Sorry crablegs, for some reason I didn't realize that's what you were asking! 
But yah, as was already answered, you can make great things by attaching to fondant, but I would steer clear of colored icing! What you can do if you really want to put it on a colored cake is put white icing on top of the cake where the image would go, or an easier route is to put the image on a sheet of fondant (trim if necessary) then put that on the colored cake. That way there is no bleeding.
i haven't bought my own printer yet, but i get them from publix or krogers...the problem i have is that the images are always "faded" looking...colors are never true to the original. also, the professional ones in the bakeries make you format the pictures to a certain size..if you take in an odd sized logo or pic, the printer will automatically upsize or downsize your pic to the closest format...i took in some patches last time, and it automatically made them out in "wallet sized pics" which was quite a bit smaller than the gumpaste frames i had already drying. does the personal printers have these same problems?
i just finished a cake yesterday where i did a ton of edible images...of course, had to go to publix and pay $32!! yikes!! photos are in my album.
mixinvixen - you need to get your ow nprinter!! $32!!!! No, personal printers do not have the same problem. Kopykake has a program that you can use for free when you buy their icing sheets. It allows for lots of customization. Or, you can use other printing programs as well. I'm not super computer savy, so I either use the Kopykake or Microsoft Word and just pull in the images I need.
As for fading, my images don't look faded, but depending on the quality and size of the original picutre, they can look fuzzy. I try to always start with the largest image possible to insure good quality.
thanks! i really love to personalize my cakes, and i think edible images are the best way. the only things that make me shy away from them are the price, of course, and the fading of the colors...it just seems like you lose so much color detail when you do the edible image. thanks for letting me know that the personal printer doesn't do that...i was already wanting one, but now i know that my next little chunk of change i collect will go for my own!!
my husband has one question though...does the printer have a tendency to get clogged up or the cartridges go bad with old ink if you don't use them that often?...i'm averaging about one large cake, maybe two, a month, right now since i'm just starting out.
my husband has one question though...does the printer have a tendency to get clogged up or the cartridges go bad with old ink if you don't use them that often?...i'm averaging about one large cake, maybe two, a month, right now since i'm just starting out.
You bet! that's why I have had two printers die on me.. 
They have gotten better over the last 10 years, but my advice is to use them frequently, even daily.. you don't have to use the expensive frosting sheets, plain paper will do... just to keep the print heads from drying out.. I am looking to buy another one <shaking head in shame>, but I will definately take better care this time.... 
i had thought that maybe i could do a few sayings or stock photos once a week, to keep the ink fresh...if i keep the printed pages wrapped up tight, how long do you think they would last?
i love the way several on here do the gumpaste banners with edible image "happy birthdays" etc...it just really looks so much more professional then writing it out in icing...it's also a good keepsake.
I have the Canon PixmaIP6000D and have never had a clot, clog, or issue at all! I have been using it since (I think) mid 2006, and sometimes will go a month or more without using it. (Sometimes I'll use it constantly for a while too!) If you are concerned, you can certainly print things once a week to keep it 'lubed'. You can keep already printed images well wrapped in a ziplock bag for quite a while. My nephew will be 10 months old next week and I still have an image I printed for his baby shower cake before he was born. It's still supple and bright, not brittle or faded at all. (I had more than I needed, so just kept the extra and will try to figure out what to do with it!)
Another fun thing to do if you want to run prints to keep it all 'in shape' is print out your business logo and put them on some cupcakes or sugar cookies and take them to some local businesses or give them to people you know as promotional items to get more orders. I do this often with my DH... send things to work with him and I always get orders from them.
that's a great idea!! i'm constantly trying to think of new ways to advertise...kill two birds with one stone!
I have the Canon PixmaIP6000D and have never had a clot, clog, or issue at all! I have been using it since (I think) mid 2006, and sometimes will go a month or more without using it.
Like I said... they have improved considerably since I bought my first one in 1998. I have always used Canon printers and never had a problem with them.. just the printheads, and they cost as much to replace as a new printer 
What would ya'll say is a good price for one? If you had to choose between one of those or airbrush which would you choose to purchase first?
