When you work in the awards and engraving business, you hear a lot of questions.
Some customers know exactly what they want. Others walk in with an item in their hand and ask, "Can you engrave this?" Some are planning an awards banquet months in advance, while others need a trophy for an event happening much sooner.
After serving San Antonio and South Texas since 1972, Monarch Trophy Studio has helped customers navigate just about every stage of the awards and personalization process.
We put together this question library to answer some of the questions customers commonly ask about trophies, plaques, awards, engraving, Fiesta medals, and ordering.
If you have a question that is not answered here, contact our team! There is a good chance we'll have a quick answer for you.
Custom Awards & Trophies
1. What type of award should I choose?
The best award depends on what you are recognizing, who will receive it, your budget, and how formal you want the presentation to feel.
Trophies work well for many sports and competitions. Plaques are popular for service, appreciation, retirement, and professional recognition. Acrylic, glass, and crystal awards are commonly selected for corporate achievements, leadership, sales, and major milestones.
There is no single award that is best for every occasion.
2. How much do custom trophies and awards cost?
Pricing depends on the type of award, material, size, quantity, personalization, and design.
A simple trophy for a youth sports program and a substantial crystal executive award are very different products, so there is no universal price for a custom award.
Establishing your approximate quantity and budget is a good place to start.
3. How long does it take to make a custom award?
Turnaround time varies by product, quantity, availability, personalization, artwork requirements, and current production schedule.
Some straightforward projects can be completed relatively quickly,, while specialty products and large orders require additional planning.
If you have a firm event date, communicate it when requesting your quote.
4. How far in advance should I order awards?
As early as reasonably possible.
Starting early gives you more product options and additional time for artwork preparation, recipients lists, proofing, ordering materials, personalization, and unexpected changes.
5. Can you make an award at the last minute?
Sometimes a short deadline can be accomplished, depending on the product, quantity, personalization, and current production schedule.
Your available choice may be more limited, so please contact us as soon as you know what you need.
6. Can I order awards before I know who the winners are?
Depending on the project, yes.
You may be able to select and order the awards, prepare artwork, and establish the general engraving layout before the final recipient names are available.
7. What information do you need to make an award?
Typically, you should be prepared to provide the type and quantity of awards, event date, recipient names, award titles, dates, organization information, engraving wording, and any logos or artwork you want included.
8. What size award should I choose?
Consider the importance of the recognition, presentation setting, available engraving area, budget, and where the recipient is likely to display the award.
Bigger is not automatically better when it comes to awards.
9. Can I order the same award in different sizes?
Many award designs are available as a series with multiple sizes. This can be useful for first, second, and third place awards or different recognition levels.
Availability depends on the specific product.
10. Can you make first, second, and third place awards match?
Plaques
11. What is the difference between a plaque and a trophy?
A trophy is generally a freestanding recognition piece, while a plaque is typically a flat award designed for wall or display presentation.
The better choice depends on the occasion and desired style.
12. What should I put on an award plaque?
Most plaques include the recipient's name, reason for recognition, organization, and date.
You can also include a short message, years of service, logo, title, or other relevant information.
13. How much wording can fit on a plaque?
That depend on the plaque size and engraving area.
More text usually requires smaller lettering, so concise wording often produces a stronger visual result.
14. Can you put a company logo on a plaque?
Often, yes.
Logo reproduction depends on the plaque design, personalization method, available space, and artwork quality.
15. What is a perpetual plaque?
A perpetual plaque is designed to recognize new recipients over time.
It usually includes a main heading along with multiple smaller plates where names and dates can be added periodically.
16. Can you add another name to an existing perpetual plaque?
Often, yes, particularly when the plaque was designed for additional recipients.
The plaque should be evaluated to confirm available space and whether matching plates or materials are available.
17. Can you replace an old engraving plate?
Sometimes.
If the plate can be removed and suitable replacement material is available, replacing it may be more practical then modifying the existing engraving.
18. Can you match an existing plaque?
Possibly, but exact matches are not always available.
Products, materials, finishes, fonts, and manufacturers can change over time. Bringing the original plaque in for evaluation can help determine the closest available option.
