Has anyone ever made a cake and used edible images???

Hi - I have, if you mean the kind you print out with edible ink? What do you need to know?

Lise

I've bought them at shoprite and put them on cakes. Super easy. Wish my walmart had them though, I hear they are only $5 at walmart. I paid $d at shoprite.

I've used edible images. There are a couple of cakes in my photos. As long as you have a dedicated printer and use the right supplies, they turn out great. It's a simple process too!

I make/use them. They're fun, quick and easy.

Hi, I finally got my printer all set up and used mine for the first time last week...they are great! I've done six now (some for future cakes), so I could clean the print head and stored the inks all sealed up, as advised by Lisa. Just want to say thanks to Lisa for all the help! Janice

That's great Janice. Thanks!

Hi Lisa! I also got my printer up and running! I love it! I do have a question though. After using the cleaning cartridges and putting everything away....how many "test" images should I print on regular paper when I put back my edible ink in the printer???? Hope that made sense!
traci

Just one...you print a nozzle check test. If that comes out okay then you don't need to print another. If it doesn't, you'll go through the maintenance steps.

So how does it work ? is there a software program that you download for the computer and then print the images off?

You don't need any software but Kopykake offers free software on their site that's helpful for beginners.

You would need a canon bubblejet printer (ip1500 or ip 3000 are great), edible inks and frosting sheets.

Oh okay, I get it now! Thanks!!

Hi,

I am in UK and have decided to set up a cookie bouquet business as we have nothing like it over here. If anyone has any suggestions about packaging or how I can speed up my process I'd be very grateful. Also, I'm thinking of investing in one of those Jet Decorators from Sweet Art, Has anyone had any experience of them? They print direct onto the cookies/cakes - no need for wafer/frosting sheets. Do you think this is how the franchises do their company logo ones? I saw a greatwebsite - supercookie.com, they look fantastic and are able to do 100,000 a month!!! How do they do it??!!!

Thanks for your help!

Tania x

I think the jet decorator is awesome...it should cut costs and speed things up. If you've ever seen the color-a cookie products, that's how they're done. The cookie is iced and then run through the machine. They start at $1500 for a refurbished one which would probably pay for itself within weeks. The systems used to cost $10,000 to $20,000 and nearly went out of business when frosting sheets/edible papers came into the market.

The only problem you might come across is that the printed cookies don't look as high-quality as the cookies from a place like Super Cookie. You would probably want to do a little more decorating/outlining after the cookies were printed.

Good luck with your business! Have you decided on a name? Just remember that "Cookie Bouquet" is trademarked.

Hi Traci - I'm in Houston too. Where did you get your printer, and the supplies?[/quote]

Hello Lisa,

Thanks very much for your quick reply!

We have named the business Kooky Cookies, i say we as it's me and my sister.

We do intend to ice over the printed cookies, just to give them that handmade look.

I have done loads of research and can't believe no one has picked up on the idea over here yet. I have done a few for friends who have had babies and got such positive feedback, it seemed silly not to try and give it a go!

It's great to have forums such as this to get tips and ideas - some of the cookies i have seen are amazing.

Hope to speak to you soon!

Tania.

Hi Mommymarilyn! I got my printer at office depot. You may want to call to make sure they have it in stock. I got the canon pixma IP3000...just like lisa suggested. I ordered the ink and frosting sheets online from kopycake. It has made my decorating so much easier. What part of houston are you in???? I am in Northwest/Copperfield area.

lisa....Thanks for the tips. I had to go to maintenence and do a nozzle check and cleaning. For some reason the printhead was clogged. Do you know what causes it to get clogged? Am I suppose to clean with the cleaning cartridges when I take out the edible ink??? Just making sure...I must have done something wrong since it was clogged! Thanks for all your help!!!!
traci

Lisa,

I have a question. I just bought an image from Brookshires. Do you just peel & put on the cake? This image is thick so I think it will be easy to put on the cake. Also, there was no one in the bakery who knew how to work the printer! SO.. shy me (NOT) figured the thing out. I made a copy of our Fire Dept badge. It came out larger then what I wanted. I tried to re-size it but couldn't figure out how to do it because it would only re-size to 25%. I thought that would be too small. When it printed it didn't print some of the border on the badge. How would you suggest I make the border? I thought I could just use star tips & go around it like that. Or maybe just a small shell border. Or should I go around it like I was doing a BCT? I've never used the image thing before. No one who knows how to work the printer will be at work at Brookshires this week. Which stinks! I don't want to go anywhere else because I live out in the boonies. LOL. Thanks for any help you can give me Lisa~

Hi Tina...yes you just peel it off the backing and place it on the frosted cake. If you're using a crusting BC, you'll want to put the image on before the icing crusts.

When it comes to sizing the images before printing, it just depends on the software you use. If the one you're using isn't user friendly, switch to another. Kopykake offers a free one but I prefer Photofiltre. For standard sized frosting sheets, you'll want the image to be smaller than 10" x 7.5" Most good image editing software will allow you to resize in inches. I always do a print preview too just to make sure everything is lined up.

Putting a border around an edible image is a great idea...it hides the seam too. I think a small shell border would look nice or maybe a border like I put around the Harley logo. I just used a round tip and wiggled it back and forth as I went around it.

Good luck on your cake!

I just posted a question about Edible image systems. I should have just added to this post. I am looking at buying a printer for this, and was thinking of the canon IP1500. Has anyone used this printer? Or do you reccomend something else. This would strickly be for home/hobby, so I don't need an overly expensive printer.

Lisa, Thanks for answering my question! I just used the printer at Brookshires because the lady didn't know how. I just started pushing buttons! Ha ha!!

OH BY THE WAY.................. HAPPY BELATED BDAY TO YOU TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just noticed that your bday was the 1st!!!! I hope you had a wonderful bday!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Thanks Tina! We haven't celebrated it yet. The party is this Sunday. I'm really looking forward to it!

Happy Belated Birthday Lisa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You tried to sneak that by us huh??

Thanks lisa!! and happy belated birthday!!!
traci