Bronze Plaques Made
Whether it is a memorial plaque or an address plaque, bronze plaques are an excellent choice for long-lasting, permanent signage. Unlike aluminum or stainless steel, bronze is dense and strong enough to withstand most environmental conditions and harsh weather. The bronze finish is durable, easy to clean and looks timeless.
The most common type of bronze plaques is made from a solid bronze material and comes with raised lettering. They are mounted onto a stone, brick or concrete wall and can be installed vertically or at an angle. They are an excellent option for commemorative plaques and can be engraved with text, photos or any other desired detail.
Plaques made from other materials such as aluminum and stainless steel are often used for engraved plaques or to create logos or seals that cannot be etched. These other types of plaques are more affordable than a cast or tooled bronze plaque and can be created in a variety of ways to best fit your needs.
How Are Bronze Plaques Made?
The simplest form of engraving is using a laser. The engraver is programmed to create an image or text in the area of the plaque to be engraved. The laser beam then burns away the coating leaving a contrast in the metal that can be used to engrave the chosen design or text into the plaque.
This method is popular and very quick to do. It is a cost-effective way to get an engraved bronze plaque or other bronze memorial without having to pay for the mold or casting process, and it can produce some very detailed images.
Another engraved bronze plaque option is called “direct-to-metal machining.” This process is patented by Trigard Memorials and has been used to make thousands of bronze memorials across the country since 2001. The technology creates three-dimensional renderings of text and images where light spots are raised higher and dark spots are recessed lower creating a realistic contrast between the two.
These engraved plaques are a great choice for customers who need to have very small text and high levels of detail on their plaques. It can also be used to create custom shapes that can’t be done with a cast or tooled bronze plaque, such as the shape of a heart.
Photo Relief: We offer a special process that allows you to use your own photos on your bronze plaques. They are not tooled and they do not have the same relief as a traditional tooled plaque but they are still an excellent option for customers looking to add their own photos.
Colored Background: We offer a wide variety of backgrounds for your bronze plaques including sandblasted, painted or a chemical patina. A colored background increases the contrast between the background and the lettering, making the plaque easier to read from a distance.
A patina is a chemical coating that bonds with the surface of the metal to change the colors and creates a very unique look. A true patina is a much more expensive process than the paint that most bronze plaque companies use, but it is the best option for a long-lasting, beautiful finish on your bronze memorial.