Send three things: a clean, sharp copy of your logo, the exact wording you want on the belt, and a short note on where each element should go. A vector file, which stores a logo as shapes and lines instead of dots, works well because it can be enlarged without blurring. If all you have is a small image or a sketch, send it anyway and say so. You approve the design before production starts, and the production estimate begins on the day you approve it.
| What you have | What it is | How it usually works for engraved metal |
|---|---|---|
| Vector file (SVG, AI, EPS, or a PDF saved from design software) | Artwork stored as shapes and lines | Scales to any size with sharp edges. A good starting point |
| Large PNG or JPG | A picture made of small dots called pixels | Often usable for a bold, simple logo. May need to be redrawn |
| Small web image or screenshot | A picture with few pixels, also called low resolution | Edges blur when it is enlarged. Usually has to be redrawn |
| Sketch, photo of a drawing or written description | An idea, not yet artwork | Fine as the start of a brief. The design has to be drawn from it |
This table is general guidance for engraved metal work. Which of your files can be used as they are, and whether redrawing affects your quote, is confirmed in writing for your order.
What to send
- Your logo, in as sharp and large a file as you have. If a designer, a printer or your company's marketing team made it, ask them for the vector file. They will know what you mean.
- The exact wording, typed out in your message: names, the year, the name of the league, company or event. Typed text removes any doubt about spelling.
- A note on layout. Belts of this kind usually have a large centre plate and smaller side plates. Say what belongs on each. A name plate is a small separate plate for a name or a year.
- The build you have in mind, if you know it: plate metal, plate thickness, and gold plating or not.
- Your event date and your delivery country.
Describe the design on the custom belt quote page, or email your files to support@msbelts.com.
What works well in metal
A belt plate is not printed. The plates are cut and engraved to the design, then finished by hand. Engraving means cutting the design into the metal, so the picture is made of raised and recessed areas. The difference in height between them is called relief. The guide to how belt plates are made explains the process in plain words.
Some general rules follow from that:
- Bold shapes and clear outlines read well.
- Very thin lines and very small text can fill in or get lost.
- Gradients, soft shadows and photographs do not translate directly. They have to be simplified into solid areas.
- A few elements with space between them look cleaner than a crowded plate.
- Thicker plates allow deeper relief. If your design depends on depth, read the plate thickness guide.
We do not publish minimum line widths or text sizes. If your design has fine detail, ask. How much detail your plate can carry is confirmed in writing for your design.
Colour
A plate gets its look from the metal, the finish and the relief. Optional 24K gold plating is a thin layer of real gold on the surface of the plate. The belt is not solid gold.
If your logo depends on particular colours, say so in your brief. Whether colour can be added to parts of your design is confirmed in writing for your order.
Logos you do not own
Send only artwork that you own or have permission to use. If the logo belongs to your company, league or club, check with whoever looks after it. MS Belts is an independent workshop. It is not affiliated with, licensed by or endorsed by any sports or entertainment organisation, so we cannot give you permission to use someone else's mark.
Check the design before you approve it
Engraved metal cannot be corrected the way a printed page can. Read the design slowly before you approve it, and ask a second person to read it too. Check:
- Every name, letter by letter.
- Years, dates and numbers.
- That the logo is the current version.
- That each element is on the plate you expected.
- That the build options match what you asked for.
Approval also starts the clock. Production usually takes about 5 to 6 working days from that day, and courier transit comes after. See planning back from your event date.
What custom work costs
Fully custom designs are quoted by email. Custom name plates and engraving start from $25. The quote depends on the design and the build, so the figure for yours is confirmed in writing. For the whole sequence from first message to delivery, read how ordering a custom belt works.
In short
- Send a clean, sharp logo file. A vector file scales cleanly, but send what you have.
- Type out all wording so the spelling is certain.
- Bold, simple artwork reads better in metal than fine, crowded artwork.
- You approve the design before production, and the timing estimate starts on that day.
Next step
Gather your logo file, your wording and your event date, then send your brief through the custom belt quote page.