What would ya'll say is a good price for one? If you had to choose between one of those or airbrush which would you choose to purchase first?
I hear this question alot about the printer vs. airbrush and my answer is always the same. Without fail, the printer. There is so much more you can do with it, it's amazing. I still haven't really tapped into the possibilities with the airbrush. But the printer is my buddy!
As far as price, you can get a good printer for around (or even under on sale) $100. That is a good price!
Thanks Melvira.....I've been lookin but can't find one for that kind of price. Do you have any suggestions? thanks
Yes, when I bough mine I just did a search on Amazon.com and found an excellent Canon printer that was compatible for only $89!! I was thrilled! Just check out the list of printer at Icing Images and then search for them. Good luck!! Let me know if I can help! 
I have the Canon PixmaIP6000D and have never had a clot, clog, or issue at all! I have been using it since (I think) mid 2006, and sometimes will go a month or more without using it. (Sometimes I'll use it constantly for a while too!) If you are concerned, you can certainly print things once a week to keep it 'lubed'. You can keep already printed images well wrapped in a ziplock bag for quite a while. My nephew will be 10 months old next week and I still have an image I printed for his baby shower cake before he was born. It's still supple and bright, not brittle or faded at all. (I had more than I needed, so just kept the extra and will try to figure out what to do with it!)
Another fun thing to do if you want to run prints to keep it all 'in shape' is print out your business logo and put them on some cupcakes or sugar cookies and take them to some local businesses or give them to people you know as promotional items to get more orders. I do this often with my DH... send things to work with him and I always get orders from them.
logged in after such along time .But friends here always have gems of wisdom to share 
I have an Epson c88 an have not had any problems...I just went 3 months without printing an image and printed one for an Easter cake with no problems.
I use Edible Artist at http://deco.uk.com/..download the program for free.
I bought the Epson cx8400 a few months back and LOVE IT! I don't know what you clean with? Epson printers print head CAN NOT be removed to clean is my understanding. BUT the machine has a "Head Cleaner" setting I run sometimes! I love it! I am having a lot of fun using it!
Yes, you can use a regular printer..mine is..I have edible ink and the right cartridges..I ordered my ink and cartridges from Kopykake...there are other companies you can order ink and cartridges from.
Hey cakeroach, as long as NO regular ink has been run through it, and if it is a model listed as compatible. Go to www.icingimages.com and click on the edible ink supplies link and you will find a drop down menu that lists all the printers by brand and model. If your printer is listed, just order the cartridges and some edible paper, and you are IN BUSINESS!!! WOO-HOO!
I just got my canon ip3500 for 69.99 and FREE shipping from canon!
I just got my canon ip3500 for 69.99 and FREE shipping from canon!
Fantastic!! The shipping is usually where they 'get you', so any time you can get free shipping, that is marvelous! Good luck and enjoy all the fun things you're going to start doing!!!
After reading all of the posts and looking at the photos I am going to get the Canon. I think it's the ip3500. Could someone please tell me what else I need to get. I will go to Icing Images like Melvira suggested. Do I need to get something to clean it with? Also, I see you can get 4 or 6 cartridges, is that right? I am going to be doing a retro cake that I saw on Just Fabulous Pastries. I have a month to do it. Thanks
After reading all of the posts and looking at the photos I am going to get the Canon. I think it's the ip3500. Could someone please tell me what else I need to get. I will go to Icing Images like Melvira suggested. Do I need to get something to clean it with? Also, I see you can get 4 or 6 cartridges, is that right? I am going to be doing a retro cake that I saw on Just Fabulous Pastries. I have a month to do it. Thanks
If you go to IcingImages you can choose a starter pack that has the cartridges, cleaner cartridges, and paper, or you can buy it all seperately, it's totally up to you. Then, they have refill kits which are a HUGE monetary savings!! I use them and highly suggest them. The number of cartridges you get depends on the model of printer. When you select your model number on the drop down menu it will take you directly to the correct cartridges!! Congratulations on this decision! I know we'll be seeing some wicked awesome stuff soon!!
Thanx Melvira, I printed out your response. This is a great help and I appreciate the time you took.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%