Laptop skin

Do you want your own high-quality vinyl laptop skin, but don't want to pay $20? Then read on!

Step 1: Set up: choose your image, buy materials

You will need:

1. A laptop

2. A high resolution image (resolution should be at least as high as your laptop screen)

3. A white gloss self adhesive A4 vinyl label suitable for inkjet printers (I ordered mine from eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk. Ten sheets cost me 10GBP).

4. Some sticky back plastic. I used the stuff libraries use to cover their books, bought from my local stationers Rymans http://www.ryman.co.uk/. A huge roll cost only 2GBP. It is thin, durable and tough.

5. A colour inkjet printer

6. A scanner is useful but not necessary

Comments

[jessyho862013]

hey there, that is really cool!

[Jehnavi24]

Laptop Reviews ------ Getting new skins for laptop is like getting news clothes.

[V_ST_F]

whats that sticky back plastic that costs £2 called??
cause i dunno what im looking for :S

thanks :)

[spawnos3717]

As an alternative, one could use a clear, acid-free spray sealant (could also use unscented hairspray).

[spawnos3717]

Contact paper...can be found @ your local hardware, craft, and "Walmart" stores.

[sms97]

It's just called sticky-backed plastic I think. I went in the Rymans and looked around. At first they told me they didn't have any, but I found it eventually. It was a roll of the stuff, and they kept it near all their parcel material, along with the rolls of brown paper etc. It definitely wasn't with their photo paper (which is where the staff told me to look). I couldn't find it on their website, only in the store.

I've also been told that WHSmith sell it, as does Homebase. I don't know if it's still 2GBP though - I bought my role in 2009!

[V_ST_F]

thanks for all the details :)

[sms97]

* Update *

I just thought I'd give an update on how the skin is doing after two and a half years of heavy use.

It's doing amazingly well. There's no peeling at the edges, it's still looks pretty new. There's some scuffing in a couple of places to the plastic cover, but not enough to penetrate to the photo. I've attached a photo of how it looks today. Sorry for the low res, but you can tell it's doing well. In fact, the skin has held up better than the laptop itself, which is now cracked in places and discoloured. The only nice bit of it left is the skin!

It's had a lot of use. My girlfriend owns it now, and carries it around with her every day. I also took it backpacking around Europe for two months, loose in my pack, so it got bashed about quite a bit.

Thanks for all your comments.

[Laptop Reviews]

I always prefer Laptops.i am working in research live so life is full of work on Laptop.
http://www.thetech360.com

[scris101]

to bad this is completely over expensive, your normal laptop skin will cost only about 7-10 dollars

[Jdark88]

She only spent 10 GBP for ten sheets which is about 1.5 USD per sheet plus 2 GBP for a whole roll of that shiny plastic stuff

[superMacaroni]

.....Didn't this profile say he's a male? :/

[nodnodwinkwink]

Where can you get them for that price?

[spawnos3717]

Craigslist.com and freecycle.org are a couple of sites I use frequently, the later being ALL free stuff if your lucky nuf to find and acquire said item. Their should be groups @ your local you can join...free

[ReCreate]

Say,Ebay?

[kcchen_00]

Not sure you're going to find a pre-made skin with a picture of your mom...

[ReCreate]

Well,Ebay For Generic Themed skins,But For Your Own Custom Skin Yeah you gotta make it yourself.

[Booyaka3]

Lol but very true...

[nickyfinn]

worse case scenario, you peel the sticker off and you have glue stuck to it. careful not to get any inside cracks and such, rub some olive oil on the plastic with a cotton ball. let it soak a while (like 20 minutes) and come back ready to scratch it off with your nail. a solution of vinegar and water with a rag or paper towel will most likely remove the rest. if that doesn't do the trick, repeat same process. if that doesn't to the trick, repeat same process but this time use orange oil instead. if that doesn't do it, go get some goobegone. i would be wary of using goobegone after reading this: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=668521
but hey.. if my first suggestions didn't work i don't know what else would.

...also, there's a way to remove stickers that results in very minimal specs, if any, of glue. however, this process is 'prolly not good for an electric device. what is this wonder i speak of? i speak of soaking your stickered item in SUPER HOT water and slowly peeling the sticker off. or using a hair dryer while slowly peeling off. aside from these to methods burning you, they also, you know.. might KILL your laptop. so i would only do those if you REALLY DGAF about your laptop ;)

[patt39]

I Found solution, use eraser, gently Rub eraser over the glue residue. It comes off, but you might hurt your hand in the process.

[trustchari]

Don't use vinegar or water. KEROSENE will dissolve the glue of sticker without affecting the color. After removing the sticker, wipe the surface with kerosene soaked in a cotton ball, wipe clean the surface with a yellow cloth

[jacobtriffo]

or you could just use lighter fluid and a rag; methylated spirits, or high grade isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) will also work. the key is to use a solvent to dissolve the glue residue. you can use the equivalent of salad dressing (read: oil and vinegar) to take off the gunk, but really, its going to take longer, and you risk getting said salad dressing inside of your laptop, which if you like the smell of old vinegar could be a good thing, but i personally find it unpleasing.

