Check out Part 1 here.  After writting the last article, and living with my PADDed Kindle for a few days, I realized that the dream wasn't quite yet complete. I needed to take the device one step further into the future.

With a bit of research from Kindleboards.com and Mobileread.com, I found an online printer that specializes in custom skins for the Kindle.  Decalgirl.com is the name of the site, but I think I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Let me start from the beginning.

PADDs, we've seen them in every iteration of Star Trek. From TOS (the giant clipboard looking devices Yeoman Rand lugs around) to the more commonly seen devices throughout Voyager, DS9, and TNG. Heck, even Enterprise had it's own version of the Personal Access Display Device. Owning and using one of these futuristic pieces of hardware, has always been a Trek fantasy of mine. So, after PADDing my Kindle with custom screensavers, I decided to design an outer shell that would make the ebook reader something Jean-Luc would appreciate.

First things first, it needs to look the part. I researched PADDs on Trekcore and Memory Alpha, scoping out the different designs. I didn't want an engineering PADD, so red is out. Medical PADDs are cool, but not as iconic. It has to be recognizable, but still fit the kindle. Ah, here we go....

So, I grabbed the custom template from Decalgirl.com, opened up Photoshop, and got to work choosing my color pallet. Gray, gray, and more gray with metallic highlights of course. With the above image in-mind, I also needed to figure out a way to make the keyboard less noticeable and still retain it's PADDness. The solution, add gradient from light gray to a middle gray around the keyboard. I then added the dark rectangular inset with a faux metallic strip and 2 green "light" rectangles. For the back, more metallic strips and of course, the iconic TNG era label that was on absolutely everything. Viola, a PADD is born. One caveat, when designing a custom skin, the colors due tend to print a bit darker. My design looked a bit lighter (as you can see below) than the final product. Good to know for the next version!

I placed my order with Decalgirl.com and within 6 business days I was the pround owner of a piece of the 24th century.  The print quality (other than the darker print, which is my fault) is absolutely fantastic.  The skin is a high quality vinyl that actually decreases the Kindle's need to slip out of my hand.  If you have the need to skin your Kindle, be sure to drop by Decalgirl.com.

Check out image of the final product below. (click to enlarge)