# How do they put pictures onto cakes?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-put-pictures-onto-cakes/290207
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 15, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-put-pictures-onto-cakes/290207 "2005-02-15T16:14:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![snow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@snow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snow)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-put-pictures-onto-cakes/290207/1 "2005-02-15T16:14:39Z")

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😕

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### Author: ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-put-pictures-onto-cakes/290207/2 "2005-02-15T16:20:32Z")

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With stuff such as on [this site](http://www.computercakes.com/frosting_sheets.html) - edible ink, etc.

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### Author: ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-put-pictures-onto-cakes/290207/3 "2005-02-15T16:20:52Z")

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Basically, they print the pictures on paper made of a special edible starch with food-grade ink that’s more like vegetable dye. Frost the cake, place the printed picture on top, and the starchpaper dissolves away, leaving the image for all to ooh and aah over.

I’m leaving out fine details, but that’s the gist.