Plaques & Letters: Cast Metal Plaques Portraits & Emblems

Many find the distinction between Bas Relief and Flat Relief imagery confusing. Bas is sculptural. Flat isn't; it's either upper level A or lower level B; no dimensions in between. Think of bas reliefs = "rolling hills", flat reliefs = "plateaus". Click Here for an audio/visual explanation. Click Here for another graphic representation.

Portrait Options: Enlarge then compare and contrast the treatments at right. Click on any of the three images and a larger one opens in new window.

Click on Hotspots to Reveal Each of Three Images

Art charge for Flat relief portraits: Add $349. Bas relief portrait: Art & casting charge added to base plaque price: $899 up 12"; $999 for 14"; $1,079 for 16"; $1,299 for 18"; $1,359 for 20"...etc. You will also not find a better offer elsewhere.

Although we can use almost any quality photograph, the better the image the better the modeling. The finished image will be an artist's interpretation of the photograph. You can guide that interpretation with your input.

An image of the clay model is emailed for your approval. When approved, the model is used for bronze casting. While the model is monotone, the finished casting contains highlights. The bas relief is often mechanically attached to the plaque background. Has a finished depth of 3/8" to 1/2", depending on image size.


Above and right are two bas reliefs which were attached to the base cast bronze plaque. Click to reveal full plaque image.

Steps for receiving a traditional clay molded bas relief plaque:

This was done on behalf of renowned actor Morgan Freeman.

Step One: Submit a Picture

Step Two: Review your hand-sculpted clay molded image.

Step Three: The image is cast.

Step Four: The image is attached to or cast integrally

in the base plaque.

Here's another example of what "middlemen" i.e. Distributors do: Everything but model clay and pour metal.

Click to Enlarge. The same process can be used for graphic symbols like the Purple Heart:

4-color 16" X 12.5" Bas relief: $999. Click HERE for a cross-section & diagram. Customer ordered four. Click the

star to see how

they were installed.

Step One: Image was submitted by customer

Step Two: Customer reviewed hand-sculpted clay mold.

Step Three: The image was cast, painted & finished.

...and then there was:

Step One: The Kolache Factory sent us the image above (now cropped). It would have been best suited for an etched plaque, given the fine detail & crisp lines. However they wanted P&L to create a 15" x 12" cast bronze plaque with bas relief for a warmer feel, as the plaque was to honor the Kolache Factory founder.

Step Two: The bas relief aspect was only 12 3/4" x 2" tall. The logo had to be enlarged in the context of the building itself in order to be a castable 1/4" tall per text line. Our artist created the clay above, incorporating the foundry-supplied polymer mold of the KolFac logo into it. This was "a modest start", as the building was rough, incomplete & inaccurate.

Step Three: Progress, after P&L instructed the artist to refine and add details like the window shutters, which were approximately 1/4" tall. Tedious, but necessary to retain the feel of the building.

Step Four: The hard resin mold made from the clay

Step Five: The completed plaque. Our customer was so delighted with it they sent P&L a refrigerated box of their several products, which are Polish pastries, filled with fruits or meat & cheeses. "Good eats.".

Flat Relief: Talented artists are available to create this approach. However you may have a suitable drawing already. Portraits of people are available using this same art treatment. For us to create from a photo: Art Charge: $349.

Etched Halftone: The image is a halftone on an etched plaque, then attached to the cast plaque. Add-To Cost: $299.

Method utilizes a halftone pattern made from a 50-line screen. Halftone portraits resemble newspaper photographs, and have visible dot patterns. Recessed dots are black infilled to contrast with satin finished background.

Best photographs for halftone etched portraits: High contrast with bright white areas, dense black ones & minimal grey tones. Monotones will produce poor results.

Click Cropped Thumbnail For Full Plaque Image

Etching process allows to replicate your photograph, line drawing

or complex artwork.

MetalPhoto uses a photosensitive aluminum sheet, available in satin or gold-tone aluminum. Sheet is exposed using a film negative made from a photograph using a UV light source. Image is produced in a permanent image on the plate. Largest size available: 20" x 24". Available in Silvertone or SunFast Gold. MetalPhoto portrait up to 10": Add $159.



Other MetalPhoto Examples Below (do not enlarge):

Flat relief Emblems:

Options to add a custom emblem or logo to your plaque: 1) The plaque can be made with the emblem/logo as part of the cast plaque. Detail is limited by the casting process (minimum stroke 1/8"). 2) We do the emblem/logo on a separate etched piece, then attach to the base cast plaque. This method has nearly no detail restrictions. Image at right and fire truck below was cast integrally with the plaque. For more visit Symbols & Emblems Page.

Here's an example of a difficult Flat Relief Project: Volunteer Fire Department wanted an "Old-Timey Hook & Ladder" on a cast bronze plaque as line art. They had no artwork. We recommended they find clip art on a website like Microsoft ClipArt Online.

Customer struck out. "Out of the goodness of our heart" (read: "A Momentary Lapse of Reason") we offered: "Find a picture that you like and we'll make it castable for a vector-art-only-charge." BUT: There's a lot more to it. Subjective decisions direct how "tones" are treated as lines & shapes, raised & recessed areas...an arduous process. Long story short, but after much effort we arrived at:

At Left is the ultimate result. To Facilitate: Consider submitting your own usable line art to save time & money. Or request an Etched halftone or MetalPhoto attachment to the base cast plaque of your image instead.