3" Photo Button Maker Kit
What Customers Are Saying
Happy Repeat CustomerIf you want quality and excellent customer service then this is for you!
- Message Buttons
These machines will last you a lifetime of button building. The three inch is a good size to get your message out.
- Personalization Business
I am a small business owner of Personalize Creations & More. I made a few sample buttons and received several inquiries already.
- Custom Buttons At Home
We are extremely satisfied with our American Button Machine! It is compact and once you get the hang of it, very easy to use.
The 3" Photo Button Maker produces both standard buttons on regular printer paper and durable photo buttons on thicker photo paper from the same machine. It is built for schools, libraries, churches, bands, campaigns, photographers, and crafters who want a large canvas with room for full photos, logos, and readable text.
This is a complete kit, not just the press. It ships with your choice of paper cutter, a quantity choice of 3" pinback button sets, button-making templates, 3 month access to the Build-a-Button online design center, a starter collection of button designs, complete instructions, and free lifetime USA-based technical support. Free UPS Ground shipping is included on the button-making system within the lower 48 states.
What's in the 3" Photo Button Maker Kit
- 3" button maker — the only 3" press set up to make both standard paper buttons and thicker photo-paper buttons on the same machine.
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Choice of paper cutter — select the cutter that matches how you trim your button graphics.
- Adjustable Circle Cutter: budget, do-it-all pick—cuts any size 1"–3.5" plus odd sizes and works on paper, photo paper, and fabric.
- Graphic Punch: premium, size-specific pick—faster and cleaner (one pull punches the whole circle) and self-sharpening with no blades to replace.
- Quantity choice of 3" pinback button sets — pick your starting component count at checkout. (250, 500 or 1,000 Count)
- Build-a-Button online design center access — 3 months free to design and size your artwork from your browser.
- Button design collections (digital download) — Button Essentials, Artistic Creations Series 1, and Artistic Creations Series 2 ready-made artwork sets.
- Complete instructions, free lifetime USA-based technical support, and a lifetime warranty against defects.
3" Photo Button Maker Specifications
| Model | Model 300 |
|---|---|
| Finished Button Size | 3 inches in diameter |
| Paper Compatibility | Standard printer paper and thicker photo paper |
| Kit Includes | Press, choice of paper cutter, 3" pinback button sets, design library, and 3 month Build-a-Button access |
| Component Type | 3" pinback button sets (shell, mylar, pinback) |
| Shipping | Free UPS Ground on the button-making system within the lower 48 US states |
| Technical Support | Free lifetime, USA-based |
| Warranty | Lifetime warranty against defects; qualifies for the Ultimate Extended Warranty |
| Manufactured | Made in the USA |
| Best For | Schools, libraries, churches, nonprofits, bands, political campaigns, photographers, event planners, crafters, and small businesses |
More Than Just Pinback Buttons
The Model 300 is set up to press a full family of 3" finished products, not just standard pinback buttons. The same machine, the same shells, and the same workflow produce 3" magnet-back buttons, 3" mirror-back buttons with a genuine glass mirror on the reverse, and decorative 3" accent-ring buttons that frame a graphic or photo with a colored mylar ring.
The same 3" press, four finished products:
- 3" Pinback Button Sets — the classic pinback, the workhorse for spirit days, campaigns, and merch tables.
- 3" Self-Adhesive Magnet Sets — swap the pinback for a flat metal back with a peel-and-stick magnet. Photo magnets, save-the-dates, real-estate giveaways, and fundraiser items.
- 3" Mirror-Back Buttons — a genuine glass mirror on the reverse turns the button into a pocket or purse mirror. Popular as wedding favors, photo-studio add-on sales, and bridal-shower keepsakes.
- 3" Accent Rings — a colored mylar ring layered over the graphic and under the mylar that frames the design with a bright accent. Also available as a small variety pack and as heart-shaped accent rings for Valentine's, weddings, and breast-cancer awareness work.
Who Uses the 3" Button Maker
Schools, Libraries & PTOs
The 3 inch size gives a large canvas, so a single button can hold a full mascot, a summer reading logo, or a student's photo with their name still readable across a gym. Schools and PTOs use the Model 300 for spirit days, graduation keepsakes, fundraisers, and cause awareness, and the supply cost per button stays low enough to hand one to every student. Institutional buyers can pay by purchase order and apply tax exemption through the purchase order and tax-exempt ordering page.
Bands, Musicians & Merch Tables
A 3" button is large enough to print album art, a tour date, or a band logo and still read from across a venue. Musicians use the Model 300 to make merch-table buttons in small batches, refreshing artwork for each release without ordering minimums from an outside printer. Because the same press makes both paper and photo-paper buttons, a band can run glossy photo buttons of the lineup alongside standard printed designs in one sitting.
Political Campaigns & Advocacy Groups
The 3" size is the classic large campaign button — enough room for a candidate name, office, and slogan at a glance. Campaigns, ballot committees, and advocacy groups use the Model 300 to produce buttons on demand as messaging changes through a cycle, rather than committing budget to a single large print run. Volunteers can assemble buttons at a field office the same day a new design is approved.
