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Can I ask you some questions about badges and buttons?
12 years ago
So, we've recently been thinking about trying out some other stuff. We really love to make functional art, like the charms we've done in the past, but would like to make something that isn't necessarily exclusively seasonally available to us. We where thinking about two things, badges and buttons but we wanted your opinion on a few things about each if you have some time to spare or an opinion on the topic.
Badges
There are two things we noticed about badges right away. 1. They skew heavily traditional rather than digital and 2. People seem to wear them almost exclusively at conventions and not day to day life. So our questions on this are:
1. Do you prefer traditional badges over digital badges? At first we thought it was this way because traditional is the easiest way to do in person badge making at cons, however I've noticed more recently that people take "pre-orders" for badges to do at home and to pick up at cons, eliminating this "on the spot" convenience. Is this actually a preference thing? Do people dislike digital art for their badges? Do you dislike digital art for your badges? Would you refuse a non-traditional badge?
2. Do you wear them at all at cons? If not, why not?
3. If you do wear or collect badges, is it a deterrent for you if you have to print/laminate your badge yourself? Would you rather pay extra to have it printed, laminated and shipped to you? Would you rather pay $20 less to do that part yourself?
4. What size of badge do you like the best? What is too big and too small for you? Do you prefer them to be cut outs or squares with bgs and a character?
5. Is there anything you wish people would do more of or at all on badges or wish you could get? Do you have a fave badge that we could see?
Buttons (2.25 inches)
This is kind of a weird one because we've never actually seen anyone else selling these online or at cons in a badge sort of way. I really like buttons and I think I would personally prefer a badge of my character as a button so I could stick it on my cloths and backpack and things all the time rather than just at cons. I'm also a big fan of circular design. They would be cheaper to make and ship so we would be able to charge less for them. In any case,
1. For the reasons stated above (or your own reasons) would custom buttons interest you?
2. If given the option (and still with badges being much more expensive) would you prefer a badge over a button? Would you want both?
Would love to hear whatever thoughts you have on these things, we'd love to start making some gear but we're kind of lost in the dark ATM :B
Badges
There are two things we noticed about badges right away. 1. They skew heavily traditional rather than digital and 2. People seem to wear them almost exclusively at conventions and not day to day life. So our questions on this are:
1. Do you prefer traditional badges over digital badges? At first we thought it was this way because traditional is the easiest way to do in person badge making at cons, however I've noticed more recently that people take "pre-orders" for badges to do at home and to pick up at cons, eliminating this "on the spot" convenience. Is this actually a preference thing? Do people dislike digital art for their badges? Do you dislike digital art for your badges? Would you refuse a non-traditional badge?
2. Do you wear them at all at cons? If not, why not?
3. If you do wear or collect badges, is it a deterrent for you if you have to print/laminate your badge yourself? Would you rather pay extra to have it printed, laminated and shipped to you? Would you rather pay $20 less to do that part yourself?
4. What size of badge do you like the best? What is too big and too small for you? Do you prefer them to be cut outs or squares with bgs and a character?
5. Is there anything you wish people would do more of or at all on badges or wish you could get? Do you have a fave badge that we could see?
Buttons (2.25 inches)
This is kind of a weird one because we've never actually seen anyone else selling these online or at cons in a badge sort of way. I really like buttons and I think I would personally prefer a badge of my character as a button so I could stick it on my cloths and backpack and things all the time rather than just at cons. I'm also a big fan of circular design. They would be cheaper to make and ship so we would be able to charge less for them. In any case,
1. For the reasons stated above (or your own reasons) would custom buttons interest you?
2. If given the option (and still with badges being much more expensive) would you prefer a badge over a button? Would you want both?
Would love to hear whatever thoughts you have on these things, we'd love to start making some gear but we're kind of lost in the dark ATM :B
I like digital because I don't have to pay shipping (and don't have to worry about the neighbors stealing it...)
I don't mind laminating it myself.
I freaking LOVE buttons (though I usually buy the 1" kind)
I wear at least seven on my hat at anytime. Last time I went to a con I spent about $20 on just buttons. :/
Custom buttons would be fun.
I would definitely choose buttons over badges.
1. I very much enjoy traditional badges because there's more weight to the badge itself, and it just feels nice in hand? My friends all do badges for people digitally though, and there does seem to be a market for digital badges, - especially from an artist with a reputation such as you guys have, I'm sure you'd be able to fill up badge-slots no problem regardless of what type.
2. I always pick my 5-8 favorite badges and wear them at cons, aside from that i just like looking through them sometimes at home. Don't really wear them out and about.
3. If the upcharge is $20, I'd much rather print/laminate it myself. It'd have to be only like $5-$10 more for me to want to pay for it to be printed/laminated IF the badge was digital. If the badge is traditional it matters less, and i have laminated traditional badges myself after getting them at cons from artists without laminating machines.
