Once the manufacturing process has been completed for the basic design of the recognition plaque or the crystal award that you choose, the next step is to apply the surface finish. There are a number of different types of surface finishing techniques that are used, and selecting the right one is very important, as that will determine the overall outlook of the finalized product. It doesn’t matter whether you choose a simple polish, coloring or a simplistic painting to cover the gradient of the surface, selecting the right option is important. Hence, here are some of the most common personalization techniques that are used for applying the surface finish on the crystal award.

Electroplating

By far one of the most common surface finishing methods in use today, electroplating is not only practical, it is also very useful. Basically, electroplating involves the deposition of a layer of material over the award product, which prevents corrosion and provides resistance to wear and tear, as well as adding to the aesthetic qualities of the product. The more levels of coating that are electroplated on the award, the greater is the amount of detail that is lost. The most common materials used for electroplating usually include copper or zinc alloy.

Anodizing

Simply put, anodizing improves resistance to wear and tear and also enhances resistance to corrosion, and also provides much greater adhesion to glues as well as paint primers as compared to standard metal. Anodic films can be used for a range of different cosmetic effects, with the help of thick, porous coatings which are able to absorb dyes, or with the help of thin, transparent coatings which add numerous other effects, such as light reflections.

Color fills

Probably the most common surface finishing method in use today, color fills basically ‘fill’ up the award with a specified color. For instance, if you are celebrating the Golden Jubilee function, handing out gold filled awards might be an excellent choice. However, this is just one of many different examples. Color fills can be used in a range of different materials, ranging from glass to crystal to acrylic. There are numerous options available; installing a metallic base with a color filled transparent material is one of the many options. Color fills enhance the overall appearance of your award product, making it look much more stylish and unique in appearance, while it can also be used to create a distinctive outlook for a special occasion.

PMS Match

The Pantone Matching System, or PMS Match as it is commonly known, allows you to select the exact same color of your logo with the help of a 3-4 digit color choosing system. For companies or individuals that are looking to purchase a number of different promotional products, such as award trophies or recognition plaques, maintaining parity in terms of the color of the logo is vitally important. The PMS Match option is what helps in such a situation, allowing you to maintain parity in terms of the color of the logo that you wish to engrave on the product.

Hand Paint

Unique and precise, there really is no alternative to hand crafted work. Hand painting is an excellent choice, if poly resin or wood is used, and can act as an excellent surface finish. However, hand painting is not very suitable for larger orders, since each different logo is crafted individually by hand, and because of that, there is a chance of human error, which minimizes the possibility of maintaining a similarity amongst all of the different award trophies or recognition plaques. It is still an extremely prestigious surface finish however.