Hi all!!!

I'm not looking to start a business, I just need a little advice. I'm a mom of 5...and I love making cakes. I'm now responsible for my niece's and nephew's cakes, as well as my children. I've baked cakes for church etc. But, I'm ready to jump into something a little adventurous...I want to buy an edible image printer. Can you tell me which one you'd recommend?? And, where should I buy it? I'm interested in hearing what works best for all of you....regardless of price. I'll widdle it down later Also....how exactly do the icing sheets work??? If I understand correctly, they're on a plastic sheet. How do you peel it off without ruining the image?

Thank you all in advance for any help you can offer!!!!

You might try Kopy Kake, they have printers, computers and programs for the edible images. You can buy their software photoexpress, and use your computer, theprinter is usually made by Canon it uses edible ink cartridges. The last I heard they were coming out with another printer so its best to check with them. The cartridges run about 60 bucks. The frosting sheets will come 24 8x10 sheets for about 30 bucks. The sheets are mounted on a plastic sheet. Once you print them, you need to let it dry before taking it off. I use a flat small spatula to lift around the image, usually you can pick it up without too much trouble but you have to be careful as they are delicate. Also the heat from your hands can cause it to tear. The image then is placed on the cake before your icing crusts. Hope this helps some.

I too am looking into this. I was "commissioned" by my cousin to make my famous truffles for his wedding and also for the rehearsal dinner sweets table. And, this is my story of how I caught the bug again....

When I started looking into ways of perhaps "monogramming" them not by hand, I found this concept to be quite appealing. I used to decorate cakes for many years and was getting quite popular with friends, family and co-workers and referrals, etc. When five years ago the night before a babyshower cake was due (we went out to eat not wanting to mess up the kitchen so I could dedicate the rest of the evening to decorating the cake), I was violently attacked by a 150lb Rottweiler dog who tore up my right arm pretty badly. Thus, pretty much ending my career. At the time, I was seriously planning to launch my own business because people I did not even know encouraged me to do so and compared me to one of the top cake decorators in Miami.

I have a creative bug in me, and it keeps me awake at night sometimes because I want to "create". I think you guys can identify. My husband laughs because I am like that guy in the movie "16 Blocks" always carrying around a sketch book of cakes. But, my arm is not the same as it was before the debilitating attack. I then started making personalized candy wrappers for friend's baby/bridal showers, etc. But, when you want to do cake, it is really not the same.

This past year, I dabbled into cookie decorating (for my kid's birthday as an alternative to favor bags). I have found the royal icing's thinner consistency easier to handle with my disability, but fine detail work is quite painful on the old forearm muscle when squeezing a pastry bag because of the nerve/muscle damage. I try to "type" alot for rehabilitative purposes so sorry this is long...

I was thinking seriously about moving into the personalized cookie world maybe. I wanted to print up a page of Monograms to place on a tray of wedding cake shaped cookies iced in white (I thought a nice crystal platter of personalized sweets would be the fitting gift from me). My frustration is the frosting sheets do not come in a regular sheet size which I think is a waste if I wanted to print a page of 1-in "F"'s in a fancy font and cut them out and lay them on freshly iced cookie. I do not want the whole cookie covered in it. So, how easily can they be handled? Can you cut the sheets after you print them to fit the pieces you want to decorate?

Frosting vs wafer paper pro's & con's? I see wafer paper cheaper, and you can cut it to the size you need, and it is a sheet of paper sized. However, if you lay it on a royal iced cookie, will it "melt" in seamlessly? Will it inhibit the drying of the royal icing? Will it "peel" or "curl"? When you bite into it, will it come off or have a mouth feel of paper? The advantage of the frosting paper is that it melts into the surface. Does that make the ink run? Just curious and serious. I am calling on all of you to give me any of your experiences with this medium. Thank you and God Bless! This website has been an inspiration.

Binkytwins I'm so sorry! I'm glad you have been able to find something else that will let you be creative and incorporate your love of decorating. As to your question about the icing sheets. I always buy the 1/4 sheets from Kopykake and cut them as I need. I have covered the entire cookie with a 2 inch circle or you could use your 1 inch, like you wanted. They are a little tricky to cut with a cookie cutter, they sometimes want to tear. But you can usually make a good cut with the cutter then come back with a small knife and peel it off. I also have used my Microsoft Word program to do printing instead of the Kopykake program. That would work for you with your fonts. I just downloaded a template from the Mircosoft website for some round stickers, I believe they were 1 inch. That way you wouldn't be wasting that much of the frosting sheet. Or you could just try to line the letters up and do a test print on another printer. I personally use an Epson for my edible images, I know everyone else seems to prefer Canon. So far I've done pretty good with this one and the ink has lasted a good while. I bought the first set of cartridges then I just bought the pack for refills. I hope you find a printer to work for you and good luck with your new venture!!

