I have only been doing cakes since April, and haven't done that many. I am more a hobbyist and cake-gift giver, you can say. I have sold a handful.
With that said, is it worth buying a printer and icing sheets to do one cake? I'm sure if I had, I probably would use but not sure if its worth the investment or seek out someone that would make the sheets for me. If that is the case, where do you look?
I've called the local grocery stores that use the images and tried Wal-Mart...they will not. Said its a liability issue. I remember a post awhile back and a decorator said she found someone on ebay. Not sure I trust that...Any suggestions?
PS...I always seem to post in the wrong place...hope this one is where it should be...if not, accept my apology!!!
I can't comment on the purchase of the printer etc. but I did find a site online that printed the images for me. You can add words to the image as well. I think the company was called edible prints. I uploaded the picture to their site and they mailed me the icing sheet - only took a couple days. Maybe you could try this until you decide whether or not to get the printer?
here are 2 sites you can try. I use Kroger where I live.
http://www.icingimages.com/products.php?link=V
http://www.sugarcraft.com/
For me, it came down to being in control of my image. If the color was "off" I had the option to correct and reprint. Most images around here that are done in stores and bakeries are washed out and funny-colored. You might have better luck where you are. But, it wasn't a cost concern for me. It was a quality issue. Your mileage may vary.
I've done three cakes with edible images that I bought from ebay. I was very satisfied with them. The person I bought from is: cakes*for*a*cause2010. If you do a search by sellers on ebay it will bring you to his auctions.
We only recommend that its time to purchase a printer if you can use that printer at least once per week. Otherwise, dont bother, just have someone print for you. Now, that being said, if there is no one in your area printing, there is a good chance that other people would love to have you print for them. you can go to area bakers who do not have a printer and offer to print for them. This will increase your usage and bring in a few bucks at the same time!
I went through the same thing, I had a huge project that needed edible images and I was torn between purchasing the equipment or just paying for the images. I needed over 20 sheets printed @ 10 a sheet was the going rate in my area, I decided to go ahead and purchase the equipment. What I did was research the type of printers that were used in the industry for this type of work and found a printer for $120 new and just bought the edible ink cartridges and refill bottles separately along with the paper and I ended up saving about $200 as opposed to purchasing a "system" from a dealer. I love my printer, I don't use it once a week, but it has paid itself off very quickly.
Do you have a cake supply store near you? I found ours would print the image for you but they didn't exactly advertise it
It was $10 a sheet. I thought the colors were fine and I was happy with it. Good luck.
I want to thank everyone for their responses...and I have taken most to heart. I'm sorry I didn't respond sooner but I never saw a notification in my email that there were responses. I thought I went into the great big black hole of hi-tech.
I did find the guy in NC that agreed to copy whatever I sent. Only one bakery in our area agreed to make my copies...of course they are about 50 miles round trip...but in Georgia, that is a commuter day. They will charge $10 per sheet and will go that route. Others turned me away for "liability" issues and I assumed (so you know what that made me) it was insurance liability. It wasn't! It was copyright infringement. The copies are to be of beer labels but one baker said since this was for personal use...they will make an exception.
Cake supplies making images...you would think, wouldn't you. But I tried both and neither would. Silly, I would think they would make a fortune!!!
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%