Ok.. I finally got time to unbox my Canon IP3000 to set it up and print out a picture that I'll be using on a cake this Saturday ... we're having my FIL's birthday party here at my house .. there are 8 kids and all the grandkids, my FIL's brothers and sisters all coming .. it will be a huge crowd .. lol ... anyway, I had a pic when all of the kids were together at another occasion (this doesn't happen often).. well minus one of the kids because he didn't want to be in the pic, but I cut/cropped him into it anyways .. it came out wonderful!!!!

I had a few probs at first.. the printheads didn't want to align .. then when it did finally start printing, the picture came out really really yellow .. it looked terrible!! So I did a clean on the printhead and that did it .. musta have had something in one of the printheads... I finally got the image to print and I think it came out really well My DH thought it was awesome (even w/the one brother cropped into the pic, lol) ... I'm letting it sit out to dry and will put it in a ziplock bag soon to keep until Saturday when I put it on the cake... hopefully, I won't have any probs peeling it off the sheet to put it on the cake.. I'm not real sure how to even do that lol .... anyone that's done this, any advise you can give me is appreciated

Way to go, entertayne me! I still haven't gotten mine unpacked...I've already got two printers and I'm not too sure when I can set this one up!

Thanks for sharing your experiences, it will give me some help when I finally do get mine out!
I'm glad your picture came out well for FIL, I know he will love it! Janice

Oh, I'd love to have one!!! My daughter saw some cakes that had the printed images on it and she was coming up with all kids of ideas for me! I do think it would be alot of fun, just can't justify the cost at this point. Can't wait to see your cake!

Thanks, I'll make sure and post a pic of it .. I'll blur the faces on it if they're distiquishable (is that a word?) lol

Oh, I forgot about the face thing.....guess you'll just have to do something else and post a picture...hee hee......I'm sure you want to play with it some more, don't you?

Hello. In my experiences with edible images...I find that putting it into the freezer for about five minutes makes the back come off easily. Then you place it on the cake right away. I try to rub ice on my hands and then dry them off so my hands won't be hot! It makes it easier to handle the image. Best of luck with this...I can't wait to see how it turns out!
traci

I thought I read on here taht the rule is that if the picture is part of the cake(such as edible image), you can show the face. It's if they are not, like showing a kid blowing out his candle's, that gets you in trouble. I swear I read that!!!

Ntertayneme,

I just made my second cake Saturday with my new edible image printer and I just love it! (Pictures posted in the gallery-Desert Pool Party and a hummingbird image). The only problem I had with the second image was that I waited too long to put it on the cake. I was letting the icing crust a bit so I could smooth the top with waxed paper so when I went to put the image on, it wouldn't stick. You can just place a damp paper towel over the area to soften up the icing a bit and then apply your image. Lisa has a E-book that she sent to me that is fantastic and tells everything you need to know about printing images, cleaning your printer, etc. Just pm her and I'm sure she can send it to you. Have fun with your printer! I'm just looking for excuses to make a cake so I can print out an edible image.

You may be right GinaJuarez... seems like I remember a cake topper someone did w/the anniversary couples pic on it .. the faces where not blurred .. not sure though .. I'll have to find out before I post it though

I love being right!!! j/k

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-3030-picture.html+rules

Isn't it great! I love my printer! Some tips...before printing an image you're unsure of on a frosting sheet, you can do a test print on a piece of regular printer paper (draft quality and smaller). This way you don't waste any expensive frosting sheets.

To remove the edible image from the backing, just try to gently peel at one corner. I pick the one that will get the least attention. If it won't peel easily, blow dry it for 30 sec to a min until it stiffens just slightly. Then it'll peel right off. The freezer works too but any moisture droplets could ruin your image and there is the chance of it breaking/tearing as your trying to peel it. I've also heard of putting them in the micro on defrost...don't do this! I tested a strip and the backing reacted like a shrinky dink in fast motion-LOL!

You can also smooth your cake after applying the edible image...just wait for the BC to crust and go around the image with strips of viva paper towels.

Have fun with your printer! You'll find so many uses.

If you decide to go with the freezer method...as long as you do not leave it in there for a long time you should be fine. I have always done it this way and never had a problem. Have fun!
traci

Thanks Lisa and traci I have it stored in a ziplock bag awaiting application to the cake ... I'll probably bake the cake Thursday night and finish decorating it on Friday night, which will be the day before the big party ... I looked at the sheets and kind of got scared thinking how was I going to peel that thing off there ... lol

I read somewhere that you can smooth the cake, let it crust then apply the edible image from the center out to the edges to get it flat .. does that sound right?

Lisa, you said you can smooth the cake with the Viva papertowel with the image on it and it won't hurt it? Did I understand that right? I crumb coat mine, let that dry a bit.. then I come back w/a second coat of icing which is the one I do the final smoothing of.... I use the papertowel method like you do... that's the only way for me! lol

You can let the cake crust just a tiny bit before putting on the image...not too much though or it won't soak into the cake. By waiting just a bit, you can kind of move the image around until you get it where you want it. I don't do this anymore but I did when I was just starting out. I find that if you hold the image centered over the cake and lay it down...middle first...it almost always goes on straight.

You can smooth the cake after you've put the edible image on...just go around it and use a really soft touch. I do it all the time especially when I want a paper towel pattern on the surface. Like on this cake...

for those of you who have a canon printer that does edible images, make sure you plan on using it regularly. if you don't you will have problems with
it coming out light. i read somewhere if you have problems with it if you use edible ink that the company doesn't cover it under their warranty.

You have to store your inks and clean your print head if you're not going to use it for a while or the print head may clog and the inks dry up.

Your printer is still under warranty even if you use edible inks. That was just a rumor that was floating around.

Lisa, what is the longest time you've left your printheads in? I printed mine on Monday. I haven't taken them out yet, but I will this evening... I have the printhead cleaner cartridges too... I'm not sure how to use them though lol ... do you do a "clean" with them in the printers properties page? how do you store your cartridges? I thought about putting each on in a ziplock bag and all of them together in another one...

How did you find out about the warranty still being valid???

I had heard somewhere on here also that the warranty would be void if edible inks were used too ...

My question is, how long can you leave the edible inks in the printer w/o them drying out?

Do I need to clean after each use if I don't use it again w/i a few days? Has anyone used the cleaning cartridges?

Thanks so much for all the info Lisa!! I really do appreciate your taking time to let me know all of this!!

Thanks Lisa for all the info! I am learning a lot about this equipment!
traci