy can be used to protect and give a nice smooth surface.

• Screen Print:

Process is very similar to screened shirts but on a smaller scale.  Color is silkscreen printed onto a brass, steel, or aluminum base one color at a time.  The base can be finished in gold, silver, or a variety of other finishes.  At the customer's request a clear epoxy dome can be applied over the silkscreen to improve the brilliance and durability of the item.

• Die Struck:

Metal is struck in a press using the desired die to produce a design. Base material can be brass or zinc.  Zinc is used for a pewter finish that allows the brilliance of the base metal to be captured.  Brass can be finished with polished gold or silver, with a "sand blast" or colored background.  Other metallic colors include black nickel, copper, antique copper, bronze, and many other finishes.

• Photo/Mylar Dome:

Pins, key tags, or a variety of emblematic jewelry can be utilized in this process.  In most cases the base material is brass or steel.  A miniature photograph or mylar print of a logo is attached to the base and covered with a clear epoxy dome.  The photo process allows you to work from an actual picture where as the mylar is a printing process.  This process is good for an item that requires multiple colors and tones.