Questions for those who have used skins

PatNY · 11-01-2010, 02:59 PM

I have a PRS-350 on order and am thinking of buying a skin for protection. I saw some from decalgirl.com that I like but am wondering whether the ones with designs will be distracting when reading.

So for anyone who has actually used a skin on their eReader, did you find it distracts from the reading experience? Or were you able to ignore it and immerse yourself in the book?

Decalgirl also has a solid black one so I can always get that. Another question is whether it is worth it to pay $5 extra to get a matte finish?

Any thoughts?

Also, any other good sources besides decalgirl?

bjones6416 · 11-01-2010, 03:20 PM

I have this decalgirl skin on my Kindle. I too was afraid I would find it distracting, but strangely enough I actually find it calming. It kind of feels like I'm reading outside under a beautiful flowering tree! I'm not at all distracted from the text when I'm reading.

kindlekitten · 11-01-2010, 05:09 PM

I had VanGough's Irises on one of mine and it was horrid. I had another one called pink dreams or something... it was white with some vines and flowers in different shades of pink and black, that was not too bad! I just got another one with a woman and a polar bear and I am PISSED!!! all the beautiful color and detail of the woman they put on the front so it is in the screen area. the bear's head is on the back so it looks like a partial coca cola add. I just got it last week, I think I am going to try to return it

Storm27 · 11-02-2010, 12:01 PM

This is very timely -- I was just thinking of starting a similar thread. I have a bebook mini which is starting to peel quite badly and I am tempted by a skin from Smirkabout

From a purely aesthetic point of view and if the skin was for an MP3 player or laptop, I would be inclined to go for something very bright and colourful -- something like Ravaged or Alien Abstract, but I have the same concerns about whether it would distract from the reading experience or make the text seem less distinct etc.

Would a more muted colour like this or this work better on an ereader? Or would I be better to go for something tending towards monochrome or black-and-white (say this, this or this) on the grounds that the pattern may be less distracting than the colour?

bjones6416 · 11-02-2010, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Storm27

This is very timely -- I was just thinking of starting a similar thread. I have a bebook mini which is starting to peel quite badly and I am tempted by a skin from Smirkabout

From a purely aesthetic point of view and if the skin was for an MP3 player or laptop, I would be inclined to go for something very bright and colourful -- something like Ravaged or Alien Abstract, but I have the same concerns about whether it would distract from the reading experience or make the text seem less distinct etc.

Would a more muted colour like this or this work better on an ereader? Or would I be better to go for something tending towards monochrome or black-and-white (say this, this or this) on the grounds that the pattern may be less distracting than the colour?

It may be something you just have to try for yourself, because I am not at all distracted by my flowery decal and yet kindlekitten is very distracted by a similar skin. Maybe you could just find a potentially distracting picture in a magazine and cut out a frame to put over your reader, and just see whether or not it bothers you. That way you would know before you invest...

Pegster · 11-02-2010, 12:26 PM

I've just recieved my skin for my 350 from DecalGirl - I got the same one as bjones6416, though I got the matte finish rather than glossy as one of the reasons I got a skin was that I found the silver to be a bit bright. I'm very happy with it and don't find it distracting at all.

kcmay · 11-02-2010, 02:38 PM

I don't notice my skin as I read, but I adore it while I'm just looking at my Kindle.

Pegster · 11-02-2010, 02:41 PM

Here are photos of my 350 in its new skin:-

andyh2000 · 11-02-2010, 02:42 PM

Ooh, pretty!

Andrew

PatNY · 11-02-2010, 10:18 PM

Thanks to all who have replied. Your answers are very helpful. Now that I know skins with designs don't bother everyone, I will take a chance.

kindlekitten, when you said the Van Gogh was "horrible" you meant in terms of it being distracting? I'm wondering because if one had a really hard time reading with a skin design, why order another colorful one? I would think a solid would be your best bet then.

doreenjoy · 11-03-2010, 04:09 AM

I had the Van Gogh Irises skin. The image was blurry, as though they'd used an image with a low DPI and blown it up. I hated it.

Decal Girl happily exchanged it for a different skin ("By Any Other Name") which I love love love.

Storm27 · 11-03-2010, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjones6416

Maybe you could just find a potentially distracting picture in a magazine and cut out a frame to put over your reader, and just see whether or not it bothers you. That way you would know before you invest...

Nice low tech solution - I like it.

And joining the chorus to say that Pegster's new skin is gorgeous.

robkat · 11-03-2010, 08:50 AM

With Gelskins you can use your own images.
So easy and fairly quick delivery.

kindlekitten · 11-03-2010, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjones6416

It may be something you just have to try for yourself, because I am not at all distracted by my flowery decal and yet kindlekitten is very distracted by a similar skin. Maybe you could just find a potentially distracting picture in a magazine and cut out a frame to put over your reader, and just see whether or not it bothers you. That way you would know before you invest...

I think there were so many different colors, my eye had a hard time locking on anything and that was part of the problem

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatNY

Thanks to all who have replied. Your answers are very helpful. Now that I know skins with designs don't bother everyone, I will take a chance.

kindlekitten, when you said the Van Gogh was "horrible" you meant in terms of it being distracting? I'm wondering because if one had a really hard time reading with a skin design, why order another colorful one? I would think a solid would be your best bet then.

yes, it was very distracting

Quote:

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

I had the Van Gogh Irises skin. The image was blurry, as though they'd used an image with a low DPI and blown it up. I hated it.

