Check this out:

Here's the basic description:
http://www.gizmag.com.au/go/4813/

Here's a company doing it:
http://www.decentlyexposed.com.au/

The skin is applied to a car, but equally it can be applied to boats, signs, exhibition booths and walls.

It's digitally printed. Any pattern can be created, customer supplied too.

Does anyone know the software they are using? And what is the material?

This site seems to have a lot of info, maybe you have found it already though

http://www.autoskin.net.au/

Have never seen this, is very cool and interesting to say the least.

A wrap as its better known can be designed in photoshop, illustrator, corel draw, basically any program.
We print ours with large format solvent printer. Its printed straight onto a comformable cast self adhesive vinyl (technical term for massive sticker ).
Its then applied to the vehicle by sign technicians using a heat and stretch technique. Takes a lot of practice. some more http://www.coedesign.com.au/vehicles.html
If youve got any other questions regarding wraps let me know.

Those are some very nice skins/wraps LAV that your company does. How much do you charge for a medium size car? Any prices on your website?

In fact you aren't that far from me. I'm in Sydney.

Also, what is that magic material you use to create the see-thru window ads?

Here's a pic from your website which is very impressive.

See through window signs are made from "perforated window film" its like a self adhesive vinyl that has 1000's of tiny holes punched in it. It has a black adhesive on the back of it so that when looking out from the inside you can hardly see it but when outside looking in all you see is the image we print onto it. Just remember that at night if you leave a light on It makes the signs invisible. Its a "similar" product that you see on bus windows.

A wrap will cost between $2500 - $4500 depending on artwork.

Your company seems to be at the cutting edge of producing wraps. Do you have any demand for wraps from people wanting to do thier cars in unique wraps. And what is the source of the material for the see-thru signs?

the program being used most likely is Photoshop, or a custom made program by the company. I interned at fast signs and learned the porgrams they use. They print out huge designs for cars and boats and everything, the skin itself probably costs around $50 to a person who buys matrial in bulk. The rest pays for hte HUGE PRINTER and the programs. Photoshop is perfect, though, ive used it and made a few skins of my own for certain customers.

Thanks Gharth...

How long does it take to apply a skin for say a medium size car where it covers half the car?

at least a day.
depending on the shape of the car though it can take less or more. If its a one off design it could take up to 3 days. If we are doing quite a few of the same car with the same design we can do 3 a day (thats with about five experienced guys).

Materials to wrap a car cost quite a bit more than $50 sorry garth even if you do buy in bulk.