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.  

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.

What borders can I add to my cast bronze plaque?

Cast bronze plaques can be created with a variety of different border styles.  Typically a cast bronze plaque will have a simple border that is raised extending about ¼” from the edge of the plaque.  Borders are typically recommended on most cast bronze plaques, as they give the piece a finished and refined quality and also protect the central text and graphics from general damage. However, on occasion a borderless cast plaque may be preferred if the plaque will be inset into brick or into the ground and needs to have a seamless and integrated look with its surroundings. If a border is preferred, a standard single line border can be expanded to a double line border, beveled edge border, or even a combination of more than one border technique.  These borders are standard at our studio and are included in the price of the plaque (shown below).

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.

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.  

Thoroughbred Walk of Champions, Arcadia, CA

 The newly installed Thoroughbred Walk of Champions was inaugurated with a festive community ceremony a few weeks ago on Huntington Drive near the Santa Anita Racetrack in California.  Spearheaded by local volunteer fundraisers, the walk of fame features an initial 67 custom bronze plaques set into the sidewalks. This bronze inset Walk of Fame will be expanded over future years to continue to commemorate the long history of horse racing in Arcadia and the West Coast.

Each bronze inset recognizes a different horse, jockey, trainer, owner or other notable who has made significant contributions to California racing.  Listed inside the decorative horse shoe are the accomplishments and awards of each honoree.  Sixty of the 67 installed panels commemorate Cornerstone Champions, representing the deceased jockeys and horses.  These cornerstone champion plaques feature a small cornerstone emblem in the lower right corner of the plaque in addition to the birth and death dates of the honoree.  The remaining seven plaques honor the 2014 living inductees, which will be added to yearly.  

Among many distinguished guests was Jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr., shown with his honorary bronze inset at the opening ceremony above.  In addition, the devoted volunteer fundraising committee was introduced and congratulated for the successful project for Downtown Arcadia that will be enjoyed for years to come. (Sandy Snider, Gail Marshall, and Beth Costanza are shown below with the inaugural bronze dedication plaque commemorating Santa Anita park).

As proven by this great project, Walks of Fame featuring custom bronze plaques can be a long-lasting source of pride for a community. 

Walk of fame projects:

• Work in series, guiding visitors through a section of town.
• Are expandable in future years.
• Promote tourism.
• Promote community pride and local interest.
• Are educational and honor individuals and events.
• Commemorate donors and aid in fundraising campaigns.
  

What is the benefit of a textured background on a cast bronze plaque?

The recessed background of a cast bronze plaque is typically created with a subtle background texture and color, which provides contrast to the plaque’s raised text and border elements.  If a large plaque is created without a background texture, the casting process can leave subtle water marks on the surface of the background. These marks are normal occurrences on larger plaques, which are caused by the pouring of the molten bronze in the casting process.  Masterwork Plaques encourages textures on larger plaque projects to help disguise these flow marks, unless the client prefers the natural texture-free look.

We offer a variety of textures that range from subtle to dramatic.  The leatherette and pebbled backgrounds are two of our most popular choices for clients looking for only slight variations in the background.  Both textures are subtle and are best for plaques with a heavy amount of text and graphics, as they do not distract the viewer.

Textured backgrounds can also make your cast bronze plaque look distinctive and artistic. For a more striking texture, we would recommend the travertine and sculptured texture options.  For plaques with a decent amount of background space, we recommend textures which are more dramatic, to keep these open areas interesting. All of our textures can be used to differentiate your plaque project from the mass-produced, template based signage.  More information on background textures and other decorative elements can be found on our material options pages. 

Why is a chemical patina better than standard paint?

Cast bronze plaques can be finished with a paint or finished with a chemical patina with a variety of different effects.  The natural color of bronze is actually a very light gold, but the common belief is that bronze is actually a darker brown.  Most people only see bronze sculptures after a patina has already been applied, which is what makes people think bronze is naturally a dark colored metal.

ABOUT CHEMICAL PATINAS

A patina can occur naturally over time on the surface of most metals, caused as a result of oxidization, age, or exposure to changing weather and environment. Patinas can also be applied to metals when they are produced, which prevents weathering and general wear and tear on a plaque and also makes the plaque more visually pleasing.  