4. I like badges ranging from 2 inches in height to no taller than 6 inches. Cut outs vs. squares with backgrounds depends entirely on the skill of the artist and how they pull it off. I
5. Fave badge/s I've gotten:
Second from the top on the Right
this
and this
1. I'm equally interested in both traditional and digital, traditional more for collecting and digital for actual use.
2. I wear a badge occasionally, more if I don't have a costume. I found it more fun when we had matching badges with friends.
3. I'd be very interested if I got the badge printed&laminated cause I do not own such equipment or easy access to places that could do so, majour reason I don't wear badges at cons is cause I can't laminate them and it's always sad that the badge is torn and broken after one con.
4. I prefer small badges cause comfy to wear, but with a picture that's fairly simple/zoomed to upperbody so it's easy to see even if someones not too close.
*
I absolutely love buttons and I collect them. They're really common in the finnish conventions that have art tables, but a custom button commission would win over all the premade ones! c: (cause I wear buttons to display things I like, and it's hard to find things that would exactly describe me)
2. Buttons million times over badges! c:
I prefer digital just because I haven't ever worn a badge yet, and thus I don't have to have anything shipped.
I don't have a preference on printing/laminating because I've never worn a badge.
BUTTONS ARE AWESOME. 'Nuff said.
There's no longer any reason why badges HAVE to be traditional, but I think there's a lingering tendency in that direction, out of nostalgia or tradition or just sheer momentum from the early days. There's also a feeling that what you're buying is a tiny little piece of original art, maybe from someone you could never afford to commission otherwise... and there's also a LOT of on the spot impulse purchasing at play, which doesn't work for pre-orders. And badges are still an easy way for beginning artists to get their feet wet in Artists' Alley without having to commit to a dealer's table. But there's no reason you can't do perfectly well with digital, especially given that you are AMAZING with digital.
2) Oh, sure. Sometimes I dig out all the badges I've accumulated over the last 13 years(dozens) and wear them all at once as a joke, but normally it's a short chain of ones for whatever character I'm most into at the time.
3) I would definitely do it myself for $20, but that's because I HAVE a laminator and a high end printer - most people don't. I charge $3 for lamination and shipping, because that's what it costs me. Adding nice printer paper in in the case of digital would obviously raise that. I think most people who do not have a laminator or good printer and don't know how to go about having it professionally printed would probably be put off by $20 extra for something that, for most conbadges, comes standard.
4) I still have a soft spot for the old 'official conbadge' sized ones, haha. I'm not into huge badges because I'm fairly small--not a lot of real estate for putting up billboards!
2. Absolutely. If I had the space on my clothing, I would wear badges of ALL of my characters, lol. I actually try to commission batches of badges of my favorite characters for each new con I go to. I've already gotten two new badges for FAU this august and I plan on getting more.
3. I have to admit that having the badge delivered with clip and pouch is more convenient for me since I don't readily have those materials, but if a discount is being offered, I would rather print it out myself.
4. I like bigger badges because it's easier to see the details in them. I am also more likely to buy the badge if it is a waist up instead of a simple headshot.
5. I wish for more originality, a scene, instead of just a profile picture.
1. Unless it's a artist with a really neat digital design, I lean towards traditional more. It's not that I don't like digital, but traditional offers a huge variety. I have a collection of markers, pencils, watercolors, acrylics, or even mixed badges. They tend to be slightly cheaper than other types of art the dealers offer, and it's a unique experience for cons. As badges are HIGH in demand at cons, I try to offer pre-orders because it's less stress (I'm assuming this goes for other artists too) and it guarantees that person gets a badge. At the con I limit how many I sell a day, because I want to go explore and have fun, not just work the whole time. I did that at AC last year and I was so grumpy with how little sleep I got.
2. Yup! I love wearing them and showing off. I also like showing the artists their work again when I meet up a year later. Like me, they tend to get really happy when you remember it.
3. I prefer having the artist do it if they offer, as I don't have a nice printer myself. I'd probably reconsider though if it's an extra 20, I've never had to pay that much just for print and laminate.
4. Somewhere around 4x6 or a little smaller is excellent. It's easier to wear then
5. I do! My personal favorite was done by Nim-Nim - http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6812120/
Perhaps though if it's that much trouble, offering just digital versions works pretty well and will probably save you guys a bunch of time from having to run around and get these bits done. It'll probably be cheaper in the long run for you and your commissioners by just going to Kinko's or something equivalent instead. Would cost them only a couple bucks versus a day of your time of prep.
In the long run, if you consider doing traditional over digital, laminators are not that pricey. Initial price is around 30 for a pretty decent machine and 20 for about 100-200 sheets, which can be made back pretty quickly with the quality you two offer.
