October 5, 2021
FREE PIN DESIGN, SHIPPING & GUARANTEE
FREE PIN DESIGN, SHIPPING & GUARANTEE
Turning a treasured photograph into a pin comes with a few steps, including altering the details, color combinations, and size to fit into the limited space.
How do you create portrait enamel pins? To turn a picture into a pin, you need to use the original in a program to create a reasonable copy, but without all the extra bits that will make it harder to make out what the image is supposed to be. There are many tutorials online for this process.
You will need to decide on an ideal portrait image, what pin features you want, and the program you will feel most comfortable using with your skill level. Pins made from photographs can be handmade by yourself, or you can commission the work to be done by someone else. This article will explain what to expect every step of the way, whether you choose to make your own or use a professional service.
As much as we would like to think anything is possible, some images will simply never be capable of being turned into enamel pins. This can be because there are too many fine details keeping the overall picture hard to parse, or it could be because things in the picture are too close or too far away. Before starting the process, you want to make sure your photograph matches the following criteria.
Extreme close-ups and distant images are not going to work for creating pins. You need something in the mid-ground with enough detail while still being far enough away to make out the edges. You also want to try and get an image where the subject is exact and not overlaid by other people, objects, or things.
You want to keep the larger details that allow the image to make sense while keeping away from minor details, which would be hard to create in the die-cut process and would only add confusion to the picture. For example, instead of strands of hair, you would have a block of hair color with some highlights, or instead of lips, you could have a line. This allows the enamel pin to be easy to see clearly from a distance.
It is best if you can keep it to between three and five colors. More than that will up the time per pin and price substantially whether you are doing it yourself or using a company for manufacturing the design. Most factories have a recommended color limit since, at a certain point, the picture simply becomes too murky if you try to use too many.
Before we get into the step-by-step guide on how to actually turn a photograph into an image that can be used to create an enamel pin, you will need to make some executive decisions. Real pictures have hundreds of color variations, and enamel pins are limited to a small handful since the more enamel paint used, the muddier the image gets. The pin’s actual size will also affect how it looks since details will be shrunk down significantly, so something that is easy to see on a 3×5 photograph might be nearly invisible on a 1-inch enamel pin.
You will need to either completely erase or diminish certain aspects of the image and only keep the broad strokes. Here are some of the things that you will need to eliminate from an image for it to still make sense visually once it is reduced to pin size.
The first thing to go is going to be whatever is in the background of the image. You will want to choose a solid color (e.g., blue for the sky or water, green for grass, a fun rainbow color just because, etc.) for the background and make sure it complements the other colors that you will be using.
What Programs to Use
There are many useful free and open source photo editing software options online. Some are entirely online, while others can be downloaded to a tablet or PC. Several program options include the following.
Once you have opened up your program of choice for editing your photograph, there are a few easy steps to take. For more information on using layers and the paint tools, you can look up tutorials on YouTube like this one by Gabrielle Marie or this alternate method by Strictly Kendra, which shows step by step how to turn an image into a cartoon-like version of itself.
Viola! You now have a photograph that can be turned into a pin. You will want to try adjusting the size to make sure everything is still visible and makes sense once the size you intend to make the pin (e.g., usually between .5 and 2.5 inches). If everything looks good, you can use it to create your pin.
There are several different enamel pin styles you can choose from. The significant variations between them are most visible in their cost and appearance. You can choose to have professionals design it for you or not.
Hardened enamel is caused by layering up the enamel paint several times and then heating it to make it stronger. This results in a very smooth appearance since the paint is at the same level as the metal’s detail lines. These are mostly used for professional pins (e.g., workplace identification, military, sports, etc.).
Soft enamel has a textured feel with the paint sinking into the recesses in the die-cut metal. Most fashion pins and logos are made in this style, and they tend to draw the eye more. Only one layer of enamel paint is used in contrast to the multiple layers used in hardened enamel, and it does not go through the same heating process.
For anyone not experienced with using photo editing programs, there are a few options. You can look on sites like Etsy for individual artists willing to transform your image into an enamel pin, or you can use a bigger factory to do it. The cost is less for bulk orders from large companies, but if you only want one as a gift, it might be well worth the higher price of getting an artist to create a beautiful recreation.
You can find customization options for enamel pins from most large suppliers online and within the community of individual artists on sites like Etsy and Deviantart. You can also choose to have a commissioned artist create the image and then upload it independently to a pin creation site. This might save you some money if you intend to do a large bulk order (e.g., 50 or 100 pins) instead of one or a handful.
The first thing to know is that an enamel pin, unlike a button pin, will not look exactly like a miniaturization of the picture. You will be editing it so that it will be easy to see, print, and color in. This means that there will be inevitable loss of detail though these kinds of pins are still gorgeous to look at and wear.
These are smooth, professional-looking images that look great as fashion accessories or accent pieces. While they do not have the same realism that would come from a button pin, they can still be close approximations. Enamel portrait pins of celebrities and pop culture icons are huge collectible items and are one of the most popular genres.
These can be any size from .5 inches to 3 inches though they are generally made between 1.25 inches and 2.5 inches. The larger the pin, the more details will be visible. The size does not affect how many colors should be used.
You can see some examples of the quality of what to expect on shops like Pin4all’s or Pin8chiDesign’s with their customizable photo portrait pins. They are obviously pared down, but the portrait is still very clear and catches the eye. You can see that they average only around five colors, which keeps things looking clean and crisp.
The cost is going to depend on what you end up deciding to do in terms of commissioning someone or creating the design on your own. If you end up using a typical online bulk supplier of customer pins, then it can cost between $1.70 and $3.00 for the pin depending on several factors (e.g., color choices, size, details, backings, etc.). Individual artists usually charge much more per pin, with it generally being between $3.00 and $12.00 per pin.
Button pins are actually much easier to make from photographs than enamel pins. If you are not specifically going for the die-cut look, you will save significant time, money, and energy by using the button pin format. They do not have the same longevity or sleek, professional appearance, but for personal gifts or one-time event pins, they would be ideal. Wood pins are actually a really great alternative to enamel because they can have the same general look and feel of enamel, but the base is wood instead of metal. You still get exciting shapes, a variety of colors, and the same backing options that are available for enamel pins. One example of this type of pin is the couple’s customization pin by UseOnesBeam on Etsy.
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