Process of Photo Etched Lapel Pins

The photo etched process is quite amazing! First, take an image of your design and transferring it from photographic negative onto the surface of a sheet of brass.  To ensure the image lasts, your design is then chemically etched into the metal by using an acid etching process.

This etching creates slightly recessed areas and then filled with the enamel colors. Each color is applied by hand, one at a time, using different sized syringes.  The sheet of metal is then backed at 150°C in oven.

The lapel pins are then cut from the sheet according to your custom design. Of course the shape-cutting mold has to be made separately. The raised areas of the lapel pins are then plated in choice of metal finishes, polished to a shine and a protective epoxy coating is applied to protect the color enamels from fading or being scratched.