Acrylic, Glass & Crystal Awards
19. What is the difference between acrylic, glass, and crystal awards?
Acrylic is a durable material that can provide a clear, modern appearance. Glass provides a polished, traditional clear presentation. Crystal is often heavier and selected for premium recognition.
Each material has different characteristics and price points.
20. Is acrylic less expensive than crystal?
Often, but not always.
Price depends on the specific product, size, design, thickness, personalization, and quantity.
21. Does acrylic look professional?
Absolutely. High-quality acrylic awards can provide a clean, modern appearance and are widely used for corporate, school, nonprofit, and employee recognition.
22. Is crystal better than glass?
Not necessarily.
Crystal may offer greater weight and a more premium presentation, while glass can be an excellent choice for many recognition programs.
The right option depends on the occasion and budget.
23. Which material is best for executive awards?
Crystal is a popular choice for executive and high-level recognition because of its substantial appearance.
However, premium acrylic and glass designs can also work extremely well.
24. Can you engrave a logo on crystal?
Depending on the award and personalization method, logos can often by incorporated into crystal awards.
Good-quality artwork is important.
Engraving
25. What is engraving?
Engraving is a general term for creating text, graphics, logos, or designs on the surface of an item.
Different processes are used depending on the material and desired result.
26. What is laser engraving?
Laser engraving uses a focused laser to alter or remove material from a surface, producing text or artwork.
The result depends heavily on the material being engraved.
27. What is rotary engraving?
Rotary engraving uses a rotating cutting tool to physically remove material from a compatible surface.
28. What is the difference between engraving and etching?
The terms are sometimes used interchangeably in everyday conversation, but they can describe different processes.
Engraving generally involves physically altering a surface, while etching may refer to chemical, mechanical, or other methods of creating a surface design.
29. Does engraving wear off?
Engraving is generally intended to be permanent because it alters the surface of the material.
However, durability varies based on the material, engraving process, finish, and how the item is used.
30. How deep is engraving?
There is no universal engraving depth.
Depth depends on the material, equipment, settings, design, and process.
31. Can engraving be removed?
Sometimes existing personalization can be covered, replace, or modified, but engraving itself often cannot simply be erased.
The item needs to be evaluated individually.
32. Can you fix a spelling mistake after something has been engraved?
Sometimes, but not often.
On plaques and trophies, replacing an engraved plate may be possible. On products engraved directly into the surface, correction is much more difficult.
This is why proofreading before production is so important.
Customer-Supplied Items
33. Can you engrave something I already own?
Potentially.
Customer-supplied items need to be evaluated based on material, shape, finish, construction, size, and compatibility with available engraving equipment.
34. Can I bring my own item in for engraving?
Policies and capabilities vary depending on the item.
Bring the actual product whenever possible so its material and engraving area can be evaluated.
35. Can you engrave a YETI or other tumbler?
Yes, we can certainly engrave most YETI products.
Many coated and stainless steel tumblers can be personalized, but the exact product should be evaluated to determine the appropriate process.
36. Can you engrave something I bought online?
Potentially, provided the material and construction are suitable for engraving.
37. Can you engrave an expensive or sentimental item?
It is possible, but customer-supplied items always deserve careful consideration because engraving permanently alters the product.
One-of-a-kind and irreplaceable items carry additional risk.
38. Should I bring an extra item?
For unfamiliar products or larger quantities of customer-supplied items, an extra piece can sometimes be useful for testing or setup.
Ask before purchasing extras specifically for engraving.
Engravable Materials
39. Can you engrave wood?
Yes. Many types of wood can be laser engraved.
The appearance varies based on species, grain, finish, natural color, and other characteristics.
40. Can you engrave stainless steel?
Yes. Many stainless steel products can be personalized using appropriate engraving or marking processes.
The specific product and finish determine the best method.
41. Can you engrave aluminum?
Yes. Many aluminum products can be engraved, including certain coated and anodized aluminum surfaces.
42. Can you engrave glass?
Yes. Many glass products can be personalized, although glass composition, thickness, shape, and construction matter.
