Custom acrylic pins for full-color artwork that reads better as the object itself than as a metal-bordered enamel pin. Acrylic pins are lightweight, fully printed in full color, and shaped to the outline of your design. They're a strong choice when you want the artwork to be the pin, not framed inside a metal border.
Alchemy is a production partner built by artists, musicians, and brand owners. We've helped creators produce over 5 million custom products since 2019, and we don't operate like a promotional products company. Whether you're an indie illustrator running your first 50-pin drop, a band making merch for a tour, or a designer ordering pins for a brand launch, our job is the same: make the best merch we can for you.
What acrylic pins are made of
Each pin is two layers of clear acrylic with your full-color art printed and sandwiched between them. The print is protected from scratches and UV, and the clear acrylic gives the pin a slight depth and shine without the metallic look of enamel. Pins are single-sided (the print shows through one face) and ship with a safety-pin-style backing, which holds in plastic better than the metal post used on enamel pins.
Specialty finishes
Glitter epoxy
Replaces the top acrylic board with a glitter-mixed epoxy layer. Adds sparkle directly over the print without a separate decal layer.
Holographic
A holographic pattern is added on top of the printed design, giving the pin a shifting rainbow effect under light. Works especially well on darker artwork where the holographic shift reads against deep colors.
Standard epoxy coating
A clear epoxy layer over the top of a single-board acrylic pin. Adds a slight dome shape and extra durability for everyday wear.
The bleed thing, briefly
Every acrylic pin has a 3mm bleed of clear acrylic around the edge of your art. That's not optional, it's a manufacturing requirement to keep the cut clean. So if you order a 2" (50.8mm) pin, your art will print at about 1.75" (44.6mm) and the remaining 6mm is the clear acrylic edge. We handle this for you in the file prep, so you don't need to design around it. The bleed can be left clear (the most common look) or filled with white if you want a defined border.
How a run actually works
Most orders start with a quote, not a cart. You send us your artwork (vector, raster, sketch, Procreate file, whatever you have), and we come back with pricing, a production timeline, and any production notes within a business day or two. We'll flag anything in the file that won't translate well at production size before we move forward, so you're not surprised at proof.
From proof approval, most overseas products are about three weeks to your door for acrylic pins (a month is more typical for our enamel and UV products). That's the nature of producing 100% custom merchandise overseas vs. shipping a stock promotional item. Shipping is express and included in the price.
If you have a hard deadline, tell us before you order. We don't charge rush fees. We'll either confirm we can hit your date or tell you up front that we can't, so you can plan around it.
Why our minimum is 50
It's a factory math thing, not a quality stance. The factories we work with charge a labor minimum that covers setup, mold use, proofing, and the production run itself. That floor barely changes between a 25-piece and a 50-piece order, so a 25-piece run costs almost the same as 50, just with half the pins. 50 is where the per-pin price actually starts to make sense.
We can run smaller hard sample runs if you really need to (the factory will do it), but it's not financially viable for most people: you're paying close to 50-piece pricing for a fraction of the output. If you're set on a small run, email us first and we'll walk through whether it's worth it for your situation. Larger runs (100, 200, and up) bring the per-pin cost down meaningfully.
Who we work with
Artists running their own work: illustrators, bands, indie brand owners, podcasters, comic creators, convention sellers. Designers ordering pins for a brand launch, an event, a campaign, or a customer giveaway. Agencies and design studios producing merch for their clients. Merch companies running production for the artists they represent. The common thread is that the merch matters: it's representing a brand, a band, an artist, or a project that someone cares about.
What you get with Alchemy
- 5+ million products produced for creators and brands since 2019.
- 100% money-back guarantee. If it's not right, we remake it at no cost or refund you in full.
- Prop 65 compliant pins, tested for lead and phthalates.
- Long-standing factory relationships. We've been working with the same vetted overseas factories for years. That means consistent quality, predictable timelines, and no chasing the lowest quote at the cost of the product. You get a US-based partner who handles the production logistics for you.
- Quality good enough for licensed brands. We've produced merch for officially licensed properties and large brands. The same standard goes on every order, including yours.
- A team of artists, musicians, and brand owners. Not customer-service reps trained on a script. Everyone proofing your file or reviewing your sample knows what it feels like to send their own art to a factory and hope it comes back right.
Common questions
What file format should I send?
PSD with a transparent background at 300 DPI or higher is ideal. PNG with transparent background or vector files work too. The print is CMYK, so RGB files will shift slightly during conversion. We proof carefully and let you approve before printing.
Can the pin shape have cutouts in the middle?
No, the pin is cut to a single outline only. You can leave parts of the design intentionally transparent (a donut shape with a clear center, for example), but the acrylic body stays solid.
If I order two designs of 50 each, are they priced as 100?
No. Each design counts as its own run because each one needs separate file setup and production. Quote them as two 50-piece runs.
What backing do they come with?
Safety pin style backing, glued to the back of the acrylic. Metal posts don't hold reliably in plastic, so safety pin is the standard for acrylic.
Will the print scratch off?
The print is sandwiched between two acrylic layers, so it's protected from direct contact. The outer acrylic surface itself can scratch over time with heavy use, but the print underneath stays intact.
How long do acrylic pins take?
About three weeks from proof approval to your door, including express shipping. Hard deadline? Tell us before you order; we'll confirm whether we can hit it. No rush fees.
Are acrylic pins made in the USA?
Acrylic pins are produced overseas at long-vetted factories. Our team is US-based and handles file prep, proofing, and customer success on every order. Our wooden pins and stickers are made in the USA.
Is there a protective film on the acrylic when I receive them?
Yes. Each pin ships with a protective film on both sides; peel it off when you're ready to display them. The film keeps the surface scratch-free during shipping.
Start a quote
Send us your artwork and a rough quantity, and we'll come back with pricing and a timeline within a business day or two. Not sure if your file will work? Send what you have. We'll tell you what we'd need to make it production-ready. Start a quote.
