Glossary of Awards & Trophy Terms
Awards
Markers of recognition given in honour of excellence, leadership, or achievement.
Award Program
An Award Program, or Recognition Program, is a system of rewards and awards that encourage specific behaviors, usually in support of achieving a larger collective goal. Award programs can be very effective at changing organizational cultures and creating new outcomes. See also Certification Program.
Bitmaps
Bitmaps (also known as Rasters) are digital files created from a fixed number of pixels. Typical file extensions include .jpg, .png and .tiff files. Bitmap files are commonly available and primarily used on the web, however they are unsuitable for award designs as they do not resize well.
Certificate
A type of award, typically made of paper, designed to recognize a specific accomplishment or achievement.
Certification Program
A Certification Program is a type of Award Program, typically focussed on highlighting specific achievements or qualifications. Effective certification programs are often enhanced with special awards or certificates to highlight accomplishments. Certification programs can be effective at establishing credibility and communicating the values of an association or industry.
Colour Fill
The process of filling an engraved area with paint to add colour or contrast.
Customization
A broader term for personalization that refers to tailoring a product to accommodate your specific requests. Though personalization and customization are often used interchangeably, customization tends to refer to the style and dimensions of a piece, while personalization refers to the markings on it.
Decals
Decals are custom cut vinyl symbols designed to self-adhere to flat surface such as walls and windows. Decals are often used in certification programs to identify qualified individuals or organizations.
Financial Tombstones
Financial Tombstones are customized gifts designed to commemorate a successful financial transaction or business deal. They typically include the details of the deal, the parties involved, and associated logos. Financial Tombstones, also known as Deal Toys or Deal Gifts, are prized as symbols of achievement.
Green Awards
Green Awards and Plaques are made from eco-friendly materials and are often used to recognize leadership in sustainability, though they can be used for any occasion.
Lead Time
Lead Time is the time required to design, produce and deliver your order, once you’ve placed your order. Our standard lead time is 10 business days from your order date, to in your hands.
Laser Engraving
Laser Engraving is a permanent marking process that uses a focused beam of light to carve text and artwork into wood. Laser Engraving is a machine process that allows for tremendous detail and resolution. Our designers and makers are skilled at laser engraving, ensuring that all laser engraved wood awards look sharp and eye-catching.
Markings
A marking is the process used to personalize a trophy or award. To mark crystal and glass awards we use sandblasting engraving. For wooden awards we use solar laser engraving (which is laser engraving powered by clean energy from the sun). Both sandblasted and laser engraved markings are permanent and have a high perceived value. Cosmo Print is a process that allows us to print vibrant colors and graphics directly onto a surface, and can be used for both crystal and wooden awards.
Name Plates
Name plates are typically rectangular metal plates that contain a name, date, and/or short message. Name plates are typically used to update trophy bases or perpetual award plaques.
Optic Crystal
Optic Crystal or Optical Crystal is created by a special process that eliminates bubbles and imperfections, making it extremely clear and “sparkly”. Optic Crystal does not contain lead and is widely regarded as a premium material for awards. Eclipse Awards uses K9 Optic Crystal, the highest grade of optic crystal for our recognition awards.
Perpetual Awards
A Perpetual Award or Perpetual Plaque can be presented repeatedly over a fixed period of time and is typically updated with a new name plate at each presentation. An ongoing Employee of the Month Plaque is an example of a perpetual award.
Personalization
The process of designing and marking pieces to make them unique to your event or occasion. Personalization typically refers to the details and markings that make your pieces special. Personalized products have a higher perceived value because they are made with intention and not considered “off the shelf”. Eclipse Awards provides personalization on all orders.
Plaques
Plaques or Wall Plaques are typically thin and flat recognition awards designed for mounting on a wall or other vertical surface. Typically they also include mounting hardware like standoffs, brackets, or keyholes.
Proofs
Proofs (also known as Artwork Proofs or Mockups) are digital illustrations of proposed designs, used for design evaluation and approval before production begins. At Eclipse Awards you can request unlimited design revisions at no charge, and we require your approval of the artwork proof before we can produce your order.
Recognition
An intentional expression of approval that communicates admiration, respect and gratitude.
Sandblasting or Sandblast Engraving
Sandblasting is a marking process that uses a stream of pressurized sand and air to carve text and artwork into crystal. Sandblasted crystal has a high perceived value because the markings are deep and permanent. Sandblast engraving is a manual skill that benefits from experience to look great. Our team of talented sandcarvers ensure that the sandblasting on all crystal awards looks crisp and impressive.
Sublimation
Sublimation is a marking process that uses heat to transfer images onto metal and other surfaces.
Sustainable Trophy Plaques
Sustainable Trophy Plaques are made from eco-friendly materials and are often used to recognize leadership in sustainability or conservation.
Trophy
Trophies are awards that are typically presented as a prize for winning a contest.
Vector File
Vector files are created from mathematical formulas, which means they can be resized without any loss of quality. To create quality designs for your order, we require any logos or graphics in vector files such as .eps, .ai or .pdf. If you don’t have a vector file, we can convert one bitmap file per order at no charge. Additional bitmap files can be converted to vector files at a cost of $75 each and we provide a copy for your own use. Note that simply saving your bitmap file with a vector file extension will not create a vector file.