43. Can you engrave crystal?
Yes. Crystal awards and gifts are frequently personalized using methods appropriate for the product.
44. Can you engrave acrylic?
Yes. Many acrylic products engrave very well and can produce a frosted appearance.
45. Can you engrave leather?
Certain natural and synthetic leather products can be laser personalized, but the exact material should be identified before processing.
46. Can you engrave plastic?
Some plastics can be engraved, while others should not be exposed to laser engraving.
Knowing the exact material is important because certain plastics can produce hazardous fumes.
47. Can you engrave a cutting board?
Yes, many wood cutting boards can be personalized with laser engraving.
Results vary depending on the wood species, grain, finish, and construction.
48. Can you engrave a picture frame?
Many wood, metal, and other compatible picture frames can be personalized, depending on the material and available engraving area.
Logos, Artwork & File
49. What file type do you need for my logo?
Vector artwork is often preferred.
.AI (Adobe Illustrator), .EPS, and .SVG are common vector formats. Some PDF files also contain vector artwork.
50. What is a vector file?
A vector file creates artwork using mathematical paths rather than fixed pixels.
This allows the artwork to be resized without the pixelation associated with low-resolution raster images.
51. Can I send you a .JPG or .PNG?
Potentially. If vector artwork is unavailable, provide the largest and clearest original .JPG or .PNG you have.
52. Can you use a screenshot of my logo?
A screenshot is generally not the preferred artwork source.
If original logo files are available, send those instead. Screenshots may be low-resolution or contain visual artifact that make reproduction more difficult.
53. Why does my logo need to be converted?
Some personalization processes require artwork to be simplified, converted to line art, or recreated in a format compatible with production equipment.
54. Can you engrave a full-color logo?
Traditional engraving does not reproduce color in the same way as full-color printing.
Depending on the product, another process may be more appropriate if retaining the logo's colors is important.
55. Can you engrave a detailed logo?
Yes, but it depends on the product.
Very small text, thin lines, gradients, and fine details may need to be simplified depending on the engraving area and process.
Personalization
56. Can you engrave handwriting?
In some cases, yes.
A clear image of handwriting can potentially be prepared as artwork for engraving.
57. Can you engrave a signature?
Potentially, yes. A clean high-quality image of the signature generally provides the best starting point.
58. Can you engrave a photograph?
Photographic engraving is possible on certain materials and products, but results vary significantly.
The photograph, material, contrast, engraving process, and product all affect the final appearance.
59. Can you engrave a monogram?
Yes, monograms are commonly used on gifts, drinkware, cutting boards, keepsakes, and other personalized products.
60. Can you engrave different names on every item?
Yes, many award and gift orders involve variable personalization where each piece received a different recipient name.
Large lists should be submitted in an organized format to reduce errors.
61. Can every award have different wording?
Potentially, yes.
Keep in mind that highly variable wording may require additional layout and preparation compared with an order where only the recipient name changes.
62. Can you add a date later?
Sometimes. Whether additional engraving can be added later depends on the product, available space and process.
Award Wording
63. What should an award say?
A basic award usually include the recipients name, reason for recognition, organization, and date.
Additional wording can be added when appropriate.
64. Should the recipient's name be the largest text?
Often, making the recipient's name prominent creates a strong hierarchy, but the best layout depends on the award.
65. How long should an award message be?
Usually, shorter is better.
A concise message allows larger, more readable lettering and keeps attention on the most important information.
66. What do you write on a retirement plaque?
Common elements include the recipient's name, organization, years or dates of service, and a message thanking them for their contributions.
67. What should a years of service award say?
Include the employee's name, service milestone, company name, and a concise statement of appreciation.
68. What should a volunteer appreciation plaque say?
Recognize the volunteer by name and briefly describe the service, commitment, or contribution being honored.
69. Can you help me with award wording?
We can certainly help you determine what information is typically included and how much wording will fit comfortably on the selected product.
Proofs & Ordering
70. What is an engraving proof?
A proof is a preview of the proposed layout before production.
