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.  

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).