I'm looking for a good and cheap edible printer, I have heard Canon printers are good to use. I went to Walmart and i found some cheap ones there im just not sure which one would be good to use. Can someone give me some advise on which printers are good out there for edible printing!

I have an epson I think it's a NX100. but i'm not at it so i'm not sure the model but that sounds right in my head. I received it for a gift for christmas, but I think mom paid about $100 for it. found it online. maybe amazon.com??!?!? not sure. it was 2 christmas' ago. i've been happy with it.

You need to go to icing images or Kopy Kake. There will be a list of printers that they sell cartridges for. Then find the cheapest price for one of those printers. I have a canon MX700 right now that I really like. It was around $100.

You need to talk with Debbie @ Icing Images. They are wonderful!!! 10 Stars!!!! I have the Cannon MX 700, and it's great!

Thanks maureen!
The cheapest way to get in to an edible printer is to purchase seperate from an imaging company like ours. The Canon mx700 is a great printer, but it is hard to find and there is a whole new line of printers that use Gold Label Inks. These inks feature a spongeless ink tank and produce the best edible picture I have ever seen in edible printing. The best cheapest printer out there is the Canon ip3600. If you dont have a scanner and you need one with a scanner go for the Canon mp560. You can purchase supplies seperately, but be sure to purchase your supplies from a company that will answer your questions for you even if you dont purchase the printer through them. Now, when you go this route, you are on your own if there are warranty issues, but sometimes this is the best route just to get in quick and cheap. I will always be glad to answer any questions you may have. Thanks and good luck!

linedancer,

Is it the cannon pixma mx700 that you have ? Have you had any issues with it ?
I looked at the ink cartridges and refills....what is a 'chip' ? It says cartridge with chip? I assume that the chip is necessary for the printer to read and print ? Does it have to be re set ?
Sorry for all the questions, but I'm needing to purchase one very soon and I'm trying to locate all the info.
Thank you !
Kristy

omg, thanks ladies all this info. has been great! and Debbie thanks for all your help as well!

I found the Canon PIXMA mp560 on Newegg for $84.99. . . I'm paying more for the ink cartridges than the printer! Thanks for all the tips! I'm excited to get my new toys since I have a wedding coming up soon and the bride wants black and white photos on the cake. Can't wait!

I'm looking at the Cannon MP560 as well. Staples has it right now for $100 and amazon has it for $84.99 and free shipping. I love(d) my cannon IP6000D but am having print head issues and can't count on it to print well for me when I need it The MP560 is also set up for wireless which would be great! Let me know how you like yours when you get it.

Thanks
Debbie

I have an epson NX400 that I love! Ive had for about a year and have no complaints. It cost me a 50 or 60 dollars at best buy. The newer version costs 69.99 at best buy right now. The ink I bought from KopyKake. The cartridge was like 50 and then I also bought the refill bottles that are so worth it!!! another 50 dollars. The paper I buy from Decopac and it costs me 28 dollars for 25 pieces that are 8.5 by 11.

Features that I like about it:

Its a standalone printer so I dont have to have connected to comp. (so great bc i have a small space and this way i put it somewhere else without having to lug it back and forth)

I like how whenever I scan an image I can look at it in the little screen and I can zoom in and out to select a certain part of the image to print.

When I make a direct copy I can reduce and enlarge without a problem.

I can print directly from a memory card!!

I love this printer and I have no complaints!

I have the Canon MP510 and wouldn't recomend it! I have bought two sets of cartidges and a new print head and it still won't print a good image. I got the printer for a very good price but have spent at least $300 and still can't print an image. Right now I am trying to decide if I want to spend any more or just have someone else print my images for me.

I have an epson 880+.
It just sits on my shelf un-used.
I have the reset chip too. Never used it either.

KKristy Sorry, I missed your questions

It is the canon pixma mx700 that I have. No issues thus far. It does have a chip, as long as you buy chipped replacement cartridges, you do not have a problem. If you want to fill the cartridges yourself, it just keeps giving you a low ink warning. Finally it says it you will void your warranty if you continue to print. After you click OK on that, the only thing you have to do is make sure you have ink in your cartridges, it will no longer track it for you.

HTH

I got my PIXMA MP560 and while I've only printed out one sheet, it seems great. It wasn't difficult to set up except for having to go out and purchase a USB cord. The wedding is this Saturday so I'm excited to see how the cake turns out. Thanks for all the tips!

Kristy: Chips are just an added item to the newer cartridges. Either the printer uses it or it does not use it. The only thing you have to watch is depending on where you purchase your ink some companies have you put your chip on yourself. I think they have you take it off your original inked cartridges and put it on the edibles. Ours have chips already on.

A few of you were mentioning problems with older printers. If they are canons, PM me before you purchase another printer and let me know the situation, chances are I have a solution that will keep you running.

