Hello,

I would like to draw an outline of a bull (for a Taurus' birthday cake) on a fondant covered sheet cake. The outline is somewhat intricate, so I was wondering what the best way might be for me to transfer the pattern? You think I could do a piping gel transfer and then pipe RI over the gel?

Any ideas? Thanks!

I heard an interview on Cakefu where the decorator placed her picture on the cake then went around the outline making tiny pin holes on her fondant.

Thanks. That is a good idea. Would probably be best to do it just after I place the fondant on the cake so it isnt yet dry...

What is the final piece going to look like? Are you wanting to draw/paint it so that it is flat to the surface or do you plan on piping icing over it?

If you want to pipe it, and just need guide lines I would take a piece of glass from a picture frame, reverse your image and lay that over it. Pipe the outlines on the glass in royal icing and let it sit out to dry. You can then use that to press into the fondant while it is soft and it will leave imprints for you to follow.

Now if you don't want imprints, I would probably try something different. I haven't done this myself but have heard about it. Spread a thin layer of chocolate out on a piece of wax paper. You'd think put that chocolate side down on the fondant and using a pencil or something with a tip on it, trace the picture you want on the back of that. It should work like transfer paper.

Thanks TexasSugar! I am looking to pipe the picture, it doesnt need to be flush to the cake.

If I have the RI outline on the glass, will it adhere to the glass enough so that I can flip it over and press it into the cake? Also, will the RI hold up to being pushing into fondant? I would be worried it would crumble all over the place.

Last question, what do you think would be best for doing the outline once I have the impression on the fondant? I worry that RI will crack in transit and so think maybe I should use chocolate or buttercream??

Appreciate it very much!

http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1423342

I used the glass trick on the above cake. When the royal is hard it imprints fine and sticks to the glass. I used the same piece on all sides of the cake. When I was done with the tier I could wash the glass and do another one.

This was a dummy cake covered in fondant. All the piping on it is royal icing. This cake traveled to IL and back to TX with out anything breaking or falling off.

If your cake is on a sturdy board, and you allowed time for it to set up, it really shouldn't do a lot of shifting or moving during transit. But you can totally pipe over the imprint in buttercream with out any issues either.

Let me also add, I'd use a smaller tip when piping on the glass than what you plan to pipe with on the cake.

WOW! What an amazing cake. Just stunning and that scroll work the bottom?? Just beautiful.

Ok, Im gonna try to RI on glass trick. I am doing the imprint on the top of the cake so will need to flip it completely over.

Thanks again!

The icing will dry hard to the glass, you shouldn't have to worry about flipping it over and it falling off.

Thank you for that link to youtube. She adds piping gel to her RI, but I assume that is because she is duing brush embroidery? If I am simply doing an outline, then just straight RI?

scroll down to the bottom and they show how to transfer with greaseproof paper and a pencil

http://www.notquitenigella.com/2010/11/04/how-to-make-a-two-tier-wedding-cake-with-faye-cahill/

I just used straight royal.