I was looking into buying a printer dedicated exclusively for edible images, I currently have an Epson Stylus Photo 820 (thought maybe I could clean it out), but could not find it listed on the KopyKake list of Epson printers (too old I guess). So, I guess I will have to just go with buying a new printer. I told my husband I wanted a cheap canon or Epson. I am just getting started and do not want to invest too much up front. I am a SAHM and only one income, budget is getting tight and Christmas is around the corner, so I need to try to bring in a little extra cash.

I have a potential corporate client, she is the president of the company, and she does ALOT of entertaining. I worked for her husband about 15yrs ago. She was impressed with my handmade truffles as well and decorated cakes and desserts I would bring in to the office for co-workers. The company had a baking contest and I won (15yrs ago).

I was invited to a BBQ of hers on the 4th and she told me that whenever I was ready to start, call her and she will put in her orders. She is the type that sends gift baskets to clients as well. I also have another friend that brings goodie baskets to the doctor's office clients she visits on her route. She said she was interested too. I sent decorated cookies, my twin boy's Bob the Builder cookies leftover from their birthday party to my husband's work and they got rave reviews (he works in the construction equipment industry so they loved Bob). It is a possibility that I could pick them up as a client too, and maybe my former employer as well. I am well known there for my cinnamon rolls that rivalled Cinnabon. I would make them for our yearly United Way fundraisers and they brought in alot of "dough". I calculated that if I stood at the door of the building with my rolls in the morning, I could make in one hour what I would have made in a whole day while employed, just by selling cinnamon rolls. Everyone told me I was in the wrong business.

I just purchased the Canon iP6000 for $75. I am happy with it - but you need to buy the 6 ink cartridge pack, which is expensive. I am happy with it so far.

I just made picture cookies for a wedding this weekedn and it worked pretty well. (posting pictures later tonight).

Hope this helps.

Hi ladys. I have a Epson Stylus printer for my dedicated edible image computer. I got it off of E-bay for less than $75.00 (including shipping) brand new in the box. Since I live in Torrance, Kopy Kake is like a 10 minute drive from me, so I went down and got the inks and frosting sheets direct for about $105.00. They were also very nice and gave me sample circles to play with.

I really like my system. It's a 4 tank color system and so far the only problem I have had has been removing the images from the backing, but I solved that by freezing them before removing them. What I like best about my system is the fact that the printer is an all in one and right after I got it my computer crashed and I was able to scan the picture I needed and still print out the image for a cake.

Boy am I glad i found this post!! i was just doing a search on printers. I was also thinking of buying one. But i don't really want to spend to much on it. I'm sure i'll use it but not that much. So in my case, i'm wondering which is best for me? I just printed all the information about printers on the "articles" section here on CC.
Where do you purchase the printers from? Can i purchase a Canon from BestBuys and just purchase the ink online?

thanks!
Kat

Welcome to cakcentral!

I bought my system and all my supplies from www.icingimages.com The owner, Debbie, is great to work with and will help you in the decision making process. You might want to give her a call and talk to her. I have been very pleased with the customer service and the quick shipping!

Hey Binkytwins - WELCOME back to the decorating world!! I had the same thought about 'cleaning out' my current printer, but that idea was heartily poo-poo'd by those on here with more edible image experience than I have!!

Anyhoo, I had an idea about an easy way to cut out the images from the sheets...has anyone ever tried to use like a scrapbooking cutter? I know the one I have from Creative Memories has different size circles and ovals and you run the cutter around the edge to make the cut. Kind of the same concept as a cookie cutter, but with a cleaner cut.

Another scrapbook tool that might come in handy would be a punch - they come in all shapes and sizes, and might be just the thing for 'cutting out' little monograms. HTH

Thanks for the warm welcome and responses. I think you guys are an inspiration, what comraderie! Thanks for the help.

Still has anyone had any experience with wafer paper vs frosting sheets?

I think I will look into a dedicated printer really soon. I also know a florist who might be interested in items for gift baskets as well.

Five years ago, there was not so much in resources on the internet. I just found this website community. Now, I find all the sugar flowers already made and other neat items I could use in decorating that I could not find years ago. Thanks again.