Cake decorating with edible material printed with an image by an ink jet printer

Abstract

An edible film and method of using same for decorating foodstuffs, in particular baked goods, wherein anyone can easily, inexpensively and artistically decorate foodstuffs. The edible film according to the present invention is composed of an edible polymer film which is preferably releasably mounted upon a flexible substrate to provide a reinforced edible film. The edible film is peelably released from the substrate to provide decorations for the foodstuff. The edible film may be decoratively prepared into predetermined decorations prior to distribution, which may include being pre-printed, pre-cut, colored, or being of pre-selected opacity and sheen. Pre-printing may be accomplished by any suitable printing process utilizing edible inks. Alternatively, the edible film may be distributed in a not yet finalized decoration form, wherein finalization is left up to the user. For example, the reinforced edible film may be distributed without being pre-printed or only partially pre-printed, wherein the user controls subsequent printing, writing, drawing or otherwise marking upon the edible film, such as by use of edible ink writing instruments. Further, the user may purchase sheets of the reinforced edible film and thereafter cut the reinforced edible film sheets into shapes defined by the user.

1 . A method of decorating an iced cake with a color image by using an ink: jet printer, comprising:
 obtaining a plurality of separate, flat edible sheets;   obtaining or selecting a color image;   placing one of the edible sheets into an ink jet printer;   reproducing on the one edible sheet with the ink jet printer a copy of the color image, by printing thereon with edible inks to thereby decorate the edible sheet; and   placing the decorated edible sheet on the iced cake to thereby decorate same.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising obtaining the edible sheet in an opaque state. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising marking the decorated edible sheet with an additional decoration. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising obtaining the plurality of separate, flat edible sheets from a first location and selecting the color image at a second location, remote from the first location. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second location deals with a customer, the method further comprising having the plurality of edible sheets shipped from the first location to the second location.