It may show recipient information, logos, dates, award title, layout, and other personalization.
71. What should I check on my proof?
Check every name, date, title, credential, organization name, award category, punctuation mark, and piece of artwork.
Do not assume information is correct because the overall layout looks good.
72. What happens after I approve a proof?
Once the necessary approvals are complete, the project can move into the appropriate production stage.
The exact process depends on the product.
73. Can I change something after approving the proof?
Contact your salesperson immediately.
If production has not started, changes may be possible. Once production has begun, changes may require replacement products or additional costs.
74. How should I submit a large list of names?
Use a clean, organized spreadsheet or other requested format.
Keep names, award categories, titles, and other variable information in clearly identified fields.
75. Should names be typed exactly how I want them engraved?
Yes. Submit names with the correct spelling, capitalization, credentials, and suffixes.
76. Who is responsible for checking spelling?
Customers should carefully verify all submitted personalization and proofs.
Personalized products are created using the information provided, so accuracy on the customer's behalf is extremely important.
Large Orders & Events
77. How do I order awards for 100 or more people?
Start early and organize the project into stages.
Choose the award, establish the standard layout, prepare artwork, and organize recipient data before final production.
78. Can different departments have different awards?
Yes.
You can create different categories or recognition levels while maintaining consistent branding across the program.
79. Can we use the same award every year?
If the product remains available, yes.,
However, manufacturers sometimes discontinue or modify products, so an exact match cannot always be guaranteed indefinitely.
80. Should we order extra trophies?
It can be useful in some situations, particularly when participation or attendance may change.
Whether extra make sense depends on how specifically each award is personalized.
81. When should I start planning awards for a banquet?
Begin as soon as you know the event date, especially for large orders.
You can select products and prepare common artwork even if final recipient names are not yet available.
Sports Awards
82. Should every player receive a trophy?
That depends on the league, age group, program philosophy, and type of event.
Participation awards are common in youth programs, while others recognize specific achievements or placements.
83. What awards can we give besides MVP?
Some suggestions include: Most Improved, Leadership, Sportsmanship, Defensive Player, Offensive Player, Hustle, Team Spirit, Academic Achievement, and Coach's Award.
84. Are medals better than trophies for large tournaments?
Medals can be practical for large events because they are wearable, relatively easy to distribute, and available in many designs.
Trophies may provide greater display presence for champions or top placements.
Many events use both.
85. Can medals have different ribbons?
Yes. Depending on the medal and ribbon options available, colors can be used to differentiate teams, placements, events, or organizations.
Fiesta Medals
86. What is a Fiesta medal?
A fiesta medal is a collectible medal associated with San Antonio's Fiesta tradition.
87. How much do custom Fiesta medals cost?
Pricing depends on quantity, size, shape, metal finish, number of colors, ribbon drape, design complexity, and special features.
88. How many Fiesta medals should I order?
That is up to the customer.
Consider how you plan to distribute the medals, previous years' demand, audience size, event participation, marketing plans, and budget.
89. How early should I order Fiesta medals?
Start planning many months before you need them.
Custom medals require design, proofing, manufacturing, shipping, and final preparation, so they generally require more lead time than engraving an in-stock award.
90. What size should a Fiesta medal be?
The ideal size depends on the artwork, desired visual impact, special features, weight, and budget.
91. How many colors can I use?
Color capabilities depend on the manufacturing process and medal design.
More colors can create visual interest but may also affect design complexity and pricing.
92. What is soft enamel?
Soft enamel adds color within recessed area of a metal design while allowing raised metal lines to remain distinct.
93. What is a spinner medal?
A spinner medal includes a component designed to rotate, adding movement and interaction to the design.
94. What is a dangler?
A dangler is a smaller piece attached to the main medal that hangs and moves independently.
95. Can my Fiesta medal be a custom shape?
Yes, custom shapes are one of the features that can make Fiesta medals distinctive and collectible.
96. Can we put our business logo on a Fiesta medal?
Yes. Businesses frequently incorporate logos, products, mascots, landmarks, anniversaries, slogans, and other brand elements into Fiesta medal designs.
