Use these guides to connect learning with a real action inside the editor.
What it is and how it works
A pin maker (also called a button press or badge machine) is a manual press that joins three parts: the metal shell, your printed paper design, and a protective plastic film.
Two pulls of the lever seal the parts together and the button comes out finished, pin included.
What you need to start
Besides the press: supplies matching your machine size (25, 38 or 58 mm — 1, 1.5 and 2.25 inches — are the most common), a regular printer, and a circle cutter.
The critical detail is bleed: the ring of paper that wraps around the back when you press.
How to use it step by step
1) Design your button in PinMaker choosing your exact machine size — bleed and cut area are calculated for you.
2) Print the Letter or A4 sheet with your design multiplied across it and cut out the circles.
3) Load shell, paper and film into the press, crimp, swap dies, press again. Done.
Common mistakes that ruin buttons
Printing without bleed (white edges), using a template size different from your machine, and freehand cutting are the three classic causes of bad buttons.
All three disappear when you design on a template that matches your press for real.
FAQ
Do I need a machine to use PinMaker?
Not for designing and printing the sheet. The press is only needed for the final assembly; many people print and outsource the pressing.
Which press size should I buy first?
58 mm (2.25 inch) is the most versatile starter: more visual area, more tolerance for cutting errors, and the most requested size at events.