Need A Quickie "tutorial" On Applying Edible Image
Decorating By pyseas Updated 2 Jun 2006 , 5:20pm by Lisa
Oh, I hope someone can help me. I've done a board search for some information, but I think I need more. Not only am I new to cakes, but I'm pretty new to baking/cooking in general.
I am making a cake for my son's birthday this Saturday. It will be a racing theme. I'm going to have the local grocery store print an edible image of a picture I made (I've attached a pic).
The store mentioned the possibility of it "drying out" so I won't get it until Saturday morning. I will have most everything else on the cake completed.
Here are my questions:
Do grocery stores print edible images on rice paper or icing images? What are the differences between them as far as application?
What tips do you have for applying them?
How noticeable are the edges of the image? I don't think I will be able to edge my entire image decoratively.
Is it best to put the image on a room temp cake or a chilled cake?
Thanks to anyone that can help. I really want my son's cake to be special and I'd hate myself if it didn't come out right.
Most grocery stores print their edible images on frosting sheets. It sounds like yours does too since edible images printed on rice paper wouldn't dry out. When you receive your image, you should keep it stored air tight (like in a heavy ziploc bag) until ready to use. When you're ready to apply it to your cake, peel the frosting sheet from the plastic backing and apply the image from the middle, outward like you would a big sticker to avoid any air bubbles getting trapped underneath. The image should be applied to a freshly frosted cake. If the surface of the cake has crusted or formed a skin, the image won't soak into the frosting on the cake. Room temp would be best to avoid condensation. The frosting sheet will also soak in better at room temp.
The edges of the frosting sheet are noticeable especially when it's a white area off to the side(s) of the image. I like either adding a border, coloring the sides to blend into the image or setting the image closer to one side and using the white void on the other side for a line of candles.
HTH 
Thanks mrboop I should have been more specific I think. By white edges, I meant the parts of the cake that won't be covered by the edible image. Standard 1/4 sheet size edible images are 10x7.5" so they don't completely cover the top of a 13x9. I often trim about an inch and half off the longest side of the cake (down to an 11.5x9) and my image fits perfect after frosting the cake and adding a border.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%