“Have you found an inexpensive source for the welded up eye?”
I get asked this quite a bit, so for those of you in search, I get my supply through the People Power Press.
They’ve even got a blog post on it!
Cheers,
BG
Tag Archives: custom buttons
Designing your buttons
The most important part of your button is the design.
What is the message you are trying to get across to your audience and how are you going to do so in a creative way. Always keep in mind when designing, “is this a button that I would wear?”
Personally, when I am designing my buttons I tend to get inspired by vintage pin-back buttons that have been created in the past. I love the colour schemes, typography, composition and placement; these are all things you should keep in mind when you start designing your buttons. Don’t forget to look at the end product; the physical size of the button is part of the design.
For some quick advice on design look at this great article “10 Rules of Composition All Designers Live By” and if you need some design inspiration I like to use designspiration.net I find looking at work from other graphic designers help me come up with my own concepts, but be sure to not copy other people’s work. Inspiration and copyright are two very different things.
Sometimes simple designs are all you need. Too much information on a button can lose the attention from your audience and lose the message you are trying to get across altogether.
If you feel as if designing something yourself is totally out of your realm and you need advice or an expert. Hire a graphic designer, there are so many talented designers whom would be pleased to help create a great logo or design for you. It may not be cheap, but your end product will be well received.
You can find a designer in Canada using this directory here. Or just google search your city and graphic designer and see what local talents pop up.
Happy Designing!
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Filed under Button artwork, Button design, Button Making Ideas, printing buttons, Uncategorized
Mylar or no mylar?
button finishes
Photo above: White People Power Press button is using standard mylar, Yellow People Power Press button is using lamination, Purple People Power Press button is using a thicker paper with no mylar at all. Shiny buttons is with using the Dura-lar technique which I explained last week.
Hi Button Guy,
I recently purchased a Flex 2000 Kit. Made some buttons, and all works great. I have a question about the mylar inserts. Is there such thing as multiple finishes, such as matte or gloss? Seems like I can only find information on using the standard glossy mylar.
There are a few more options you could try to make the buttons you desire without using the standard glossy mylar.
- You could laminate your button designs before cutting the papers. Use a thin laminate such as 1mm or 2mm.
- You could use a thick paper like card stock and not use the mylar at all.
- You could put a matte tape over the design before cutting the papers. This might be the cheapest and easiest way to do it, but it could also be the weakest and the tape could tear or rip.
For information on printing on Dura-lar, check out my post last week
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Filed under Button artwork, Button design, Button Making, Button Making Business, Button Making Ideas, custom buttons
Printing on Dura-Lar
I just love the principal behind those New Year buttons (buttons by people power press)– I think I understand – print on the transfer, instead of a printed button template, cut out a gift wrap or even a Christmas Card OR use silver/gold napkin paper and then print on the Dura-Lar film, using it as the the cover instead of the round Mylar – did I say that correctly???NOW! my question – can I assume this Dura-Lar film is like a transparency? and you must use a Laser or copier – where the pattern, words or design is burned into the film instead of an ink jet printer????
These are sheets much like transparencies, you are right, that you place into your printer like paper. The People Power Press sell them in single sheets (so you can test it) and in packs. You would then cut the circles as you cut your other printed designs. http://peoplepowerpress.org/products/dura-lar-film-for-printing-and-button-making
You can also use brightly coloured acetate for extra bright colours: http://peoplepowerpress.org/products/acetate-for-printing-and-button-making
It is best to print so that the black text is inside the button so it won’t be scratched off. Yes, the printer matters. You need a laser printer for Dura-Lar as both sides are shiny and an Inkjet printer needs a textured side to have something for the ink to adhere to. I’ve also have found having a dehumidifier nearby helps the ink attach to the sheet much better too. (That is an important shop trick I have learned over the years!) That being said, you can get transparent sheets from a store like Staples that you can use with an Inkjet printer – just be sure that one side is textured and print on that side or else the ink will just smear when it hits the shiny side.
Then you place a glittery holographic paper that you can buy in rolls from a craft store underneath the Dura-Lar, but you can place whatever paper you would like under there. Sometimes, if I want the background to be silver we just let the tin shell show through.
view our similar post in 2013 for any additional questions you may have
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Filed under Button Making, Button Making Ideas, custom buttons, Uncategorized
A new button store opening in Montreal. Custom Buttons galore on Ste Catherine Est!
Great news for all button makers and button people in Montreal. The guys from Pinscity and Bomacaron have got together to open a button store on Ste. Catherine East in Montreal.
Nic and Joel are making custom buttons right there in the store and both are experienced button makers who can help and advise on any button making project. Ontario has had a button store for some time, in Toronto, but this is the first button store I have heard of in Quebec. They are stocking button makers, button machines and button parts right there in downtown Montreal.
This is what the store looked like in August 2014 and this is what it still looks like on Google street view.
New Button Store opening in Montreal
Yes I don’t see a button shop either. But this is Google street view, it’s always out of date!
The new store is the one with the “Bieres” sign and next time I’m in Montreal I’m going to swing by and see how Joel and Nic are doing. I will provide a new update with the current picture soon. In the meantime lets support these guys and their brave new venture!
Macaron Machine Inc.
dba Bomacaron.com & Pinscity.com
4204 Ste-Catherine East
Montreal, Quebec
H1V 1X3
Store closed. In the meantime get custom buttons made 1-866 996 1984
Checkout the website! Critical Custom Buttons in Montreal
You can also buy button makers, get supplies for button machines or get buttons made. Serving Montreal amd Quebec
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Filed under Anime Buttons, Button artwork, Button design, Button Designer Software, Button Makers & Kids, Button Making, Button Making Business, Button Making Ideas, Button Making Parts, Button vending, Buying A Button Maker, custom buttons, Fundraising, Fundraising with Buttons, Interchangeable Die Button Makers, Magnet Buttons, Multi Die Button Makers, Multiple Die Button Makers, printing buttons, Printing custom buttons, Selling Buttons, Small Business Start Up, Starting a custom button business