Cake! magazine by Australian Cake Decorating Network February 2017 | Page 19

Cont . step 6 :
Redefine outlines with contrasting colours or black and white edible paint Once your cake is stacked , stand back and see what is missing . Look at using the design in a reduced form on another tier to tie in the design . You can use part of your initial design and / or template to do this if you wish .
My Tips for Painting Cakes
• Rolkem dusts can be used for all purposes . Mix them with a little Quick Dry Essence or rose spirit ( or even vodka ). I prefer to use Quick Dry Essence . I find that Vodka can damage the colours ’ integrity , and rose spirit dries too quickly for me to blend colours effectively .
• For strong lines and solid colors , use Edible Art Paints . They are easy to use and dry super fast . Americolor Gels may also be used straight from the bottle or slightly diluted , again with Quick Dry Essence , Rose Spirit or Vodka . Note though that if you use the gels in their original form that they may dry with a very glossy finish and in some cases not dry completely , leaving transfer marks and smudges . Also note that when painting onto dark coloured fondant ( especially if airbrushed ) with gels that lighter colours may dissolve a little or fade ( e . g . white may also become blue on black fondant ). To get an intense colour , multiple coats will be required .
• Layer colours to show shading , texture and dimension . Vary your brush angle and overlay colours for interesting effects .
• Remove mistakes carefully with vodka or rose spirit , being careful not to damage the design too much or leave unwanted smudges on your cake . If removing a dark colour from light fondant , gently rub over the error with a paintbrush , dabbing with paper towel or a dry brush to remove excess fluid and avoid running .
• Make sure you use good quality brushes – the last thing you want is hairs all over your cake ! Use size 0 and 00 .
• Baking paper rolls are amazing for transfers for the sides of cakes . They are just the right height and have a nice curve in them already !

• Keep your designs and inspiration close , they will continue to help your creativity and also provide great reference . f facebook . com / redkitchengirls

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