Photographers & Photo Studios
This is where the photo-paper capability earns its name. The Model 300 presses buttons on thicker photo paper so portraits, team photos, and event images hold their color and detail instead of looking flat. Studios use 3" photo buttons as add-on sale items for sports leagues, school portrait days, and family sessions.
Churches, Nonprofits & Community Programs
Churches use the 3" size for vacation Bible school, youth groups, and mission trips, where a large, easy-to-read button works as both a name tag and a keepsake. Nonprofits use 3" buttons for donor recognition, volunteer appreciation, and awareness campaigns. The lifetime warranty and free USA-based support make it a dependable choice for an organization that will make buttons for years.
Event Planners, Crafters & Small Businesses
Wedding and event planners use 3" photo buttons as favors, "save the date" keepsakes, and memorial tributes. Crafters and Etsy sellers like the size because the larger canvas supports detailed artwork that smaller buttons cannot show. Small businesses use them as promotional giveaways that stay pinned to a bag or lanyard far longer than a flyer survives.
How to Make a Photo Button with the 3" Machine
Making a 3" button takes a few minutes once your artwork is sized. The same steps apply whether you are using standard paper or thicker photo paper.
- Design and size your artwork. Use the Build-a-Button design center to lay out your image, logo, or photo at the correct 3" diameter.
- Print and cut. Print on standard paper or photo paper, then trim each graphic to size with your chosen paper cutter.
- Load the components. Place the shell, your graphic, and the mylar in the shallow die, and the pinback in the deeper die.
- Press. Rotate the die under the press and pull the handle to crimp the components into a finished button.
- Repeat. Continue for the rest of your run. A practiced operator can produce a steady batch without fatigue.
For a full walkthrough, see the guides on how to make a button and the button maker video library.
What Sets the 3" Photo Button Maker Apart
- Two machines in one. The Model 300 presses both standard paper buttons and thicker photo-paper buttons, so you do not need a separate setup for glossy photo work.
- A large canvas. At 3 inches, you get the most room for photos, logos, and readable text of any standard button size.
- A complete kit, not just a press. Cutter, components, templates, design software, and Build-a-Button access are included so you can make your first button the day it arrives.
- Lifetime support and warranty. Free USA-based technical support and a lifetime warranty against defects back every machine, with the Ultimate Extended Warranty available as an upgrade.
3" Button Supplies & Related Products
The Model 300 uses 3" pinback button sets, and ABM stocks the full line of 3" components and accessories so your reorders fit consistently every time. To see finished examples and project ideas, view what you can make with the 3" standard button supplies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 3 inch button maker used for?
A 3 inch button maker produces a large canvas, giving the most room for photos, logos, and readable text. It is widely used for school spirit days, fundraisers, band and campaign merchandise, photo keepsakes, and promotional giveaways. ABM's Model 300 also presses buttons on thicker photo paper, so the same machine makes both standard paper buttons and durable photo buttons.
Can the Model 300 make both regular buttons and photo buttons?
Yes. The Model 300 is set up to press both standard buttons on regular printer paper and photo buttons on thicker photo paper. You can run both types on the same machine without changing the setup, which is why it is described as two machines in one. Perfect for event photographers switching between product types.
Can the 3" Photo Button Maker make magnets, pocket mirrors, and accent-ring buttons?
Yes. The Model 300 presses every finished 3" format ABM offers, not just pinback buttons. Swap the pinback for a 3" self-adhesive magnet set to make photo magnets and refrigerator giveaways. Swap to a 3" mirror-back set for a glass pocket mirror on the reverse — popular as a wedding favor and photo-studio add-on. Layer a 3" accent ring over your graphic to frame the design with a colored mylar border. One press, the same workflow, four finished products.
What are accent rings and when should I use them?
An accent ring is a thin colored mylar ring that sits over your graphic and under the clear mylar cover, framing the design with a bright border. Use them when your artwork is smaller than the full 3" canvas, when you want to color-coordinate a set of buttons (team colors, school colors, campaign colors), or when you want multiple visual variants of the same printed graphic without reprinting it. Heart-shaped rings are also available for Valentine's, weddings, and awareness work.
What supplies does the 3 inch button maker need?
The Model 300 uses 3" pinback button sets, each made up of a shell, a mylar cover, and a pinback. ABM stocks the full line of 3" button supplies so reorder components fit the machine consistently. You can browse the complete range on the 3" standard button supplies page linked above.
Does the 3" Photo Button Maker ship free?
Free UPS Ground shipping is included on the button-making system within the lower 48 US states. Shipping charges apply to any additional items added to the same order.
Can schools and organizations order with a purchase order?
Yes. Schools, libraries, churches, and other institutions can order by purchase order and apply tax-exempt status. Details are on ABM's purchase order and tax-exempt ordering page linked in the related products section above.
Is the 3" Photo Button Maker covered by a warranty?
Every Model 300 includes a lifetime warranty against defects and free lifetime USA-based technical support. The kit also qualifies for ABM's Ultimate Extended Warranty if you want additional coverage.
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