Your badge’s preview is a helpful starting point, but curved banners and certain letters (like “I”) may look uneven onscreen. A professional layout specialist reviews every badge before it's made to ensure your design is properly spaced and aligned.

Why your badge layout may change slightly after you order

The online preview is a helpful design tool, especially for badges with straight text panels. But for curved banners or certain letters (like “I”), spacing can appear uneven or awkward on screen. After you place your order, a professional layout specialist reviews your design and makes adjustments to spacing, alignment, and text size to ensure your badge looks clean and balanced when it's made.

What we do as part of the layout process

• Center the text and align it according to the badge style
• Adjust font size depending on how much space is available
• Ensure text fits well within curved or straight panels
• Contact you if there's too much text and changes are needed

What you can do to help get better results

• Avoid adding extra spaces between letters or words to “stretch” the text. This can cause uneven gaps and make your badge harder to read. If your text feels squished, consider shortening the wording or choosing a badge with wider panels.
• Preview designs using badge styles with panel shapes that match your needs
• Refer to our Custom Badges page to explore styles that fit your department name or badge number cleanly

We follow strict Smith & Warren layout standards and inspect each design to make sure your badge looks professional and legible.

Still unsure? Contact us and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have about the layout before you place your order.