KNOW DO U HAVE TO TRACE IT BACKWARDS BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT MAY APPEAR BACKWARDS ON THE CAKE.

That's what I was wondering as well. Also, do you have to use transfer paper or will parchment paper/wax paper do?

I have tried this method but think my way is a bit easier: Print out your image (black & white, no color) from the computer on regular computer paper. Turn it over and trace the image with non toxic marker. Go over that with your black icing and press on your cake. Now it is ready to be filled in with color. HTH!

before you print your picture,chnage the settings to print the picture as "mirror" that way, when you trace it in icing and flip it over, it will be the right side

I use the same type of method, but instead of black icing, I use piping gel. I usually tint it lightly with a color (blue for example) just so that it is bright enough to stick out when you transfer.

I print my picture, tape it to my table, then tape a peice of parchment over the top of that so nothing slips. After my image is traced, I flip the parchment over and pipe the gel on the oposite side that I used pen/pencil on (just to make sure everything is food safe). It also ensures my image will not be backwards on the cake.

When I place the gel side down on my cake, I use a soft paint brush to lightly trace the tinted gel into the icing to make sure it transfers well enough to see once the parchment is removed. HTH

sweetheart6710, or whom ever can help, when you pipe the gel onto the parchment paper do you use a certain tip. Would a # 3 be to big?

i learned a little trick as well....print out your pic on computer paper...tape it to wax paper...trace with piping gel....cover gel pic with same icing your going to ice cake with...stick in freezer for 2 hrs...then put on cake a peel off wax paper...just as one said make sure you use mirror image so its not backwards when you apply to cake...=)