Decal Girl happily exchanged it for a different skin ("By Any Other Name") which I love love love.

maybe that was the problem, the blurring bit... my eye couldn't get a focus and so continued to wander on the picture looking for a defined image

disney_mommy · 11-03-2010, 09:09 AM

I have this one on my K2 and though I notice it at first, within a few seconds I don't even see it anymore:

11-01-2010, 02:59 PM	#1
PatNY Zennist Posts: 1,022 Karma: 47809468 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: iPod Touch, Sony PRS-350, Nook HD+ & HD	Questions for those who have used skins I have a PRS-350 on order and am thinking of buying a skin for protection. I saw some from decalgirl.com that I like but am wondering whether the ones with designs will be distracting when reading. So for anyone who has actually used a skin on their eReader, did you find it distracts from the reading experience? Or were you able to ignore it and immerse yourself in the book? Decalgirl also has a solid black one so I can always get that. Another question is whether it is worth it to pay $5 extra to get a matte finish? Any thoughts? Also, any other good sources besides decalgirl?

11-01-2010, 03:20 PM	#2
bjones6416 ↓↓ Skirt!! Earrings!! Posts: 3,394 Karma: 17432172 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Georgia, USA Device: Acer netbook, JetBook Lite, Sony PRS-300, Kindle 2, Kindle Fire	I have this decalgirl skin on my Kindle. I too was afraid I would find it distracting, but strangely enough I actually find it calming. It kind of feels like I'm reading outside under a beautiful flowering tree! I'm not at all distracted from the text when I'm reading. Attached Thumbnails

11-02-2010, 12:26 PM	#6
Pegster Devourer of Books Posts: 135 Karma: 508928 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Southeastern US Device: Sony PRS-505, Sony PRS-350, Sony PRS-T1, Samsung S5	I've just recieved my skin for my 350 from DecalGirl - I got the same one as bjones6416, though I got the matte finish rather than glossy as one of the reasons I got a skin was that I found the silver to be a bit bright. I'm very happy with it and don't find it distracting at all. Last edited by Pegster; 11-02-2010 at 12:30 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Skins Available...	Diana D	Kobo Reader	15	06-05-2010 03:19 PM
PRS-600 Skins?	Juliette	Sony Reader	5	11-19-2009 07:32 AM
PRS-600 Skins are here!!	emonti8384	Sony Reader	6	11-18-2009 10:06 PM
Accessories Skins questions	KlondikeGeoff	Amazon Kindle	11	10-21-2009 07:55 AM
Skins	yankgirl	Amazon Kindle	8	07-16-2009 08:11 PM

11-01-2010, 05:09 PM	#3
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	I had VanGough's Irises on one of mine and it was horrid. I had another one called pink dreams or something... it was white with some vines and flowers in different shades of pink and black, that was not too bad! I just got another one with a woman and a polar bear and I am PISSED!!! all the beautiful color and detail of the woman they put on the front so it is in the screen area. the bear's head is on the back so it looks like a partial coca cola add. I just got it last week, I think I am going to try to return it

11-02-2010, 12:01 PM	#4
Storm27 Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 201290 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Sony PRS T3S, android phone	This is very timely -- I was just thinking of starting a similar thread. I have a bebook mini which is starting to peel quite badly and I am tempted by a skin from Smirkabout From a purely aesthetic point of view and if the skin was for an MP3 player or laptop, I would be inclined to go for something very bright and colourful -- something like Ravaged or Alien Abstract, but I have the same concerns about whether it would distract from the reading experience or make the text seem less distinct etc. Would a more muted colour like this or this work better on an ereader? Or would I be better to go for something tending towards monochrome or black-and-white (say this, this or this) on the grounds that the pattern may be less distracting than the colour?

11-02-2010, 02:38 PM	#7
kcmay Addict Posts: 363 Karma: 500001 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Georgia, USA Device: Kindle2	I don't notice my skin as I read, but I adore it while I'm just looking at my Kindle.

11-02-2010, 02:41 PM	#8
Pegster Devourer of Books Posts: 135 Karma: 508928 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Southeastern US Device: Sony PRS-505, Sony PRS-350, Sony PRS-T1, Samsung S5	Here are photos of my 350 in its new skin:-

11-02-2010, 02:42 PM	#9
andyh2000 Avid reader Posts: 882 Karma: 6399168 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: UK Device: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 / Kindle Paperwhite / TCL Nxtpaper 14	Ooh, pretty! Andrew

11-02-2010, 10:18 PM	#10
PatNY Zennist Posts: 1,022 Karma: 47809468 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: iPod Touch, Sony PRS-350, Nook HD+ & HD	Thanks to all who have replied. Your answers are very helpful. Now that I know skins with designs don't bother everyone, I will take a chance. kindlekitten, when you said the Van Gogh was "horrible" you meant in terms of it being distracting? I'm wondering because if one had a really hard time reading with a skin design, why order another colorful one? I would think a solid would be your best bet then.

11-03-2010, 04:09 AM	#11
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	I had the Van Gogh Irises skin. The image was blurry, as though they'd used an image with a low DPI and blown it up. I hated it. Decal Girl happily exchanged it for a different skin ("By Any Other Name") which I love love love.

11-03-2010, 08:50 AM	#13
robkat Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 38 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Scotland Device: Sony PRS 300	With Gelskins you can use your own images. So easy and fairly quick delivery.

11-03-2010, 09:09 AM	#15
disney_mommy Ebook fanatic Posts: 120 Karma: 120000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hampton Roads, VA Device: Kindle Fire HD 8.9, Kindle Keyboard	I have this one on my K2 and though I notice it at first, within a few seconds I don't even see it anymore:

Advert

Advert