[spawnos3717]

Lighter fluid and a rag? Sounds like a firewall...ROR

[cmassey1]

The scent of vinegar will dissipate in about half an hour, but the toxic fumes that get into your lungs and the environment from the other things you suggest probably won't before the damage is done. I prefer not to get cancer or to hurt the welfare of other beings, so I'll stick with the vinegar and oil. Yet with either one, I'd be concerned about it getting into my computer. That's why if I do it I'm going for a vinyl cling, which isn't environmentally conscientious either.

[wupme]

I know somebody who did that, but not with isopropyl, no he soaked it in acetone... Its interesting when the black color comes of but looks so ugly... Well after that he payed me 30bucks to spraypaint it (singletone). I know thats not a useful comment, but still interesting what some people do with theyr stuff before they start thinking ;)

[omar_three3]

regardless of the cost, half the point of doing it yourself is that you can continually replace and interchange skins and customise them infinitely-so even if you can get it done professionally for the same price, its probably better to diy... fantastic instructable!

[mweston]

I like the idea, except I like the look of the aluminum on my MacBook. I think I am going to do the same thing, but just put a simple design in darker/lighter gray in the corner and leave everything else clear so you can still see the logo and aluminum. By the way, is the vinyl a matte color or is it glossy, the last picture looks glossy, but I just want to be sure

[sms97]

I chose a glossy white vinyl, but matte should work well too. I found the ink from the inkjet printer rubbed off easily when I made a test print, which is why I added the sticky back plastic step. Unfortunately for matte lovers this means the finish will always look glossy. I haven't tried this method on a clear vinyl, which it sounds like you are thinking of doing. I'd love to see the results if you do.

[niftycurly]

Clear Contact paper ($4.99 a ginormous roll at Lowes) is fairly matte. Also - there are about 10 different variants of vinyl laminate finish from dead matte to ultra gloss and dry erase that you can get from a real large format print shop (ie, NOT Kinkos) Ask nice and they will likely give you scraps plenty big for laptop skins for free.

[mweston]

well, I just had a sheet printed out and my dad is bringing it home tomorrow... I wont be able to put it on because I'm not going to be here this weekend though. This is what the sample looks like too (sorry for the blurry pics, but I was in a hurry):

[mweston]

That's what I had in mind. As for the smudging problem a laser printer should solve that. I was going through my junk drawer and found s roll of notebook laminating stuff that is matte - it doesn't leave any residue, or at least for the past few days it hasn't, and its 24" by 8' so there is plenty for mess ups

[lonerayven]

If anyone want's theirs designed or just printed and laminated inexpensively, for a custom one of a kind skin, please feel free to email me [e-mail], I work with a printing company as their designer. :-)

[isign4u]

I just came across this website today, I love it!!!! I'll be contacting you for more info.mgreat ideas.

[roosta]

the top of my laptop is made of a different plasic to the bottom of it, and so the only way to test it would be to put it straight on the top. what are the chances that it would actually damage the laptop? can you also post a link to the seller you bought yours from please? i dont wanna leave it to chance.

[sms97]

Hi Roosta,

Here is a link to the ebay seller's listing: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180306580466&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:UK:31.

Obviously I can't guarantee the vinyl stickers he's selling won't damage your laptop, as your machine is probably not made from the same material as mine. However, the vinyl I got from him was high quality and did all I wished it to. The other comments given here have sound advice for removing any residue that may be left if and when you choose to remove the skin.

Good luck!

[wupme]

I think you could take a look, there are printable vinyl stickers out there especially made to be removed later without damaging the surface. I actually don't remember the exact name, but they are the same like those special pricetags used on books and stuff wich you can get of without leaving any glue or damaging the book. And as long as the surface is not a nitro based paint (i doubt it is... who is using that stuff anyway today except on stupid expensive guitars?) , it should be no problem to remove it.

[Devildad]

This is interesting. I was thinking of hitting up a local sign maker for a clear vinyl printed with a black pattern to create a two layer sapphire blue camouflage for the lid on my sapphire blue aspire one.

[nickyfinn]

if you don't have a scanner you can still get the correct dimensions using a ruler and GIMP. download GIMP, (if you don't already have it,) and measure your laptop. go to file, and new. choose inches or millimeters, and give the corresponding numbers for width and height. hooray, not you know the exact resolution you need!

[Laserbman]

http://www.skinit.com/
you don't HAVE to do them yourself, just, i wouldn't want to spend 30 bucks for it.

[bytehead]

I'm looking at doing similar with my laptop. I'm using a paper 8.5 x 11 label (which I'll be trimming the margins off) instead, scanning the laptop works only if the laptop is smaller than the scanner (and mine's bigger than the letter or the legal sized scanners I have), and I've fitted everything together (since a letter size doesn't even cover the back) with plain paper for fit. I've cleaned the old bumperstickers/decals off of it with Goo Gone (it was my son's laptop). The only reason why I haven't completed it yet (this week) is that the fan went kablooey (too much Iraqi sand), and I had to replace the fan. Which I just did. It's quieter too. The picture I'm going with is a scene from Babylon 5's pilot, when Kosh's ship arrives. Somebody's recreation of it, NOT a screen grab! :)