• Sugar paste and waffle sheet are two of the most popular supports for printing edible images used in decoration.
Food printers, specialized equipment used to print images on various surfaces, have recently become a constant in confectionery and pastry laboratories. The popularity of these Printer has grown exponentially because they allow the customization and decoration of food products to a high level of detail and creativity, difficult to achieve manually.
Food printers use special ink cartridges, certified for human consumption and edible printing bases such as sugar paste sheets or wafer/wafer sheets. These inks are made from food safe ingredients and are available in a wide range of colors. The printing process for both types of sheets is exactly the same: simply insert the sheet (wafer or sugarpaste) into the printer's feed tray and print the desired image.
Most food grade printers are adaptations of standard office printers such as Canon or Epson models. They are modified to use edible ink and are configured to prevent contamination of the ink with non-food debris.
To create custom designs, users use specialized software that allows editing and calibrating images before printing. These programs can provide features such as adjusting colors, adding text, and other graphics.
Why adopt this technology?
Because it allows the creation of unique and personalized designs, be it photos, logos, or other graphic elements, it saves time and effort compared to manual decoration especially for large quantities of products and offers fine details and vibrant colors that would be difficult to do manually.
Edible image printing is most often used for cake toppers, either for special occasions such as birthdays or weddings, or for personalized cakes with specific themes. It is also used to decorate cakes or cookies with detailed images or various messages, as well as to create intricate decorations for macarons and cupcakes, which are very popular at events.
Be careful though! The appearance of the print depends on the type of sheet used and the quality of the edible ink. Choosing high-quality certified food grade sheets and ink provides the best results. And it is also important that food printers are properly maintained to prevent clogging of nozzles and ensure optimal printing.
Sheets for edible printing
Choosing to use wafer sheets or sugar sheets for food printing depends on the specific needs of the decorating project, available budget, and personal preference for texture and print quality. We will try to find out in the following what are the characteristics that differentiate the two edible supports for printing and which is the right choice for the desired decoration.
Sugar Paste Sheets ( Icing sheets )
These sheets consist of a very thin layer of sugar paste (sugar, corn syrup, starch and other food ingredients for a smooth and flexible texture) applied to a support base. They are suitable for vegetarians or vegans, are kosher and gluten-free.
The support base allows the sugarpaste sheet to be used by the printer without any problems. This can be made from clear plastic acetate sheets or glossy paper specially treated to be used for this purpose. The support base must be removed before applying the sugarpaste sheet to the cake.
Sugar paste sheets, with a slightly sweet taste, are thicker, more flexible and have a smoother surface than wafer sheets, coming very close to fondant icing. Because of this, images printed on sugar paste sheets are of a higher quality than those printed on wafer sheets, with more vibrant colors and finer details. At the same time, because they are more flexible, this makes them even easier to handle.
High quality images
Depending on the decoration needs, manufacturers of sugar paste sheets offer various variants of these sheets. For example, the thinnest sheets of sugar paste are used for cocktail toppings or decorating coffees, the decorations melting completely in contact with the liquid.
Thicker fondant sheets allow for high quality images to be printed with a quick drying time and work best on intricate decorations on cakes, cookies, brownies and any other baked goods. They lay flat on the surface and must be stuck together with either frosting or corn syrup or some other similar syrup. The backing sheet is easily removed without the need for refrigeration or heating.
The advantages of using sugarpaste sheets are clear: superior print quality with detailed images and vibrant colors, flexibility and ease of use. Also, the waffle sheet does not melt on the glaze so that, using glaze sheets for decoration, a more uniform and finished appearance is obtained, but at a higher price than the waffle ones.
Waffle/wafer sheets (wafer paper)
The second edible base used in pastry labs is waffle/wafer sheet also known as rice paper (rice paper) although the product is not obtained from rice but is actually made from potato starch, water and vegetable oil. Sometimes it may contain other food ingredients to improve texture and flexibility. It is a vegetarian, kosher and gluten-free product.
Waffle sheets are thinner than sugar paste and have a slightly crunchy texture. They can be slightly brittle making it more difficult to handle.
They are mainly used for simple decorations or to cover larger areas of baked goods such as cakes. They are also ideal for cutting into decorative shapes.
Wafer sheet is very similar to standard paper, but is more translucent depending on its thickness. It can be found from manufacturers in various thicknesses ranging from 0,19 mm to 0,65 mm, as well as in different colors.
The thicker waffle sheet is mostly used for 3D cake decorations or vertical cupcake decorations; due to its rigidity, the waffle sheet can "stand up" when inserted into a cake / cake.
The waffle sheet still has some flexibility, but the edges can be brittle and tear easily. The thinner sheet has a smooth side and a rough side, and for best results it is recommended that you print on the smooth side with high quality print settings.
As for the print settings when printing on wafer sheet, they need to be changed according to the thickness of the sheet.
How to apply printed sheets to products
Once printed, sugar paste sheets are extremely easy to apply. Spray the frosted cake with water to facilitate the gluing process or glue with syrup and then simply press the sheets gently into place, with the acetate backing removed of course.
Due to their extreme flexibility, the sheets of sugar paste are easy to cut and easy to shape, and can be used to create spectacular decorations.
The wafer sheet can also be easily applied to the products to be decorated. The wafer sheet can be placed on top of the dessert to be decorated or it can be glued and positioned vertically for a cool 3D look. The best part? No need to remove the backing paper, just print and go.
Wafer paper tends to curl after a while if applied to wet icing, so it is always advisable to let the icing harden a little before applying the decoration. On the buttercream especially, it is recommended to apply the waffle sheet decoration when the buttercream has hardened or just before serving. Another disadvantage of the wafer sheet is that it does not blend with the fondant icing. It can also be difficult to cut when applied to the top of a cake.
One of the most popular and novel uses of wafer sheet is for gelatin cakes Jello. A mirror image is printed on the wafer sheet and then the image is placed face down on the CAKE Jello. The printed sheet is left on the surface of the cake Jello a few minutes, then it goes away. The printed image is now transferred to the cake Jello.
The right choice
The considerations in choosing the two varieties of sheets for food printers are as follows:
- Print quality: Printing on wafer sheets can be less sharp and less vibrant compared to sugar paste sheets due to their porous texture.
- Type of decor: If highly detailed and colorful images are needed, sugar paste sheets are the best option. For simpler and larger decorations, waffle sheets may suffice.
- Budget: Wafer sheets are more affordable, while sugar paste sheets, although more expensive, offer higher print quality. Being cheaper and more accessible, they are a good option for simpler, less demanding projects.
- Desired texture: If you prefer a decoration with a fine and smooth texture, sugar paste sheets are more suitable. For a crunchier texture, you can opt for waffle sheets.
Other criteria to consider
- Flexibility and handling: Sugarpaste sheets are more flexible and easier to handle, which can be an advantage in detailed decorating.
- The validity period: For both, it depends on how they are stored and their exposure to moisture and light, but sugar paste sheets have a longer shelf life than waffle sheets.
Regardless of the specific needs of the confectionery or pastry laboratory, decorations made with edible printing technology are a black in the current landscape. Confectioner Isteț, Nova Pan Group brand, offers you both through the physical store in Brașov and through the online one, food printers, cartridges with food coloring and sugar paste and waffle sheets. And if you want a quick decoration solution, you can choose from the wide range of sheets ready to print and ready to use.
Article written by Gabriela Dan, Editor-in-Chief Arta Albă
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