Lansgramm, I only recommend people purchasing a printer if you are going to print once per week, if not, it is best to have someone do them for you. We have a huge list of customers and I often times match customers up so that they can help eachother. What problems are you having?

I may have to get me one of these printers.

Just a note...the printers are WAY cheaper than the ink and the sheets!!!! It is very expensive to buy the ink and you HAVE to keep the printer fresh and take good care of the ink or you'll ruin the printer.

Voice of experience...of one who had a printer and now does not anymore.

As someone who just bought a system with little to no background on the care and maintenance of an edible printer system - how do you care for the ink/printer that is different from a regular printer? I'd hate to throw all the money I just spent out the window. Anybody have any tips???

It really isnt that bad. The important thing is to use the printer. This latest generation of printer uses our gold label cartridges. They are so improved over all the previous ink cartridges/ink that was ever made. First of all, they are spongeless and use food grade plastics. The sponge in previous versions caused more clogging issues than this new spongeless version. Ink for the most part just flows. We have carried these Gold Label inks for about a year now and we still do not stock printheads for our customers. THe last generation, we always kept them on hand because people needed them so badly. In addition, they are refilled directly in the printer making it easier and neater than ever. But as I said before, make sure that you use the printer. As with any printer, if you do not use it regularly, it will clog over time. But ink, like frosting is a consumable. You use it, you replace it when you are out. It costs less than $2.00 to print an image and if you refill it takes the cost down to $1.19. And that is a generous estimate allowing for mistakes!!!

So Walls, if you plan to purchase a printer....just use it!!! If you are not going to use it, with your edible ink in the printer, you can print on non-edible paper. It doesnt cost much more than non-edible printing, it may even be cheaper. At any rate, just use the printer!!!! If you are using the printer, you do not need to do anything special to maintain it.

Thanks, Debbie! I did buy a printer and I do have the gold label cartridges. It's nice to hear they are that good. I never thought about just printing on non-edible paper to keep things unclogged - good advice. I've used the system a couple times and I love it!

Thanks again!

Another idea I like is to find other bakeries in the area who do not have a printer and offer to print for them at a discount. You make money on their business, you keep your printer running so its a win win!

Why do you need to print at least once a week? I am just a small, based out of my house, "business". I was thinking about getting a edible printer so I can have more to offer.

Edible inks do not have the toxins in them that regular inks do.  These toxins keep the ink from clogging in a non edible printer. Because we cannot use them in our edible inks, you are forced to maintain your printer by using it! Through years of experience, we have found just by using the printer, it keeps the ink flowing and the printhead remains clean.  If you are not going to be using your printer at least once every week to two weeks, do not get the printer. You will not be able to maintain it and you will not make money using it. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.  This is coming from someone who sells printers for a living! So apindell21, if you want to get a printer, find other people you can print for on a regular basis so that your printer is used regularly. You can print for other bakeries who do not have a printer if you choose to. If you are not going to use it regularly, then do not buy it.  An electronic cutter such as the Silhouette or the Sweet Accents machine can help to give you more to offer and does not need to be maintained like a printer and is a much better option if you are not going to be printing regularly. Thanks and happy decorating

I agree with Debbie, about outsourcing if you don't expect to be using the printer often enough to keep it working.

I disagree, though, on one point: there's never been an inkjet printer that doesn't clog, if allowed to stand idle for any length of time. That's why the manufacturers love the technology so much, and why they can afford to practically give the printers away: they know that you'll either use it like crazy, to avoid clogging it, and go through ink like crazy, or you'll clog up, and either waste a huge amount of ink trying to unclog it, or have to buy a new printhead. It's even better than the "razor-and-blades" business model.

And on the difference between conventional and edible ink-jet inks, the most important difference is that edible inks are, by their nature, intended for human consumption. This means that where conventional inks can be made from dyes chosen for color fidelity and permanence, edible inks have to be made from dyes that are FDA approved for food (i.e., that have an FD&C number, and an approval that hasn't been revoked). Likewise, conventional inkjet inks can contain any combination of solvents and additives (e.g., to prevent microbial infestation, or to protect printer parts) that doesn't present a safety hazard in normal use, edible inks cannot contain any solvents or additives that would leave toxic (or even foul-tasting) traces in the printed document.

And above all else,

Rule No. 1. You do not do edible printing in a printer that has ever had conventional ink in it.

Rule No. 2. You do not do edible printing in a printer that has ever had conventional ink in it.

Any cleaning method that would remove all non-food-safe traces from the printer would either (a) cost more than a new printer, (b) destroy the printer, or (c) most likely both. (And you still do NOT talk about Fight Club.)

so the  Canon PIXMA mp560 can be used to do edible prints? Im looking a cheap printer to use to do edible prints.

May I have it since you are not using it?

Hi,

The canon MP560 is an older printer, make sure that it works and has not been sitting.

Great choice of edible printers for every budget  https://www.kakewalk.com/Edible-Printers