•  Have your cake ready.  For the best results your frosting or icing should not be dry or have a skin prior to placing the edible picture.  Various icings can be used such as buttercream, store bought frosting’s, icings, fondant, gum paste, whipped cream or non-dairy topping, fudge, chocolate, and even frozen ice cream cakes.  Your frosting should be level for the best results.
• On a fresh cream cake the topper can soak into the cake, so If using on a fresh cream cake, we recommend that you cut a layer of fondant the size of your icing sheet and then place this onto the cake.
• Images are best applied to light colored icing. Dark colors will make it hard for the image to be visible or can distort the color of the icing sheet once applied. However if you need to apply to a dark color icing, we would recommend applying the icing sheet to white fondant and then applying this to your cake.
• Remove your edible picture sheet from the air tight bag. Your edible picture is cut and ready to use. If you have ordered a custom size you will need to cut your edible image using sharp scissors or a sharp razor knife, gently cut 1/8″ around image(s) while on the plastic white backing sheet. Make sure your fingers are not moist when handling the edible picture.

Freezer Method

• Remove your Edible Picture from the white plastic backing sheet. To apply your image put it in a DRY freezer for 10-15 seconds, the icing will freeze and will pop off the plastic backing. Gently apply to your prepared cake immediately before it defrosts. If picture is put in a wet freezer and left too long the picture can become too wet to come off the backing. To remove icing sheet from backing sheet pull sheet over the sharp edge of a table top.

Oven Method – Recommended by Us

• This is the method we recommend and use for all our cake toppers. Place the topper in a warm dry oven at a very low temperature, (approx 50/60 degrees) for about 1-2 minutes, if the temperature is too hot the plastic backing will crumple and your picture will be damaged beyond repair. It is easier also to increase the temperature of the oven if needed.
• Remove the topper and allow to cool for a few seconds. If ready the topper will easily come away from the backing, if not place back in the oven and repeat the process until it does come way easily from the backing.
• To remove icing sheet from backing sheet you can pull sheet over the sharp edge of a table top.

Note:  Edible Picture toppers are effected by humidity just like many cake decorating products. In high humidity areas, we recommend taking the icing sheet from the ZipLock bag for sometime prior to printing, which may also help the drying process. If the picture does not release easily from the plastic backing sheet it is too moist. Pop it back in the Fridge or Oven until it easily comes away from the plastic backing.

Buttercream

• Make sure your hands are clean and dry before handling the image. If cake is frozen, thaw slightly before applying the icing.
• Buttercream icings will form a thin crust about an hour after they have been applied and it is best to apply your picture then.
• Gently pat it down, smoothing the topper from the center outwards.
• You can add a piped, fondant or sweets border around the edges to finish.

Non-Dairy Whipped Topping

• DO NOT ADD extra moisture before applying the Edible Picture. Keep finished cakes refrigerated to extend shelf life.

Rolled Fondant / Sugar Paste

• Apply fondant or sugar paste as directed. Plan where you will lay the Edible Picture. Then, with a small paintbrush, apply a generous brushing of plain water, but only where your image will lay and then apply your image to this area. Water outside the image area will leave a mark on your fondant. If you do not use enough water, your image will not adhere.
• Corners and edges can be tapped down with a slightly moist, very small paintbrush.
• Add a border around the edges to finish.

Having trouble removing the edible picture from the plastic backing sheet?

Humid or moist conditions can cause the image to stick to the backing. If this happens try one or more of the following:

• Roll the sheet (image side up) over a sharp table edge to loosen it from the plastic backing sheet.
• Put the image in a DRY freezer for 15 to 30 seconds (some images may require more or less time) then try rolling the sheet on a sharp table edge again.
• Dry the edible picture sheet with a hair dryer. Hold dryer at least 6 inches away from picture using hot heat, until it feels dry; approximately 30 seconds  to 2 minutes

If the edible picture topper has become dry and brittle:

Place a damp (not dripping) paper towel in the bag against the back side of the PLASTIC BACKING SHEET – not on the imaged side. Seal the bag and allow it to sit for about an hour or overnight. This will add moisture back into the frosting sheet. Before placing on cake allow sheet to dry for about 10 minutes, or place in the freezer for 15 to 25 seconds then allow it to rest for at about 5 seconds before removing from backing sheet. Run the backing sheet across the sharp edge of a table or counter and the image will release from the backing sheet.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Once the edible picture has been on the cake for about 5 to 10 minutes it will begin to blend with the frosting. Do Not Touch It; it can leave a dent just like frosting does when touched.
• For the best results apply edible pictures to a freshly iced cake. If your icing has become dry, spray a fine mist of water (do not have puddles of water) on your frosting before applying the edible picture. This will add moisture back into your frosting so the edible picture can adhere properly.
•  We suggest using a white frosting so your image will stand out better. Using chocolate or a dark frosting can darken some areas of the edible picture.
• If the edible picture crease or rips while placing, gently rub the area back together and it hardly shows.
• If needed you can trim Cake Stickers with sharp scissors or a razor knife on or off the backing sheet.
• When trimming strips with a razor blade trim from the bottom up after applying to the cake to avoid tearing.
• When building tiered cakes, assemble them completely before beginning to apply designs.
• Keep unused edible pictures in the re-sealable bag to keep them from drying out.