The Complete Guide to Badge Doming and Custom Name Tags

The Complete Guide to Badge Doming

Badge doming is the process of creating custom badges, name tags, and other products using a plastic domed coating. This domed plastic helps protect the print or design underneath while giving the item a polished, professional look. In this complete guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about badge doming and how it can benefit your business or organization.

What is Badge Doming?

Doming is a plastic coating that is applied in a liquid form and then cured to a hardened dome shape using heat or UV light. This dome gives the badge, name tag, or other item an attractive smooth surface that protects the print underneath.

There are two main types of doming:

• Epoxy doming uses a two-part epoxy resin that is mixed and poured over the print. It cures to a hard plastic dome.
• UV doming uses an ultraviolet-curable liquid plastic resin that hardens under UV light. It provides a more scratch-resistant dome.

The doming thickness is usually around 1/16" to 1/8" thick. Items like name badges, trophies, plaques, and desk accessories are commonly domed.

Benefits of Doming

There are many benefits that make doming a popular choice for enhancing prints:

• Protection - The dome provides a barrier that helps protect the print underneath from scratches, fading, and everyday wear.
• Customization - Doming allows you to create customized badges, nameplates, awards, and more with professional results.
• Professional appearance - The domed finish gives items a polished, high-quality look compared to flat printed pieces.
• Versatility - Many materials like paper, plastic, wood, and metal can be domed over after printing.
• Affordability - Doming is an affordable way to enhance and customize printed items without expensive tooling.
• Durability - The durable plastic dome increases the lifespan of printed materials like employee name badges.

Common Items to Dome

Many types of products benefit from doming. Some common examples include:

• Name badges
• Employee nameplates
• Desk nameplates
• Plaques and awards
• Keychains
• Ornaments
• Badges
• Signs
• Decals

For businesses, doming name badges, employee nameplates, and desk signs helps brand the office while providing durable and professional identification.

Doming Materials

Many different materials can be printed on and domed over. Typical materials used include:

• Plastic - PVC, PETG, acrylic, polystyrene plastics work well for doming.
• Paper - Paper stocks like card stock hold up to doming but may warp.
• Wood - Thin wood, veneers, and wood composites can be domed.
• Metal - Softer metals like aluminum and tin can be domed over after printing.
• Fabric - Materials like canvas, cotton, and polyester can add texture.

Plastics like PVC, PETG, and acrylic are common choices for name badges, signs, and plaques. Paper works for lighter duty applications like greeting cards.

Doming Process Steps

Producing domed items involves a multi-step process:

1. Printing - First, the substrate is printed with the desired images, text, logos, or designs. Screen printing, offset printing, and digital printing are common options.
2. Masking - Areas that should not be coated are masked off with tape, registration marks, or frisket.
3. Surface preparation - The surface is cleaned and prepared for optimal adhesion.
4. Doming - The liquid doming resin is applied evenly over the print and cured to a hardened dome.
5. Finishing - Excess material is trimmed and parts are inspected for quality.

This full process allows for professional, durable results. Advanced machines are available that automate steps like printing, masking, doming, and curing for high volume production.

Types of Doming Resins

There are a few main types of liquid plastic resins used for doming:

• Epoxy - A two-part epoxy that is mixed before doming and air cured. Provides a rigid, durable plastic dome.
• Polyurethane - A two-part urethane that is mixed before doming and moisture cured. Low viscosity for detailed designs.
• UV-curable - A one-part urethane resin that cures under UV light. Excellent scratch resistance and clarity.

Epoxy doming resins are popular for their strength and low cost, but can yellow over time. Polyurethane and UV-curable resins provide crystal clear results.

Doming Equipment

Producing quality doming requires having the right equipment:

• Doming resin - The selected doming resin, often epoxy, urethane, or UV-curable.
• Mixing cups - To accurately mix multi-part doming resins.
• Stir sticks - For mixing doming resin parts together thoroughly.
• Dropper bottle - For applying doming resin evenly and cleanly.
• Flow table - A tilted table for spreading resin over items smoothly.
• Heat gun or UV lamp - For curing the liquid resin properly.
• Oven or curing chamber - Provides controlled heat for curing epoxy resins.

There are also all-in-one doming machines that combine mixing, resin application, curing, and cleanup for high volume production.

Tips for Great Results

Follow these tips when doming items:

• Use high quality print designs and substrates that can withstand doming chemicals.
• Mask off any areas that should remain undomed.
• Prep surfaces so doming resin adheres well.
• Work in a dust-free space to prevent contamination.
• Apply resin evenly at the recommended thickness.
• Allow pieces to cure fully before handling to prevent damage.
• Trim excess plastic carefully after curing.
• Work safely - wear gloves and eye protection when doming.

Taking care through each process step results in attractive and durable domed products.

Creative Doming Ideas

Doming opens up many creative possibilities. Some ideas include:

• Photo domes on badges, jewelry, and ornaments
• Layered designs between multiple doming layers
• 3D doming over uneven surfaces like woodgrain and fabrics
• Incorporating foil stamping, glitter, or mixins in the dome
• Unique shapes like domed coasters, bookmarks, and lanyards
• Whimsical designs like domed flowers, butterflies, and seasonal pieces

Experiment with different materials and incorporate domes into crafts, jewelry, paper art, and more for beautiful results.

Industry Uses of Doming

Across many industries, doming is commonly used to enhance identification cards, signs, badges, placards, and displays. Some examples include:

• Corporate - Employee name badges, placards, lobby directories, service awards
• Healthcare - Patient wristbands, employee IDs, department signs, donor recognition walls
• Education - Student and teacher IDs, sports awards, hallway signs, event badges
• Entertainment - VIP passes, commemorative items, backstage badges, theater signs
• Restaurants - Table number placards, employee name tags, promotional items

The special recognition and branding opportunities with doming make it a popular choice across many professional settings.

Get Doming Today!

With its versatile enhancements and professional polish, it’s easy to see why badge doming has become a popular printing technique. This complete guide covers how doming works, key applications, materials, tips for great results, and creative ideas to inspire your own projects.

Our team has mastered the art and science of high-quality doming. For custom name badges, awards, signage, and hundreds of other items, contact us today to request a quote!

FAQs

What materials can be domed?

Many materials work well for doming including plastics (PVC, PETG, acrylic), paper, wood, metal, and fabric. Plastics provide the most durable and high-quality results.

Does doming protect the print underneath?

Yes, doming provides excellent protection for the printed design underneath the dome. It helps prevent scratches, fading, and normal wear and tear.

How thick is the doming plastic?

Typical doming thickness is around 1/16" to 1/8". This provides a substantial dome over the print without being too thick or heavy.

What industries commonly use doming?

Many industries benefit from doming including corporate, healthcare, education, restaurants, and entertainment. Uses include name badges, signs, placards, awards, and displays.

Does doming allow for customization?

Absolutely! Doming is ideal for small batch customization and personalization. It's easy to create unique doming projects from name badges to ornaments without expensive tooling.