Edible Image Problems....suggestions Please....
Decorating By spoiledtoodef Updated 4 Jan 2006 , 10:18pm by Lisa
Hello all, I am having a problem with my edible images. I purchased my edible paper from tastyartfoto.com. When I add piping gel to the back of the image with a brush it starts to warp a little when I place it on my cakes. So on the next cake I just laid the image on the cake without any gel, but it still started to buckle in the middle of the image. I tried using a roller to flatten it out but it still had a ripple.
Please any suggestion would help. I spent a lot of money for this paper but I am not happy with the results. PLEASE HELP...Thanks Kim
Thisis the first I've ever heard of putting piping gel on the back of an edible image. If there is even too much moisture in your icing it will ruin an edible image, so I would think that putting piping gel on the back of it would have the same affect. I have never used tastyartfoto paper, so I can't say anything about that but I have used Lucks brand and Icing Images brand withoug problems.
What did they say was the purpose of putting the gel on the back?
Kim,
I only use Kopykake supplies and love them! Try applying your images before the icing has completely crusted. Then gently smooth over the image with a viva paper towel to get it to lay flat. After smoothing my image, I like to pipe a border around the edges.
Good luck! 
Mrs Missey, I contacted the company and they suggested putting the piping gel on the image and then apply it to the cake. It did not affect the image however the paper had a ripple effect when I placed it on the cake. Just wouldn't lay down smoothly....Thanks Kim
Traci, thanks for the suggestion...After I use all of the paper that I currently have I will change brands. I have noticed other cakes on the site and they look flawless. That is what I am after....Thanks
Mrs Missey,
Yes, I tried a cake two days ago without the gel and it still wouldn't lay flat. It had a pucker in the middle and around some parts of the edge wouldn't lay down smoothly. I also used the dough roller from pampered chef to smooth it out. It helped some but I am not sure what is happening to my images.... 
hi spoiledtoodef, I'm with Tracy you really should try kopykake,it costs exactly the same but it is frosting sheets , tastyphotoart is rice paper . You will love the frosting sheets .
Hello Tracy,
Thanks for your suggestion. I will have to break down and purchase the frosting paper. We are currently stationed in Naples, Italy and I am the only one on the base at this time who can produce the edible images. Therefore I want to produce the best product that I can. Is there a certain brand you recommend? Thanks again...Kim
I still use the rice paper for making the faces on childrens cookies,or for diplomas on graduation cakes. But you will find that the frosting sheets just melt into the frosting on your cake real nice! i use them on buttercream and on stabelized whipped cream both with no problems.
you can find them at www.kopykakes.com
Hello Maxiecakes,
I guess I will have to just buy some frosting paper. Now when you use the frosting sheets. Can I apply them to crusted buttercream? The majority of my clients want buttercream, so I have to have something that will work with the B/C icing. Do I have to do any prep work to apply this paper to the B/C icing? Thanks for your help....Kim
Frosting sheets work great with BC..so no concerns there! It is best to have a nice, flat, smooth surface. You can immediately apply the frosting sheet to your BC, before it has crusted over. Also, what I like to do sometimes..if I am not happy with how smooth or flat my BC is, I will let it crust over and try to get it a little smoother, lightly spray the BC with water (and I mean lightly!) and then apply the frosting sheet. Either way, after applying the frosting sheet, I take a long angled spatula and go over the entire frosting sheet, it really gets it nice and smooth!
Mrs. Missey,
Yes, I have to wait until my B/C crust over to achieve the smooth icing look. Ok, now once you lightly spray your cake, apply your image and run you angled spatula across the image. It doesn't smear the image, or do you have to wait a few minutes before you try to smooth it out? Does your images have a backing sheet? Is there a certain way you apply the image to the cake? I know I have alot of questions, however I want to get this right....LOL
they do have a backing sheet , the directions say to take the frosting sheet off the backing before running it but I pesonally don't, I just think it's more sanitary. I think because the sheet melts into the buttercream rather quickly it's better to smooth it out right away. It's really easy to work with I promise 
..no, it doesn't smear the image because the mist of water is underneath and the ink on the image is already dry.
I remove the image from the backing sheet before I even start to icing the cake....just to make sure it isn't going to give me any problems! The way I remove it is to sorta "roll" it over the edge of my countertop...go about half way, rotate it, and repeat. This helps to loosen the image from the backing paper. Some people put it in the freezer for a few minutes or use a hair dryer to help release the image from the backing paper.....I don't!
Put the icing on the cake..like I said, sometimes I like to let it crust over...if so, I lightly spray with water and then apply the image.
Lift the image from the backing sheet, hold one end in each hand...as to let the middle of the image touch the cake first and then sorta drop each side!
I immdeiately use an agled spatula and gently go over the entire image...work from the middle out to the edge of the image...and that't it!
As I also mentioned before..I've only tried the Luck's brand and Icing Images brand, so I don't know if other brands work differently! HTH!!
Kim...I find the most useful size is the 1/4 sheet frosting sheets. You can print your images and then cut them to size. I like to place my image in the freezer for about a minute before I peel off the backing. It comes right off and then you apply it to your cake. You will love Kopykake products!
Mrs. Missey,
Yes, I have to wait until my B/C crust over to achieve the smooth icing look. Ok, now once you lightly spray your cake, apply your image and run you angled spatula across the image. It doesn't smear the image, or do you have to wait a few minutes before you try to smooth it out? Does your images have a backing sheet? Is there a certain way you apply the image to the cake? I know I have alot of questions, however I want to get this right....LOL
Another method is to apply the frosting sheet on the cake before the icing crusts and then, after it crusts, gently smooth around the image with viva paper towels in the same way you would if the frosting sheet weren't there. This is what I do. If I don't make it before the icing crusts, I lay a moist paper towel over the cake which moistens it back up just enough to get the frosting sheet to soak in.
Frosting/icing sheets will come on a plastic backing that is best removed after you print the image. If your frosting sheet is too moist to peel from the backing which happens with very fresh sheets or sheets that have been printed using large amounts of ink, just blow dry it for a minute or two until it stiffens slightly and peels easily.
I don't use wafer paper (tastyfotoart) to make edible images because of the problems you mentioned. I love Kopykake brand supplies though and use those on all my cakes.
You can use piping gel with frosting sheets as a kind of glue to adhere it to fondant or gumpaste and piping gel can also be used on wafer paper to coat it when making things like autumn leaves but it should be applied as a very, very thin coat.
Lisa,
Thank you so much for all of the information. Because I have not profected the icing smoothing before the B/C crusts, I have to do the paper towel thing...LOL
I will purchase the Kopykake frosting paper.
Also, I am so glad you answered my question. I have a question for you. Would you PLEASE give me the instructions on how you completed your baby shower cake with the edible image going around the cake.....I have a several baby shower cakes coming up and would love to do something different on all of them. PPPLLLEEEAAAAASSSSEEEE, here is my email address. I am not sure where you got the images for sure an edgeing. Maybe I can use this old wafer paper for borders....LOL.....Thanks again Lisa
And to everyone that has given me excellent input. This my first posting and I am so excited to read all of the comments. You all are my life line back to the United States. We are currently stationed in Naples, Italy. So you all are keeping me up to date...Thanks....Kim
Lisa,
Thank you so much for all of the information. Because I have not profected the icing smoothing before the B/C crusts, I have to do the paper towel thing...LOL
Me too
The sides of the baby shower cake are also edible images made from frosting sheets. I used the 1/4 sheet size and created the images using www.photofiltre.com Sized and measured to fit the frosted cake, printed and then cut out and applied to the sides. I still have the images and I'll be happy to email them to you. Just PM me your email address.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%