Air Brushing With A Stencil - Can You Stop The 'bleeding'?

Decorating By bubs1stbirthday Updated 23 Jul 2014 , 5:58pm by AZCouture

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bubs1stbirthday Posted 21 Jul 2014 , 10:37am
post #1 of 19

I would like to use a stencil to air brush on the sides of a round cake but all of my practice attempts at this seem to have a massive bleeding effect at the edges of the pattern. I will be using the airbrush on a Buttercream cake (Black on White just to make my life a bit harder lol).

 

Is there some way to prevent this happening. If anyone has some advice it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thankyou. 

18 replies
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TheNerdyBaker Posted 21 Jul 2014 , 4:00pm
post #2 of 19

Don't quote me on this, but I believe I remember someone somewhere coating the back of the stencil in a small film of shortening in order to stop the bleed.

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DeniseNH Posted 21 Jul 2014 , 6:46pm
post #3 of 19

Correct me if I'm wrong but making sure to smooth your fondant with a fondant smoother and making sure that your stencil is connected at the back (tightly) and making sure you use a light touch with the airbrush trigger - should work beautifully.  Also, greasing the back of the stencil (very lightly) sounds like it would also work.

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AZCouture Posted 21 Jul 2014 , 9:23pm
post #4 of 19

Probably just laying off on the amount you're spraying will help. Short bursts, and stop spraying when you've got good coverage. I airbrush with stencils often, and I've never ever had any bleeding, whatsoever.

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-K8memphis Posted 21 Jul 2014 , 10:15pm
post #5 of 19

when i start & stop spraying -- i aim away from my target so i don't overspray -- 

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bubs1stbirthday Posted 21 Jul 2014 , 10:20pm
post #6 of 19

Thankyou everyone.

 

Might have to leave the air brushing for another cake I think - get some more practice first. The cake is for my FIL and I am sure he already thinks I hate him so I don't want to give him a messy looking cake lol, this might just confirm his thoughts. :-P

 

AZ - What icing do you airbrush onto? I know that you mainly use SMBC and I would rather use that but I was under the impression that you had to use a crusting ABC buttercream (or of course fondant) if you wanted to airbrush a cake. Thankyou.

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AZCouture Posted 21 Jul 2014 , 10:56pm
post #7 of 19

AWell some will tell you that it looks awesome on SMBC, and I've seen one example I would agree with, but I only stencil over fondant.

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AZCouture Posted 21 Jul 2014 , 10:58pm
post #8 of 19

AJust can't really argue with the ole' water and oil don't mix scientific thingy. ;) It generally beads up, won't really dry, and I sure the heck wouldn't want a bite of cake with a big drop of straight up concentrated dye on it. :D So I stick to fondant only.

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bubs1stbirthday Posted 21 Jul 2014 , 11:28pm
post #9 of 19

Thanks AZ - Will skip trying the airbrush on SMBC. I am not too keen on a dose of straight dye either :-)

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FioreCakes Posted 22 Jul 2014 , 2:55am
post #10 of 19

Do you have a variable air compressor? turn the air down low...about 10PSI

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AZCouture Posted 22 Jul 2014 , 4:42am
post #11 of 19

Yeah, it just doesn't sit with well with me. 

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ropalma Posted 22 Jul 2014 , 6:22pm
post #12 of 19

Can you stencil with royal icing over the buttercream.

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cupadeecakes Posted 22 Jul 2014 , 8:35pm
post #13 of 19

Get a good smooth coat of SMBC on that cake and then get it nice and cold.  Then you can stencil buttercream on buttercream.  I've done it several times and it looks great!

 

The bottom tier of this cake is all buttercream, just lay the stencil against the cold cake and go over it with your spatula with your colored buttercream.  The monogram is buttercream too, but on a fondant oval, if I remember correctly.

 

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Claire138 Posted 22 Jul 2014 , 8:46pm
post #14 of 19

Wow, that looks fantastic. I don't think I could be that brave:-(

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bubs1stbirthday Posted 23 Jul 2014 , 12:05am
post #15 of 19

Quote:

Originally Posted by ropalma 
 

Can you stencil with royal icing over the buttercream.

 

 Thankyou, I am sure that I could (with practice of course) but I would like to lick that airbrush into submission :-)

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bubs1stbirthday Posted 23 Jul 2014 , 12:07am
post #16 of 19


Cupadeecakes, those fine lines look great, so neat and tidy. Can I ask what material the stencil that you used for that was made of. Thankyou

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AZCouture Posted 23 Jul 2014 , 12:25am
post #17 of 19

Quote:

Originally Posted by cupadeecakes 
 

Get a good smooth coat of SMBC on that cake and then get it nice and cold.  Then you can stencil buttercream on buttercream.  I've done it several times and it looks great!

 

The bottom tier of this cake is all buttercream, just lay the stencil against the cold cake and go over it with your spatula with your colored buttercream.  The monogram is buttercream too, but on a fondant oval, if I remember correctly.

 

Nice!! I still haven't tried to do that, but now I think I will! Have to work pretty quickly I would imagine?

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cupadeecakes Posted 23 Jul 2014 , 1:40am
post #18 of 19

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubs1stbirthday 
 


Cupadeecakes, those fine lines look great, so neat and tidy. Can I ask what material the stencil that you used for that was made of. Thankyou

It was just a regular stencil, made out of plastic, I guess.  I have cut my own using card stock... they don't last long, but they work pretty good too.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZCouture 
 

Nice!! I still haven't tried to do that, but now I think I will! Have to work pretty quickly I would imagine?

It's important to get the stencil off the cake fairly quickly, but if the cake starts getting warm you can just get it cold again and continue later.  If there are any "boo-boos" you can get everything cold again and scrape it off with a sharp paring knife.

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AZCouture Posted 23 Jul 2014 , 5:58pm
post #19 of 19

AI love cutting stencils with card stock. Talk about an inexpensive solution to buying a real one you may not ever use again, especially for something really unique, or something you just can't buy anywhere. I cut templates for large chevron, stars, all kinds of things I want to size just so, as well.

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