Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Decorating › trouble painting with food colors
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

trouble painting with food colors

post #1 of 10
7/23/12 at 10:26am
Thread Starter 
I have done several cakes on which I needed to paint with food color, but the gel colors (Wilton) never mix completely into the alcohol. I use lemon extract. I use a toothpick to put a couple of globs of color into a custard cup, then add a capful or so of extract and stir with my paintbrush or a spoon. The color stays in little globs or sticks to the bottom of the cup with the alcohol sitting on top. I wind up having color that is sometimes water color-looking and then some looks like pure food color - way too dark. Also, there are specks in the color like undissolved bits.
What am I doing wrong?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 10
7/23/12 at 11:23am
I can't help you with the Wilton colors, but you can always paint by hand with airbrush colors and they are very inexpensive.
www.superstarpastrydesign.com
Reply
www.superstarpastrydesign.com
Reply
post #3 of 10
7/23/12 at 11:45am
Thread Starter 
KoryAK,
Do you paint with the airbrush colors as is, or do you dilute them like the gel colors?
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 10
7/23/12 at 11:48am
I use the wilton colors as well but i mix mine with vodka and have not had a problem. I've also used lemon juice and it mixes well. sometimes I have undissolved specks but I just assumed I didn't mix well enough or sometimes the gel colors seem to dry out. I thought maybe if they are older, they don't seems as gel like and don't dissolve as well.
May your layers be many and your frosting be thick! - Stampin Up
Reply
May your layers be many and your frosting be thick! - Stampin Up
Reply
post #5 of 10
7/23/12 at 12:34pm
cookiemama2,
Do you mean lemon extract? That dries much faster than lemon juice.

I hope I die before "your" is the official contraction of "you are."

Reply

I hope I die before "your" is the official contraction of "you are."

Reply
post #6 of 10
7/23/12 at 12:43pm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yuma_couture_cakes/7337751938/in/photostream

and

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yuma_couture_cakes/7584158298/in/photostream

Airbrush colors! Can't go wrong...and no you don't dilute them unless you want lighter shades. But you do have to be careful because they are very thin and will run. So knock off any excess color or you'll be in for hell with dripping and bleeding.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 10
7/23/12 at 1:06pm
Thread Starter 
Okay, thanks a million for the responses! If anyone else has anything to add, please do. I'm trying to learn!
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 10
7/23/12 at 3:02pm
Ditto to the advice about airbrush colors, dilute with water or alcohol if you want them lighter (do not add white coloring) but other than that just paint away.
www.superstarpastrydesign.com
Reply
www.superstarpastrydesign.com
Reply
post #9 of 10
7/23/12 at 6:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shanter

cookiemama2,
Do you mean lemon extract? That dries much faster than lemon juice.




No I used lemon juice, never thought of lemon extract! I was making cookies for my sons kindergarten class and I wasn't sure if I should use the vodka!
May your layers be many and your frosting be thick! - Stampin Up
Reply
May your layers be many and your frosting be thick! - Stampin Up
Reply
post #10 of 10
7/23/12 at 7:03pm
[quote="cookiemama2" No I used lemon juice, never thought of lemon extract! I was making cookies for my sons kindergarten class and I wasn't sure if I should use the vodka![/quote]

Vodka evaporates.... Alcohol will not remain on cookies.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Cake Decorating
Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Decorating › trouble painting with food colors