I commission badges based on whose art I like; it makes no difference if it's traditional or digital.
2. Do you wear them at all at cons? If not, why not?
I only go to one (local), as I can't afford to travel much. If I went to more cons, I would wear my badge there too.
3. Would you rather pay extra to have it printed, laminated and shipped to you? Would you rather pay $20 less to do that part yourself?
Personally, I would rather pay extra, but from a business point of view I think it's a good idea to offer both options.
4. What size of badge do you like the best? What is too big and too small for you? Do you prefer them to be cut outs or squares with bgs and a character?
Index-card size is good. Cut outs and squares are both good, I have no preference.
This is kind of a weird one because we've never actually seen anyone else selling these online or at cons in a badge sort of way.
My mate sells 2.25 inch buttons, both premades and customs. We've made character badge-type buttons for a couple people. We do exist, we just don't travel far from home :)
We haven't really promoted the "put your char on a button" side of things; most of our business is from premades, but I think badge-buttons would do well if you advertised them.
1. For the reasons stated above (or your own reasons) would custom buttons interest you?
Yes. I like buttons, and they are definitely more versatile than badges.
2. If given the option (and still with badges being much more expensive) would you prefer a badge over a button? Would you want both?
If I could get the same artwork on either a button or a badge, I'd go with the button. I would also continue wearing my existing badge. No reason why you can't have more than one ;)
Our premades are mostly with words rather than art. http://twistedbuttons.com/catalog.html (the website is very out of date) My mate has been making these for a long time, I only started helping out around 3 years ago. I may make some with my own artwork at some point, but don't have anything specific planned right now. I'm generally happy with my art, but I think it still needs a lot of improvement.
There are two things we noticed about badges right away. 1. They skew heavily traditional rather than digital and 2. People seem to wear them almost exclusively at conventions and not day to day life. So our questions on this are:
1. I've never actually gotten a badge before buuut if I were to have gotten one, I would enjoy traditional or digital, just so long as the art itself was good. I would never refuse a badge based on it being traditional or digital.
2. I would wear any if I had one.
3. I have a laminator, so it doesn't really bother me. If I'm commissioning someone, I'd like the process to be done for me, but I don't mind paying extra. Not sure about $20.. It would depend on how detailed the picture itself is.
4. Normal notecard sized (3" x 5") badges seem best. Anything below 1" x 1" is too small, and anything over 7" x 5" is too big. I have no preference for cut outs or squares, but squares seem as though they would be more streamlined and less work for the artist.
5. Nothing in particular. I like it when the name of the character on the badge is worked into the design or stylized in some fashion to fit.The badges I've seen that I like have very bright colors. Anything eye-catching is ideal.
Buttons
1. Yes! I would absolutely love one or more buttons with my 'sona and/or characters! I love the idea that you have for portability. For as cool as badges are, they are not for daily use. Buttons, however, can be attached to a multitude of surfaces! =u= I'm also a fan of miniature things, so buttons have that certain allure to me. (I own quite a few buttons, as opposed to the current zero badge count!)
2. I would want both, possibly a button first to tide me over until I save up enough to get a badge, if money were an issue.
And finally: good luck! I love your art and want to throw money at you for cute trinkets!
Personally, I don't have a preference when it comes to digital versus traditional badges. I believe many people do traditional badges at conventions because they're working with what they have. I have seen people doing digital badges at conventions, however, and when they return to their rooms that evening, they print and laminate the badges and give them to the customer the next day. So, while I think most people probably expect traditional badges and most are going to go for traditional badges, that's not strictly the only thing people are looking for.
Sometimes having a printed badge is nice, too, because if you happen to lose it in the mayhem of the convention, it won't be a big deal to 'replace' because it's not an original, one of a kind piece of artwork, so to speak.
Most folks do preorders to keep from being bogged down with commissions AT the convention itself while still getting money FOR the convention. Most people tend to save the preorder money and put it towards their room reservation, their registration, or jut for spending money. It's, technically, a convention 'sale', but they're able to hand them over to the customers the first day of the con. This is good for customers who don't want to wait for their piece to be drawn and good for artists who can now take more commissions at the convention.
2. Do you wear them at all at cons? If not, why not?
I only wear my badges at conventions. Otherwise, they hang up in my office at home. Some local friends, however, will wear their badges when they're out fursuiting locally, so I'm sure there are people who wear them more often than just the occasional convention.
Most people re-use them, too, wearing them to multiple conventions or swapping badges out for others, if they have a lot.
3. If you do wear or collect badges, is it a deterrent for you if you have to print/laminate your badge yourself? Would you rather pay extra to have it printed, laminated and shipped to you? Would you rather pay $20 less to do that part yourself?
