Engraving Questions

How much does engraving cost?
Engraving is included on some items. Extra setup fees may apply for logos, silk screening or other custom work, such as dies for custom ribbons. Please give us your requirements and we can quote an exact cost.

How much engraving can I put on my award?
The amount of engraving depends on the product. Each item has a maximum number of lines available. Twenty to twenty-five letters per line is suggested for most products. You may use a logo or artwork in place of one or more lines of engraving.

When I provide my artwork for engraving, are there any special guidelines that I should follow?
The legibility of your information can’t be emphasized enough. Many people have elegant and diverse writing styles that aren’t always clear to someone else. If you cannot provide typed verbiage, please print in capital letters only. This provides bold, easily understood characters that will not drop out or fade in a fax transmission. Notes in the margins can be added to discern specific fonts, italics, capitalization, etc.

Can you engrave my logo?
Yes. In most cases, your logo can be engraved via sublimation, diamond point inscription or laser. The method used depends on the material used and preferences of our customers.

Can I get a proof before the work is started?
Yes, we can fax or email the proof to you. There is no charge for this service, unless redundant copies are requested (i.e., six plaques having the same layout with only a name change on each).

What kind of digital art files are best?
Engraving relies heavily on clean, smooth artwork. The best form of electronic graphics are those that have been converted to a vectorized format. This is most commonly an .eps (encapsulated postscript) file. Vectorized files have smooth arcs, are scaleable without loss of resolution, and don’t appear as having those “jaggy edges” often found in bitmap based graphics. We can work with most standard graphic files (i.e., .bmp, .gif, .tif, etc.), but prefer the .eps format.

Our system is PC based and does not work with Macintosh formatted items. We use CorelDraw (versions 8 thru 11) to prepare most of our graphics. Files in those formats are acceptable. Please, do not provide artwork prepared for (or imbedded within) software packages such as Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Word, Excel, etc. Text prepared in a database or spreadsheet, has a habit of appearing within a non-deletable grid and is not suitable for our purposes.

Can I be assured that the engraving will be professional?
Yes. Highly trained professionals produce the engraving on state-of-the-art equipment. We take pride in our ability to provide an aesthetically pleasing award. Collectively, our staff has over 50 years of engraving experience.

What if my awards are engraved incorrectly?
In the event we make an error, we will replace the incorrect piece(s) as quickly as possible at our expense. If the error was on your part (i.e. incorrect spelling for a name) we will still replace the incorrect piece as quickly as we can for a nominal fee. Regardless of the nature of the error, we will make every effort to have the corrected awards to you in time for presentation.

What is a setup charge?
A setup charge entails preparing the items to be engraved. This includes that a fixture hold the item securely during the engraving process. If an additional location is to be engraved, a second setup charge may be required to reposition the item for engraving. If an order has more than one item being purchased with the same message engraved on each, only one setup fee is applicable unless there are any changes made between the items, such as name or title.

What affects a setup charge?
In addition to the amount of locations being engraved, the item engraved, such as a cylinder or flat item, affects setup. Arched lettering, ornate fonts, and whether the engraving is filled with enamel or simply oxidized after engraving, also affect setup charges. At Harrisburg Awards, we have the ability to engrave most materials, but the engraving process varies from piece to piece. We engrave wood, stone, glass, acrylic, non-ferrous materials, and many plastics.

Logos, signatures and line art all require modification before the engraving process can begin. Scanning, cleaning up dirt and imperfections, separating colors & elements, and conversion of a file to what the engraving machine understands are all examples that consume time and require a charge. Normally, there is a one-time setup fee of $35.00 to accomplish this process. Once a graphic has been prepared, you will never be charged again, even if several years might pass between orders.

What is your typical turnaround time?
We ask for ten (10) working days for most orders, not to include the time required for shipment. However, we understand the many factors that impact the schedule a customer might prefer. As they say “things happen” and we attempt to minimize the stress of an unplanned deadline. It is not our policy to charge for rush service unless costs are imposed on us during the process.