I have only done an edible image cake once before.. The 1st time I did one when the cake came back to room temperature after refrigerating it, the picture got wet spots and made the picture sort of run and get clear water droplet holes in the image.. In that buttercream recipe I used a 1/2 butter, 1/2 shortening recipe..

I am using a different recipe today (The cake is due tomorrow morning).. The recipe is 1 1/2 cups shortening to just 1/2 cup butter.. I am wondering if I take the cake out early enough, and give it time to come back to room temperature to "sweat" before my friend picks her cake up will the image still run like it did before? I kind of want to do the whole cake tonight but fear that it may run or the image will get messed up..

Any suggestions?? Also, the recipe I used tonight is a crusting buttercream recipe... Not sure if that matters?

this may be too late, but I find if I place my edible image sheets on a white fondant/gumpaste/modeling chocolate "backer board" it will keep the image looking nice even after refrigeration. I roll it out really thin and use a thin coat of shortening to adhere the image to the backer. Hope that helps!