Types of Awards and Trophy Parts: A Plain-English Glossary

Ordering an award is easier when you know what the parts are called. This glossary explains the types of award you will see, the names of the pieces a trophy is built from, and the decoration terms that come up on a quote, in plain English.

Types of awards

• Trophy. A freestanding award, traditionally a figure or cup on a riser and base. Today it covers any award that stands up, including shaped acrylic pieces.
• Cup. A trophy topped by a cup, usually with two handles. The traditional form for championships.
• Plaque. A flat award made to hang on a wall or stand on an easel, typically wood with an engraved plate or an acrylic face.
• Acrylic award. An award cut from acrylic sheet, which can be shaped to any outline and printed in full color.
• Plate award. A flat, laser-cut acrylic award, printed in full color and set on a stand. In racing, it is often shaped like a number plate.
• Layered award. Several cut acrylic pieces stacked to give depth, such as a logo raised above a background.
• Medal. A small award worn on a ribbon around the neck. Traditionally cast metal.
• Medallion. The term often used for a medal-style award in acrylic or acrylic on steel, typically 2 to 6 inches across on a neck ribbon.
• Pin. A small badge worn on clothing or a lanyard, or collected. Used for service milestones, clubs and trading.
• Perpetual award. An award presented again each year, with each winner’s name added. See perpetual trophies.
• Keeper. The smaller award a winner keeps when the main award is a perpetual.
• Semi-custom award. A stock award body with your custom artwork applied. Quicker and less expensive than fully custom.
• Fully custom award. Designed from scratch: any shape, size, number of layers and combination of materials.
• Participation or finisher award. Given to everyone who takes part or completes the course. See participation awards.

Parts of a traditional trophy

• Base. The bottom section the trophy stands on. Commonly wood, marble, acrylic or heavy board. It carries the engraving plate.
• Riser or column. The upright section between the base and the top, which gives the trophy its height.
• Trim. Decorative pieces between sections, such as a metal cap on a column.
• Figure or topper. The sculpted piece on top: a rider, a car, a ball, a star.
• Cup, lid and handles. The parts of a cup trophy.
• Engraving plate. The small metal or acrylic plate that carries the recipient’s name and details.
• Name plates. The row of plates on a perpetual award, one per winner.

Parts of an acrylic or custom award

• Face or front panel. The main shaped piece that carries the artwork.
• Backing plate. A second piece behind the face, often in a contrasting color or clear, that gives depth.
• Layers. Additional cut pieces stacked on the face, such as a logo or a numeral.
• Standoffs. Small spacers or bolts that hold layers apart so they cast shadows and read in 3D.
• Base and slot. The piece the award stands in, often with a cut slot the face drops into.
• Graphic footer. A printed panel across the base carrying the event name or class.
• Second-surface print. Artwork printed on the back of clear acrylic and seen through the front, so it cannot scratch off.

Our semi-custom awards show two base styles: the WB series on a wooden base and the HD series on a heavier marine board base, each with an acrylic main section and a printed graphic area at the bottom.

Parts of a plaque, medal and pin

• Board. The wood or acrylic back panel of a plaque.
• Face plate. The engraved or printed panel mounted on the board.
• Keyhole slot or hanger. The fixing on the back that lets a plaque hang flush on a wall.
• Easel back. A fold-out stand that lets a plaque sit on a desk.
• Neck ribbon or drape. The ribbon a medal hangs from. It can be printed with the event name.
• Clutch or pin back. The fastener behind a pin. Butterfly clutches are metal; rubber clutches are softer and common on trading pins.

Decoration and production terms

• Laser engraving. A laser removes material to mark it. On wood it gives a dark burned mark; on acrylic and glass, a frosted one.
• Etching. Marking a surface by sandblasting or chemically. Similar look to engraving on glass and metal.
• Color fill. Paint filled into an engraved mark so it stands out.
• UV printing. Full-color printing cured instantly by ultraviolet light, used for logos and photos on acrylic, wood and metal.
• Sublimation. Dye transferred into a specially coated surface with heat. Common on metal and coated plaque plates.
• Die struck. A pin stamped from metal with a raised design and no color.
• Soft enamel. A pin with color filled between raised metal lines, which you can feel.
• Cloisonné. A pin with hard enamel polished flush with the metal: smooth and jewelry-like.
• Offset printed. A pin printed in full color, usually under a clear epoxy dome.
• Proof. The design drawing you approve before anything is produced.

For how these compare, see engraving vs UV printing vs etching and the finish comparison on the pins page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of awards?

The main types are trophies, cups, plaques, acrylic and plate awards, medals and medallions, pins, and perpetual awards. Each can be semi-custom (stock body, custom artwork) or fully custom.

What are the parts of a trophy called?

A traditional trophy has a base, a riser or column, trim, and a figure or cup on top, with an engraving plate on the base. A custom acrylic award has a face, often a backing plate and layers, standoffs and a base.

What is the difference between a medal and a medallion?

Both hang on a neck ribbon. “Medal” traditionally means cast metal; “medallion” is often used for acrylic or acrylic-on-steel pieces, which can be cut to any shape and printed in full color.

What is a trophy engraving plate?

The small metal or acrylic plate on a trophy base that carries the recipient’s name and details. Perpetual trophies carry a row of them, one for each winner.

What is the difference between semi-custom and fully custom awards?

A semi-custom award puts your artwork on a stock award body. A fully custom award is designed from scratch, so the shape, size, layers and materials are all yours to choose.