97. Can Fiesta medals be used for fundraising?
Yes. Organizations may use custom Fiesta medals as part of fundraising campaigns, depending on their goals and distribution strategy.
Repairs, Updates & Older Awards
98. Can you repair an old trophy?
Some trophies can be repaired or updated depending on their construction and the availability of replacement components.
The trophy should be inspected before determining what is possible.
99. Can you replace a broken trophy figure?
Sometimes, if a compatible replacement figure is available.
100. Can you update the engraving on an old trophy?
Possibly. Replacing the engraving plate may be an option depending on how the trophy was constructed.
101. Can you add this year's winner to an old award?
Perpetual awards are designed for this purpose.
Other awards may also allow additional personalization if there is enough space and the design permits it.
102. Can you duplicate an old award?
An exact duplicate may not be possible if the original product or components have been discontinued.
However, it may be possible to create something similar or reproduce the overall style.
Questions About Choosing an Award
103. What makes an award feel prestigious?
Material, weight, proportion, design, personalization, and the significance of the recognition all contribute.
A prestigious award does not necessarily need to be the largest award available.
104. Is a bigger trophy always better?
Not necessarily.
Size should be appropriate for the achievement, recipient, display environment, and budget.
105. Should all employees receive the same type of award?
Not necessarily.
Some organizations create recognition levels using different award sizes, designs, or materials.
106. What is best for retirement award?
Plaques, crystal awards, clocks, and other presentation pieces are common options.
The best choice depends on the recipient, organization, years of service, and desired presentation.
107. What is best for employee recognition?
Acrylic, glass, crystal, plaques, trophies, and personalized gifts can all work.
Start by determining what is being recognized and how often the program will occur.
108. What is best for a school award?
The right award depends on whether you are recognizing academics, athletics, UIL participation, leadership, graduation, service, or another achievement.
109. What is best for military recognition?
Plaques, crystal awards, clocks, presentation pieces, resin eagle statues, and gifts can all be appropriate depending on whether the occasion is a retirement, promotion, PCS move, achievement, or appreciation presentation.
Personalized Gifts
110. What can I personalize for a gift?
Depending on available products and materials, options can include metal and glass drinkware, cutting boards, picture frames, clocks, keepsake boxes, leatherette products, and other items.
111. What should I engrave on a personalized gift?
Names, initials, dates, monograms, short messages, family names, coordinates, meaningful phrases, and handwritten messages are possibilities depending on the item.
112. How much text should I engrave on a gift?
Usually less than you may think.
Short personalization is often easier to read and can create a cleaner finished design.
113. Are engraved gifts permanent?
Engraving is generally permanent, although durability depends on the product, material, process, and use.
114. Can you make multiple personalized gifts for employees?
Yes, personalized gifts can be used for employee appreciation, anniversaries, milestones, holidays, retirement, and corporate recognition.
Questions to Ask Before Placing Your Order
Before ordering a custom award or personalized product it helps to ask a few questions:
- What are we recognizing?
- Who will received the award?
- How many do we need?
- What is our approximate budget?
- When do we need the finished order?
- What names and wording need to be included?
- Do we want a logo or custom artwork?
- Do we have high-quality artwork available?
- Where and how will the award be presented?
- Do we expect to order this same award again in the future?
You do not need to have every answer before contacting an awards shop. These questions simply provide a useful starting point.
Have Another Question About Awards or Engraving?
Awards and engraving can be surprisingly technical.
Materials respond differently to personalization. Artwork may need preparation. Award sizes affect engraving layouts. Products can have different lead times. And an item that looks simple may require a completely different process than another product that appears almost identical.
That is why asking questions before ordering is a good thing.
Monarch Trophy Studio has been helping San Antonio businesses, schools, sports team, nonprofits, military organizations, clubs, families, and individuals with awards and engraving since 1972. Our team will help you understand your options.
Visit mtsawards.com, call (210) 344-3777, email sales@mtsawards.com, or come by our showroom at 16227 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, Texas 78232 for more information.
And if you have a question that is not included in this guide, ask us! It might become the next question we add to this list.