In reality, there is a wide variety of possibilities available to organizations when they decide to design awards to recognize deserving individuals or teams.
Nonetheless, they may feel paralyzed by the abundance of options accessible today; just selecting from the various resources out there will present a mountain of considerations for any organization.
It's important to keep this in mind when deciding on an award, as there are a number of different options to consider.
With just a little bit of research, you'll be able to make the most informed choices possible about the creation of each and every one of your custom plaque awards.
The sheer variety of possible materials for an award—from metal to plastic, stone to acrylics, and, of course, crystal and glass—can provide a wide range of alternatives.
Which is best for any given group or individual depends on a variety of factors, such as available funds and anticipated production time for the rewards.
Here is a quick rundown of some of the many award-making materials at your disposal, with the goal of assisting you in making more educated choices as you commission that special trophy or plaque.
Metal awards can be both elegant and aesthetically pleasing, and it's feasible to commission casts in virtually any shape (although at a hefty price).
Trophies and awards can be purchased ready-made from a variety of metals, but if you'd want something truly unique, you can have hand-made casts made of virtually any design you can imagine.
This can be an expensive and time-consuming process, so other choices may be preferable for companies that require a small quantity of awards quickly.
However, even within the metals category, there is such a wide variety of materials (from copper to steel) that businesses will never be at a loss for suitable selections. That makes it less of a hassle for any group to track down suitable materials to recognize their honorees.
It can be challenging to have wooden trophies made in unusual shapes, but there are numerous options available for personalizing traditional award sizes and contours.
Whether one decides to have their item engraved, have a photo affixed, or utilize a gorgeous stamp, there are still a variety of options available, most of which are available at prices that are surprisingly affordable.
Rewards made of wood have the capacity to show your heartfelt gratitude in a manner that cannot be achieved with other materials.
Glass custom awards are very popular in the corporate world and are surprisingly affordable compared to other sorts of awards.
They are often weighty and cumbersome, adding figuratively to the burden of the recipient, just like wooden objects can be visually attractive and appear classy when exhibited on a shelf.
Glass is less transparent than other varieties of crystal, yet it is still one of many materials that may be molded or engraved and still have that unique see-through quality.
However, glass can be coloured in certain circumstances (such with the greenish jade glass), and it is typically the least expensive option among the glass/crystal choices.
As a result of iron ore, jade glass has a one-of-a-kind, visually appealing hue, and it can be had for as little as half the price of crystal. These two features alone make it a top choice among organizations seeking to recognize dedicated members.
Furthermore, there is a variety of glass with unparalleled transparency called "starfire" or "crystal clear" glass. It resembles jade glass in that it has a faint bluish green hue, but is much more transparent.
The subtle (but visible) tint makes bevels and edges more attractive, making it a popular choice among businesses. It falls somewhere between jade glass and more expensive crystal.
Crystal awards are similar to glass, starfire glass, and jade glass, however they are clearer and composed of various materials. Furthermore, many choices exist, including lead crystal and optical crystal, just like with glass.
Lead crystal awards are comparable to other forms of glass awards; however, they are clearer, more harder to the touch, and appear to glitter a little more than less expensive options due to the lead oxide within the crystal.
When the crystal is heated to a high enough temperature, bubbles and other flaws are driven out of the material, making optical crystal the clearest material available. Optical crystal has the highest price tag because of the greater difficulty in manufacturing it.
Crystal may not be the best option for every company due to the expense, but the recipients (and onlookers) are likely to be impressed by its beauty.
Polycarbonate Acrylic, a polymer with many of the same features as glass and crystal but with a number of distinct advantages, is the final, but certainly not the least, of the clear custom award possibilities.
Aside from being lighter than glass, it is also more transparent, though not quite as transparent as crystal.
Since it's a material that can be cut, molded, and printed on, our custom award production team has an easier time working with it than glass or crystal, despite the material's lower perceived prestige.
Because it is made of plastic, it may be colored to resemble jade glass or to carry a different colour, like silver or gold, giving more alternatives to organizations seeking to honor someone.
Acrylic's adaptability also makes it simpler to combine it with elements like wood and metal.
On the other hand, there are a few things to bear in mind when engraving bespoke acrylic trophies, since different strategies may provide different outcomes.
The good news is that acrylic is suitable for even the most intricate engraving needs, since it can be engraved with relative ease once the appropriate process for the material is chosen.
In spite of the vast number of possibilities, Crystal Sensation award design & manufacturing team will work directly with any organization interested in making custom awards to develop innovative, individualized designs using any of the aforementioned options.
As an added bonus, those groups will be able to approve mockups of the trophies or plaques before they go into production after working with the manufacturer on the design.