Skins Demystified

This is a FAQ on vinyl skins, aka "Why vinyl skins are better than dreaded screen protectors which have lots of bubbles and cannot be reused".

What exactly are "skins"?

They're adhesive-backed vinyl pieces pre-cut to fit your iPod. While there are some products on the market that are made of hard plastic or rubber, most of the time when you're discussing skins, you're talking about flexible adhesive-backed vinyl. These are skins that do not increase the bulkiness of your device, unlike silicone skin cases, while they continue to protect your device from basic bumps and scratches.

If they're all vinyl, what's the difference?

With vinyl films, there are basically two types of material. The vinyl itself can be made using one of two methods: "cast" or "calendared".

Calendared vinyl is fairly inexpensive and is meant mostly for short-term applications on signs. It has a moderately glossy finish, but can have some problems with fading and color inconsistencies and is prone to shrinking over time, especially when exposed to heat (like those your iPod puts off when charging). It's also less pliable and doesn't conform as well to compound curves.

Cast vinyl costs roughly 2.5 times as much as calendared vinyl, but is notably higher quality. Cast vinyls have a much higher gloss point (frequently as shiny as automotive paint), don't discolor and won't shrink over time. They conform easily to just about any curve and last 7-9 years.

Isn't that overkill for an iPod?

Definitely not if you want your skin to look the same years from now. Cast vinyl ensures that the material is made of the highest quality possible while keeping your devices slim and well-protected.

What about your printed skins?

The printed skins use cast vinyl with a special patented adhesive that allows you to remove and reapply the skin. You can tell just by looking at the grey diamond pattern on the underside of the skin that there's something different.This technology allows air bubbles and wrinkles to simply be pushed down and out, making application a breeze. It's also more forgiving on people who might make errors during the installation process, as it can be removed and applied again. During application, the skin can be removed and reapplied as desired, and the skin will never leave any nasty glue marks on your iPod. There's no need to use water or application fluid - just apply and you're ready to go.

What's the "Battle Armor" thing about?

Once the skins are printed, a super-glossy clear covering is applied over the print. This increases the overall strength of the skin, makes it impossible to smudge or smear the design, and because of the nature of our production process, ensures that the color will remain bright and vibrant for over 5 years. Unlike cheaper laminates which are either too thick, not shiny enough or the finish wasn't of a high enough quality this glossy covering ensures that your skin will not smudge, wear, fade or blur!

Shouldn't your skins be thicker?

No - One main quality of these skins is how it keeps its strong protective properties without increasing the bulkiness of the device. Thicker vinyl products may actually hint at cheaper materials. The total thickness of a completed printed skin (with Battle Armor coating) is around 6-7 mil and emphasis is placed on fitment and longevity. Also, thicker skins don't wrap around compound curves (ie, around the corners of the iPod) so these skins also promise maximum coverage and proper fitment.