PolyGFX is a company that designs what they call skins for cases, laptops, mouse pads, XBOX, even home appliances. These skins are a printed on a vinyl just like the ones used on fancy buses. On one side there is an adhesive and on the other side is the design.
PolyGFX has over 100 designs however if you cant find something you like they also do custom designs. You would think that for a custom design to be printed you would have to pay a good amount more right? Wrong, the price of a custom skin is the same as a normal skin. All you have to do is send them the files for your skin and they print it out for you. PolyGFX was more than kind to take the time to design and send a CaseSkin just for OCmodshop!
Features
- NEW EZ-Apply Material has thousands of microscopic air channels to allow air to pass without causing air bubbles. This new material is easier to apply than ever, you can just apply it with you bare hands; no applicator required!
- Simple to apply and comes off when you want
- Easy to cut fan holes, handles, blow holes, windows and whatever is on your case
- Detailed full color instructions and videos so that you can get the most out of your Caseskin
- Skins are guaranteed to last at least 3 years
The CaseSkin came packaged in a long box and within the box are the contents which are in a plastic bag. The case skin itself is rolled up on a cardboard tube to keep it from being damaged or unpeeling from the backing. Also included are instructions on how to apply the skin as well as a blue applicator which is optional with this new EZ-Apply material. Not only are instructions included and available on their site but you can also download many videos in Windows Media Player and QuickTime format.
I will be using this OCmodshop skin on a Panther case which is a pretty big full tower. In the picture on the left you can see that the case is quite dirty. It is important to thoroughly clean the case so that the skin can adhere as much as possible. Yes I know I don’t have that 5.25 drive bay covered, I need to get something to put in it.
After unrolling the skin I was amazed at the design and the quality feel of it. The design is just awesome and matches the style of my OCmodshop very well. The skin is a big bigger than the case needs but this is so there is some excess for positioning and application. The skin feels very nice and the printing is very detailed. There were no blemishes or problems with the skin at all. I didn’t really know what to expect with this product since it is very unique. I have to say that I am very impressed with what they are doing though.
Before you begin applying the skin to your case you will want to measure things out. Because my design has a horizontal line I wanted it to be level. Some skin designs it would probably not matter too much if they were not perfect but with something like this you should take the time to measure. I first just put the skin around the case to see what it would look like and where I wanted it to go. After getting a general idea of where I wanted it I then got out my measuring tape. I made a mark on my case 14¼” from the bottom to line up the bottom of the black under OCMODSHOP.COM. Since the skin was larger than my case I couldn’t see the mark so I used the instructions to line it up correctly. I am very precise when it comes to things like this because I want them to look as good as possible.
Once I had it to the point where I wanted it I unrolled a small section of the backing and applied it to the case. Application of the skin is really easy, and like they said the applicator isn’t required. I did use it still just to make sure it was on there as much as possible. You really don’t need to use it though because you can feel the material just wanting to stick into place and not be a struggle.
Finishing the first side and top took only a few minutes and was really easy. you can see the excess backing that is hanging off which you just continue to pull off as you go. I finished off the last side and when I pulled off the last part of the backing it was all on. I tucked the bottom excess under the case so it wouldn’t get stuck to anything until I cut it off.
With the skin completely on the case I could now get rid of all the excess that was not needed. I took a utility knife which is just a razorblade and carefully cut away all of the remaining skin. This probably took the longest because you need to be careful to not slip, because if you do it could be ruined. After about five minutes I finally finished cutting it all off. It looks really good but there are still some minor details to be finished before the modification is complete.
The case that I am using has a handle on each side panel as well as a blowhole. You can see the outline of both of these in the left hand picture. Taking care of the blowhole is simple by just using an razor blade and cutting out the circle. Because the handles are concave the skin will not just stick without some coaxing. To get the skin to conform to the handle you will need a hair dryer or heat gun.
Before you start heating up the skin poke a small hole in it so the air that is trapped can get out. You can try without poking the hole however in most cases you will need a small one. Start heating up the area and using your hand or the applicator to push the skin into the handle. Continue to heat and push the skin in until it is finished.
Unfortunately I was unable to get it to sick in the deepest part of the handle however you can’t tell unless you are up close and examining it. You will also need to run your razor blade across the case where the side panels disconnect. Once you cut the top and bottom of each side panel you can then remove them like you could without the skin.
Once I finished cutting and molding the skin to fit and work everywhere I put the front bezel on. The case skin looks great and I am very impressed with the transformation. Not only does it look great but it covered up all the scratches that the paint had. I had not used the blowhole in the past but I figured with the new look I should add one to finish it off.
I got a blue LED fan that I had and installed it to the hole. Since my camera doesn’t take pictures of light so well I used the flash on my camera. You can somewhat see the blue coming out of the fan but in person it completes the entire look.
Conclusion:
Having a plain case is something I normally like, but I needed something new. I was actually thinking about buying a whole new case until this case skin came along. This skin completely changed the look of my case to a design that is stunning.
Due to my lacking art skills I could never airbrush anything let alone something this nice. PolyGFX has a great product and even offers custom skins when you submit your own art. The thing that did surprise me is how little these cost considering what you are getting.
After using the skin for about a week I did notice that on the top edge of the case it did come unstuck a few times but pressing it back on and working it did help. This probably happened from my installation where I may have not applied as much pressure as needed originally but I wanted to just point it out.
Overall I am more than pleased with this product and am going to give it a 9.5/10. I would really like to thank PolyGFX for their design work and sending this over. Go to their website buy one of their designs or get your own made. Remember they also have skins or mouse pads, laptops, modding gear, and even your household appliances!
Pros
- Looks amazing
- Simple to install
- Tons of designs
- Ability to order a custom skin
- Skins for laptops, mouse pads, even appliances
- Great installation documentation and videos
- Low price for a great product
Cons
- Did not stick to certain areas over time