The custom awards buying guide.
Answers to the questions buyers ask before ordering: material comparisons, sizing, lead times, file types, engraving fonts, and rush production.
Crystal vs Acrylic Awards: Which Should You Choose?
Crystal awards (optical-grade lead glass) give you weight, refractive clarity, and a heritage feel — best for executive recognition, retirement plaques, and one-off ceremonial pieces. Acrylic awards reproduce full-color brand artwork via UV printing, weigh less for high-volume programs, and cost less per unit — best for multi-tier recognition sets, sales programs, and branded sponsor awards.
Read →Award Size Guide: How Big Should Your Custom Award Be?
Most desk-display recognition awards run 6–8" tall. Hero pieces and retirement plaques work best at 10–12". Above 12" reads as ceremonial and is reserved for one-off milestones. The right size depends on display location, inscription length, and the moment being recognized.
Read →How Long Do Custom Awards Take to Produce?
Standard turnaround for a custom award is 5–10 business days from approved proof to shipment. Rush production (2–3 business days) is available on most pieces for an upcharge. Multi-tier recognition programs typically run 4–6 weeks end-to-end including design and proof stages.
Read →Best Fonts for Award Engraving
For ceremonial pieces (retirement, donor recognition, lifetime achievement), serif fonts read with the right weight — Trajan, Garamond, Caslon, and Times New Roman are reliable. For modern corporate recognition, sans-serif fonts like Avenir, Futura, and Helvetica read cleanly. For personal dedications, scripts like Edwardian or Bickham work — but use sparingly.
Read →What File Types Should You Send for Logo Engraving?
Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG, PDF) reproduce best for laser engraving — they scale to any size without losing edge crispness. Raster files (PNG, JPG) work at 300 DPI minimum but degrade if scaled up. If you only have a low-res file, we can usually redraw your logo as vector for an additional fee.
Read →Rush Award Production: 2-3 Day Turnaround Explained
Rush production compresses standard 5–10 day turnaround to 2–3 business days for an upcharge of 25–50%. Available on most crystal, acrylic, and glass awards. Best suited to single-recipient pieces with vector logo files and approved inscription text in hand at order time.
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