Bronze, brass, or aluminum, worded right the first time.
Building dedications, donor walls, memorials, awards, and the nameplate by the door. We help with the wording and layout, proof it before anything is made, have it made in cast, tooled, etched, or printed metal, and mount it on your wall.
Four ways a plaque is made
A plaque is a sign people stop and read, so the way it is made matters: it decides the look, how much detail it can hold, and how it mounts.
| Type | How it is made | Metals | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cast | Molten metal poured into a mold, with raised letters over a textured background | Bronze or aluminum | Building dedications, memorials, donor recognition, large and round plaques |
| Tooled | Machined from solid plate: raised copy on a recessed background | Bronze, brass, or aluminum | Dedications, donor and recognition plaques, room signs |
| Etched | Chemically etched, with the recesses filled with paint; can reproduce photos | Stainless, bronze, brass, nickel silver, copper, or aluminum | Fine detail, logos, photos, directories |
| Printed | A full-color image printed onto metal at up to 1,200 dpi | Aluminum, brass, bronze, or stainless | Photos, color logos, maps, timelines |
For nameplates, award plates, directories, and door signs in quantity there is also thin-gauge metal: aluminum, brass, stainless, nickel silver, or copper from 0.020 to 0.125 inch thick and up to 23 by 35 inches, etched, screen printed, or sublimated.
Sizes and depth
Cast plaques run from 2 by 2 inches up to 96 inches across, depending on the metal, and they get thicker as they get bigger:
| Plaque area | Cast depth | For example |
|---|---|---|
| Under 324 sq in | 5/16 in | 12 by 18 in (216 sq in) |
| 324 to 575 sq in | 1/2 in | 18 by 24 in (432 sq in) |
| 576 to 1,295 sq in | 3/4 in | 24 by 36 in (864 sq in) |
| 1,296 to 3,599 sq in | 1 in | 36 by 48 in (1,728 sq in) |
| Over 3,600 sq in | 1 1/2 in | 48 by 96 in (4,608 sq in) |
Tooled plaques are made from plate 1/8, 1/4, 5/16, or 3/8 inch thick, thicker on request, and can be made double-sided. Etched plaques come in seven thicknesses and run up to 36 by 72 inches for most of them.
Finishes, backgrounds, and borders
- Bronze can be brushed, polished, or oxidized, darkened so the raised letters stand out. Aluminum is brushed or painted.
- Background colors include black, dark oxide, brown, and dark bronze, or any standard color, with a leatherette, sand, stipple, or pebble texture.
- Borders come in 13 standard styles, or a custom border.
- Clear coat is satin as standard, or gloss, semi-gloss, or matte.
Some finishes have size limits on cast plaques: polished bronze tops out at 24 by 24 inches and the standard oxidized finishes at 29 by 29, while an alternative oxidized finish has no size limit.
Photos, seals, and logos
- Etched portraits on stainless, bronze, or brass, reproduced as a halftone, like a newspaper photo.
- Full-color printed inserts and ceramic photo inserts in oval, round, or rectangular shapes.
- Sculpted relief portraits cast in metal and attached to the plaque, and photo-relief castings that blend a photograph with the casting.
- Your logo in raised metal, etched, or printed in color.
- Standard seals for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, Space Force, Homeland Security, POW/MIA, and Veterans Affairs, from 10 to 96 inches across.
Mounting
- Hidden studs. Threaded studs on the back go into drilled holes, set with adhesive or anchors. Nothing shows on the face.
- Rosettes. Decorative caps over the mounting screws, in seven styles.
- Double-face tape for thin plates and light etched plaques on a smooth wall.
We mount plaques on interior walls. Outdoor plaques, post and garden mounts, and cemetery bronze are outside what we take on right now.
Getting the wording right
Most plaque problems are wording problems, and they are expensive ones, because metal does not take corrections. A dedication plaque usually needs only a few things: what is being dedicated, who it honors, the date, and who dedicated it, plus a line about why if there is room. Fewer words means bigger letters, and bigger letters get read.
Before you approve, read the proof out loud, check every name with someone who knows how it is spelled, and confirm the dates. If it helps, we will print the proof full size on our large-format printer so you can tape it where the plaque will hang and look at it from where people will stand.
Who orders plaques
Churches dedicating a building, a room, or a window; schools and booster clubs naming a gym, a library, or a scholarship; city halls and libraries thanking donors; veterans' posts; nonprofits with a donor wall; and businesses marking an anniversary or a founder. If it is meant to stay up for good, it belongs in metal.
Plaques are made to order, and production time depends on the type and the size. Tell us your dedication date when you ask for a quote and we will confirm the timeline with the proof. Need lettering to go with it? See metal letters, or send us the wording and we will lay it out.
Built right, start to finish.
Wording and layout help
We help you get the words right, then lay them out so they read.
Proofed before it is made
Approve size, finish, and mounting first, and see the proof full size if you want.
Mounted for you
Hidden studs or decorative rosettes, installed level on your wall.
Good to know.
Still curious? A quick message is the fastest way to a real answer.
Get a quoteBronze or aluminum?
Both can be cast. Bronze is the traditional pick: heavier and warmer, and it can be brushed, polished, or darkened. Aluminum is lighter and usually more economical, finished brushed or painted. Bronze suits a building dedication or a memorial; aluminum makes sense for a large plaque on a budget.
What should a dedication plaque say?
Keep it to what is being dedicated, who it honors, the date, and who dedicated it, with one line about why if there is room. Every extra line makes the letters smaller. We will help with the wording and lay it out so it reads from where people will stand.
Can you make a donor wall?
Yes. A donor wall is usually a headline plaque or dimensional letters plus a set of individual name plates in etched or printed metal, laid out so new names can be added later. We design the layout, proof it, and install it.
How is a plaque mounted?
Usually on hidden studs set into drilled holes, so nothing shows on the face. Decorative rosettes over the screws, or double-face tape for light plates, are the other options. We mount them on interior walls.
Can you put a photo on a plaque?
Yes, several ways: an etched portrait on stainless, bronze, or brass, a full-color printed insert, a ceramic photo insert, or a sculpted relief portrait cast in metal. Each suits a different budget and look, and we will show you which fits.
How long does a plaque take?
Plaques are made to order, and the time depends on the type and the size. We confirm the date with your proof, so tell us about any dedication date up front.
Ready to get your brand out there?
Whether it's a vehicle wrap, a wall mural, or a stack of business cards, let's talk about your project and make it happen.