How to Request Metal Plaque Samples [Photo Gallery]

MASTERWORK PLAQUE SAMPLE DESIGNS

After many requests from our customers, we now carry a variety of metal plaque samples in house for our customers to review.  Because we create custom bronze, aluminum, stainless, brass and zinc plaques using both casting and etching techniques, the amount of choices our client’s have to choose from can be overwhelming.

While we have many examples of past plaque projects on our website, we now have fifteen sample plaques ready to ship, in convenient 6” x 4” sizes, which now gives our clients a more tactile way to decide between different plaque background textures, finishes and mounting techniques. We also carry a four different water-jet cut letters with prismatic, polished, satin and random orbital finishes, so our clients can review individual letter options in person as well.

 HOW TO ASK FOR A PLAQUE SAMPLE

If you are interested in ordering a plaque from our studio, fill out a quote request form on our website, and our designers can start by suggesting the appropriate material for your project based on the size of the plaque, complexity of designs, and where your project will be installed. 

Our designers typically send images of past projects along with their initial quotes, but if you would like to review a sample in person before proceeding with an order, we can send one of the options above to an address of your choice.  If you prefer to create your own plaque sample, we can typically create a custom sample in about 2-3 weeks for a small fee.

Once the sample is sent to your home, and you have determined the best materials for your project, we ask that you return the sample to our studio so that we can continue to send samples to future clients.

LAFD Bronze Memorial Medallions

LAFD METRO FIRE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER ON TEMPLE STREET, LOS ANGELES, CA

Commissioned by the Los Angeles Fire Department, these bronze castings memorialize Captain Matthew McKnight, a fallen firefighter and 31-year veteran of the LAFD.  The twelve inch diameter medallions were created in cast bronze, using the logo of the city's fire department. Based on the preferences of the client, the medallion was filled with three different paint colors, rather than a standard chemical patina.  

In addition to the bronze medallion, a larger plaque was created for a memorial wall dedicated in McKnight's name.  This central plaque includes the circular memorial medallion and an illustration of McKnight's personal captain's badge. This illustration was created based off of a photograph provided by the client, and replicated by our designers at our studio.  The black areas are translated into raised bronze colored areas on the finished plaque, whereas the white areas are translated as recessed and become the same level as the plaque's background.  Masterwork Plaques can translate any object, landscape or portrait into a flat relief illustration using this technique.  

MORE GOVERNMENT SEALS AND MILITARY CRESTS

LAFD Badge, Photograph courtesy of the LAFD

Studio Illustration with McKnight's badge number

Donations can be made to the LAFD website in honor of Captain McKnight on their donations page.

Make Your Own Plaque – Fonts

WHAT FONTS CAN BE USED ON A CAST BRONZE PLAQUE?

Fonts are great tools for setting the tone of your cast bronze plaque.  When the designers here at Masterwork Plaques create a custom layout for your plaque, we think about the content of the piece, the client’s aesthetic, the intention of the plaque, where it will be installed, and who will see the plaque on a day-to-day basis.  Typically our designers think about fonts in three main categories: serifs, sans serifs and scripts.

Serif fonts typically have the most traditional look.  The word “serif” is defined as "small decorative lines added as an embellishment on the basic form of a letter".  Classic examples of a serif font are Times Roman, Garamond and the font "Cochin" as shown above.  These fonts are very well suited for commemorative plaques and dedication plaques as they have a more distinguished feel and look.

Sans serif fonts have a more modern aesthetic.  The most classic examples of sans serif fonts are Arial (shown above) and Helvetica.  These fonts do not have decorative embellishments on each letter; instead, they have a clean and simple shape.  Sans serif fonts are perfect for signage as they are easy to read from a distance.  They are also excellent choices for regulation plaques and property management plaques.

Script fonts are based on handwritten cursive, but are typically more elegant and calligraphic.  Script fonts can be either formal or informal depending on their use.  While our designers typically use scripts less often than serif and sans serif fonts, they can be the perfect choice for a formal bronze plaque or a plaque created for personal use.

Make Your Own Plaque - Etched Plaques

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF AN ETCHED PLAQUE?

Etched plaques typically have recessed lettering and graphics, and the remaining areas of the plaque are raised, finished metal.  An etched plaque can be particularly useful for smaller sized plaques, as a laser-cut letter can be created at a much smaller size than a cast plaque would allow.  An etched plaque can also be created at a variety of thicknesses, as they are created by cutting from a large sheet of metal and etching onto the surface of the sheet.  Therefore, one can choose between creating a plaque on a sheet of metal that is 1/4" thick, 1/8” thick, etc. 

Because an etched plate can be created at a small size and thickness, etched plates are the recommended choice for nameplates, regulation signage, bench plaques, product labels, etc.  Etched plates can also be produced in large quantities at minimal cost for this reason, particularly if the content of the plate does not vary from piece to piece.  

LEARN MORE ABOUT ETCHED METAL PLAQUES