What is important to note is that a true patina, whether it occurs naturally or is applied, chemically changes the surface color of the bronze.  It will not peel away; it will not chip off.  Plaques that are finished with paint and not patina, can have adverse chipping affects because the paint simply sits on top of the metal.  With heavy foot traffic, the patina color will change and naturally burnish and shine, but this creates a pleasing look and gives the plaque a true luster, rather than a painted plaque that just looks badly maintained.

Often times other plaque companies will use the word patina or stain without actually using the true chemical process to color a cast bronze plaque.  Applying patina to a bronze plaque is a more expensive process than what most plaque-makers want to use.  Many companies use other products with names like chem-col, polychrome patina, and graphite sprays, which are really just paint.  If the bronze work is set in a horizontal position, or is subject to extreme weather conditions, these other products will start to peel in a few years.

What type of metal can be used for in-ground plaques?

Often times for walk of fame projects, interpretive trails and other installations, our clients may prefer to install a custom plaque project underfoot and inset into the ground, rather than installing on a wall.  Can this be done? Absolutely, however special requirements will apply if you choose to install a plaque in this way.

The plaque material is very important.  Some metals (such as aluminum) are too soft to be installed underfoot.  Aluminum is less dense than other metals and can chip away and corrode too easily when exposed to the constant wear and tear of foot traffic.  Stainless steel is a strong and non-corrosive metal, however because stainless steel can only be created as an etched plaque, the relief depth is too shallow and the painted areas will not last if installed in the ground.  Cast bronze plaques are stronger and more durable than most other metal types. This makes cast bronze ideal for projects inset into cement, pavers, terrazzo, sidewalks, etc.  Cast bronze plaques hold up very well against heavy foot traffic, as they share many of stainless steels durable qualities.  In fact, inset custom bronze plaques installed in cities and busy areas will enhance the luster and quality of the design over time - keeping raised areas buffed and looking good.

In addition to the metal choice for inset plaques, it is important to color and finish these projects in a particular way.  Masterwork Plaques uses a real chemical patina to color all of our studio's inset bronze plaque projects. This is a more expensive process than what most plaque makers would like to use.  Many other companies use products with names like chem-col, polychrome patinas, and graphite sprays which are really just fancy words for "paint".  If the bronze work is set in a horizontal position, i.e. in the pavement, these other products will start to peel in a few years.  Sometimes getting a “great deal” with a painted plaque seems more appealing upfront, but the cost and hassle of refinishing the painted plaque changes minds quickly!

Real patina finishes chemically change the surface color of the bronze.  This technique ensures that no coloration will peel away when the plaques are set in the paving.  Under heavy foot traffic, the patina will stay bright and buffed, so that the bronze work looks highlighted and burnished, as opposed to looking peeled and badly maintained.  

What is the difference between cast and etched plaques?

Masterwork Plaques specializes in the creation of custom-made plaques.  At our studio, these plaques can be made in two different ways: as a cast plaque or an etched plaque. 

CAST PLAQUES

Cast plaques are created using liquid, molten metal.  Bronze is the most popular metal used at our studio.  The metal is poured into a mold and cooled to create a solid plaque.  Cast plaques typically have raised lettering and graphics, a raised border and a recessed background with a subtle background texture. The relief on a cast plaque (the depth of the raised elements) is about 3/32", which is more substantial than on an etched plaque.

Cast bronze plaques can be used for memorial plaques, donor plaques, commemorative plaques, and many other recognition projects. You will find many cast bronze plaques installed outdoors as they are very durable and hold up in many weather conditions.  We also offer cast aluminum plaques in our studio as well.  Each plaque type has different benefits depending on where the plaque is installed. 

ETCHED PLAQUES

Our custom etched plaques are created using a chemical engraving process that allows for fine etched detail.  A special chemical eats away at a sheet of metal (our most popular etched metals are stainless steel and brass) to create a design or written text.  The metal sheet is then cut to any size you prefer.  Etched stainless steel plaques typically have recessed lettering and graphics, although they can also be created with raised lettering to mimic a cast plaque.  Etched plaques often are created without a border, and the remaining areas of the plaque are the raised, untouched metal.  The shallow, recessed letters and graphics are typically filled with a black paint (or any other color) while the remaining areas stay the true color of the metal. 

Etched stainless steel plaques and etched aluminum plaques have a more contemporary look in comparison to a cast plaque’s look which is more traditional.  Etched plaques are often used for building signage, logos and lobby plaques.  The etching process allows for thinner line-work than is possible in the casting process - but the tradeoff is that the details are created in a shallow relief (all recessed areas are only 0.1" deep).