Me personally? No. I work in a print shop on my college campus and can get decent prints for cheap. I own a laminator, so I don't need to worry about that.
However, I think it's something that might be a deterrent to others, who may not be able to get somewhere to print something decent out or get it laminated for any number of reasons (money, location, parental issues, etc.).
Most folks, I think, assume badges come laminated/printed, so you might meet some opposition with that, but I could also totally be wrong!
4. What size of badge do you like the best? What is too big and too small for you? Do you prefer them to be cut outs or squares with bgs and a character?
I think the 'standard' badge size tends to hang around index card sized, but I know there's a wide variation in sizes these days (the bigger they are, the more you get noticed and, since badges are generally how you recognize people whose faces you've never seen, that works well for people). I think within the 5x7 and under range is really nice, any bigger and I'd feel like it's just obnoxious and a hassle to wear.
I like both cutouts and standard square badges!
5. Is there anything you wish people would do more of or at all on badges or wish you could get? Do you have a fave badge that we could see?
I love themed (cosplay, frills, gore, etc. a theme for a whole order of badges) badges, but I don't seem them as much as I expect to for some reason. I also love badges that work the whole theme or personality of the character into the badge, like with the typography and and border and such.
I really love badges in these kinds of styles:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8944364/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8980145/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8867880/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8300866/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8163149/ (what i was thinking of when i mentioned themed badge batches)
1. For the reasons stated above (or your own reasons) would custom buttons interest you?
Absolutely! I love buttons and button badges would be super cute.
2. If given the option (and still with badges being much more expensive) would you prefer a badge over a button? Would you want both?
I would like the option of both, but I would definitely lean more towards buttons because they're more versatile and useful.
There's a cheap way to make them though.
My dad is an upholsterer, so he uses a button punching machine to make buttons for cushions, I use that.
You just buy badge parts and a mold for the machine. You dont even need a proffessional printer or laminating. You can print about 9 badges in your house, with normal paper, and when making the badge, you put cellophane over the paper, so when you make the badge, it looks as good as the proffessional way. I can guarantee that the cellophane doesn't break :3 It does wear out over time though, my friend has some three year old decolored badges on her back pack.
All you need is
- your own printer
- button punching machine
- badge parts
- cellophane roll
Sorry for my bad english ; ;
And the people here, they wear them everywhere.
That being said, for badges I like both digital and traditional, and while I have too many to wear all of them all at once, I do wear them at cons (the rest of the time they're clipped up so I can see them). Personally I'd like them pre-laminated but I have too many badge clips, so I'd just want the laminated badge with a hole, ready to wear.
Buttons would be awesome too, especially if original art or it came with the art. <3
What is the price of paying a courier service? I'm not familiar with shipping out of Canada, of course. <XD Is that like UPS or Fedex?
2. I have a tendency of wearing certain Con Badges on different days, mostly so I can say that I had the chance to wear them all
3. Not necessarily. However, people are more preferred to have the lamination done so they can avoid having damage occur to the originals.
4. As long as the name & character are able to be seen and read, Size is not an issue. I stand strong with my statement that I love variety in the Badges I get, so being cut or not only matters if it is the style.
5. Show more creativity instead of sticking to a specific style & Theme. http://www.furaffinity.net/view/3628703/ (Read the comments to see why it's my fave.)
My actual intention of my statement was supposed to be that I find Traditionally-drawn Badges to be far more intimate than a Digital, that's all. There is always something far more endearingly intimate to have something made on some form of physical Media by an Artist one values. An original that can't be replaced or recreated the exact way makes the item of desire priceless to its owner.
I know there is a lot of work that goes into to doing artwork digitally, anyone can realize that. I've watched something made from scratch to completion, so I can and will agree that the labor intensity can be just as vigorous, and sometimes more, than Traditional.
Where I got hung on was on things like "demonstrating the talent they personally have developed without the need of a computer" I am not sure what you meant by this statement as it reads like like the computer is a crutch for people who can't make art and not just another medium people choose to work in.
"I don't expect to pay as much as I would a traditional since the labor intensity is not equal." I'm still not sure I understand this statement, if it is agreed that the labor that goes into both media can be equal intensive, what do you mean by saying it is not equal?
I hope you don't feel like I am attacking you here, I am just having trouble connecting things you say in your first post to those in the second.
Ah, that part. That was based on the fact that with a Digital creation you have a less stressful worry for correcting a mistake in comparison to Traditional, since not all corrections can be done on Material Media without consequence to the material itself. This idea was also based on the idea that it wasn't just a sheet of paper or Stock Card, but stuff like leather, bronze plates and other various materials. Simply put, I was thinking omni-various on material types of Badges rather than the basic format.
Actually, that was the line that I REALLY shouldn't have posted at all.
Not at all. You're only seeking info, which shows wisdom.