a method and apparatus for making inexpensive , form - fitted , protective cases of thermal plastic or polycarbonate material that can be easily printed with decorative imagery and / or electronic circuitry for a variety of products , such as portable music players or radios , cell phones , lap - top computers , and the like . the method involves creating a tool having substantially the same surface dimensions of a product . an element is then molded from bulk film of thermoplastic material using the tool . once the element is molded , it is trimmed from the bulk film . the resulting apparatus is a protective case intended to form - fit over the surface features and dimensions of the actual product used to define the tool .