I am a self-taught cake decorator and I am wondering the different techniques that everyone does to get the design on a cake. I have been drawing them free-hand and I would like a new idea. I have done the BCT and I like that too. I know there is a lady who just needs a picture of something, even if it is on a napkin and she can make a cake. I am looking for different ideas that everyone does. THANKS!!
Hi Lippy,
I do a lot of "drawing" cakes also. I am just now learning to do flowers and things like that.
However, drawing or picture cakes are my favorite to do. I use to draw the picture on cardboard, then cut it apart like a jigsaw puzzle, and trace each piece with a toothpick and then fill with gels. (What a task!)
However, I have now discovered the wonderful frosting sheet! 
After I draw my picture, I trace it onto the frosting sheet with a food coloring pen and just place it on the cake to fill in with gels. So much easier!
I get the frosting sheets through a company on the internet called KopyKake, but I'm sure you can find them pretty much anywhere.
I have a few examples of my picture cakes when you click on my photos icon.
have a good day!
mcginnis
I also do the "jigsaw" puzzle thing. I don't use gel though, I use buttercream. Sometimes I fill in the design and then smooth it, sometimes I fill it in with the star tip.
You can also take a picture, lay a piece of wax paper over it and outline the image with piping gel. You can then take the wax paper and lay it over the cake, lightly running your hand over it. When you pull away the wax paper it will leave the piping gel behind for you to follow to outline in your buttercream.
You can also do a Color flow piece. http://www.wilton.com/recipes/recipesandprojects/icing/colorflow.cfm
One more idea... Chocolate Transfers. 
You can find more information and a link to directions in this post...
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-13945-chocolate.html+transfers
I use a wall projector to make my picture as big as it's going to be and tape a piece of paper to the wall and trace the projection with a pencil. I cut out the outline and then take a craft knife and cut along the inside lines (but don't cut anything to turn the thing into separate pieces.)
After my icing crusts, I lay the paper on the cake and gently press all my cuts and it forms an image on the cake.
To all you "toothpick" method people, I used to trace with a toothpick, but I found that if you press on the edges of your paper with the toothpick, it will make the indent in the frosting for you.
It is very time consuming if the pictures are intricate; but they always come out very nice.
mcginnis, I'd love to learn more about frosting sheets. Are they expensive? Is it the shiny stuff they use to imprint photos on?
Can you do the frosting sheets on buttercream icing? I have seen these cakes done everywhere and could never figure out how they were done. Thanks for the advice mcginnis!!!
Frosting sheets work best on buttercream. After an hour or so, they kind of blend into the buttercream. They can be used on top of fondant or gumpaste, but in those instances, you have to stick them on with piping gel or frosting. And they remain a separate layer. Just depends on your application and what you're trying to achieve.
I have a Kopykake projecter which helps with lots of designs.
KiddieKakes:
I have contemplated whether or not the kopycake was worth it. When you use it, does it have to be dark? Also, what do you outline the design with?
It doesn't have to be totally dark but it does help!!My kitchen is too light so I have to go into the hallway.I use a long wooden skewer to trace around the design.Then I take it over to the counter and finish it!!
Kittycakes:
So, you recommend the KopyCake? It was a good investment?
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