Can someone tell me. I am wanting to stack a 12" square cake on a 16" square. I will dowel accordingly.

Next I want to press in hidden pillars to raise my 8" layer 2 " from the 12" square and then again to raise my 6" layer 2" from my 8"

I will use seperator plates under my 12" (that will be 12") and then under my 6 and 8" tiers. I am wanting just 2" room to allow me to put roses around these little tiers.

So basically I am pushing hidden pillars in my 12" cake to give me a lift between and so on.

Will this be okay

Check out the hidden pillar tutorial at: http://community.webshots.com/user/abbyniemeier Click on the individual pictures to read the notes below each picture. This is a tutorial on making a stack cake. For the presentation you want, cut the hidden pillars 2" longer than the depth of the 16" layers.

I wouldn't dowel the 16" layer. Using the hidden pillars, there won't be any weight on the cake layers. The hidden pillars will be enough to keep the two layers from shifting. I however do put a few short straws in the top layer to keep layers from shifting. They don't support weight, just keep the layers from sliding. HTH

You don't need the dowels if you're using the hidden pillars. They are your support system.