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Back to frosting sheets

TO USE:
   After your image is ready on screen for printing, remove an Icing Sheet from the Zip-Loc bag. Remember to reseal the bag to keep the sheets fresh. Place the sheet in the printer frosting side up and print it. After printing let the print dry in the air for 5 to 15 minutes.

   If the Icing Sheets seem too dry & brittle place a slightly damp paper towel inside the Zip-Loc with them. DO NOT put the paper towel on the Icing Sheet. Place it under the bottom page against the backing page side. Remove after a few days. Or simply try letting it air-dry for a few minutes. Usually 5-15 minutes.

   Have a plain frosted cake ready. White buttercream frosting is best but any will work, even frozen ice cream cakes. Your frosting should be fresh, not dry or crusted. If the frosting becomes dry, spray a very fine mist of water over the cake before applying the print.

   To remove the frosting sheet hold the opposite edges & pull the backing page across the sharp edge of a table. It should separate easily. Lay the frosting sheet on top of the cake from the middle first, to the ends. If the Icing Sheet seems at all stubborn about releasing use a hair dryer over it for another 2 to 5 minutes. If climate is humid, repeat until it releases easily. You may need to concentrate a bit extra on dark colored areas. Apply to cake. If there are wrinkles pat gently to smooth. Add a border or edge decoration of your choice to finish. If you did not add words on the computer screen you can add them using icing on top.

   Do not try to peel the Icing Sheet away. This is likely to cause tearing.

   For best performance & merging our Icing Sheets have been pressed quite thin. This helps them to merge better with your cake frosting and also makes them a bit sensitive to climate conditions.

   Another method if the sheet won’t release from the backing, is to put the printed Icing Sheet in the freezer for 30 to 45 seconds, then release as described above. Be very careful if attempting this method. We like to sprinkle finely ground edible glitter over the border for added decoration.

   NOTE: Our Icing Prints are quite thin. If your cake flexes when moved,it may crack the picture. An extra rigid cake support layer can avoid this. We now stocks special rigid cake pads just for this. They are called TUFFBOARD - a washable reusable - WHITE plastic scalloped edged corrugated board. These are available with our cardboards.

   You may prepare your prints in advance and store them in the Zip-Loc bag. Refrigeration is not necessary unless the climate is very dry. Be careful not to let water drip onto the frosting sheets either before or after they are on the cake. The sheet will melt and ruin your print. After the sheet is on the cake for 10 minutes or more it will merge with the frosting on the cake. There is no strange taste and you will not be able to tell it was ever a separate part.

Instructions for Deep Cleaning Print Head
For Regular Maintenance to prevent clogging:
Use your Head Cleaner Cartridges often for best printer dependability.
1) Insert the Cleaner Cartridges into your printer, just like any other set.
2) Print a picture or test pattern to 'flush' the passages of the print head.
3) Repeat as needed until color runs clear.
4) If the printer will not be used for several days leave the cleaner cartridges installed.
5) Replace orange caps securely on Color Cartridges, being sure the silicone pad is in the cap. Store in a sealed airtight bag, upright.

For Deep Cleaning a Clogged Print Head:
If print quality is degrading & cleaning maintenance procedures are not adequate flush with HOT water from the tap
1) If this combined with Cleaner Cartridge treatment will not work it may be necessary to replace the print head or cartridges.
2) Replace Cleaner Cartridges with fresh Color Cartridges as described above. Store Cleaner Cartridges properly.

If after cleaning your print head still will not print properly it may need replacement. This is a consumable item, warrantied by Canon.

Remember, our Help Website < http://www.sugarcraft.com > is extensive and it is there for you!

Cartridge Instructions & Tips

GENERAL MAINTENANCE: A clean print head will give the best performance. Color fluid in the journals will cumulatively build up minute particle collection, impairing color flow. A good maintenance habit is to clean the print head in very hot water on a regular basis and use our Cleaner Cartridge Set for preventative maintenance. To rinse hold with a pair of tongs under full-pressure full-hot tap water. Be sure the water has fully penetrated through the print head and completely cleared it of all residual color. If you plan to store the print head for a time between uses it is good to clean first. Dry carefully with a paper towel. This procedure will not harm the electrical contacts when done properly. If print quality has begun to degrade the hot water treatment may not be adequate for thorough cleaning. For detailed deep cleaning instructions see the instructions included with our Cleaning Cartridges. Also, refer to the Help Section of our website: http://www.sugarcraft.com for detailed troubleshooting, calibration, memory & maintenance explanations.

Printing Tips: With some printers you may need to set printer to High Quality Print, for best results set. (The 9000 series prints fine with standard settings). Before printing a picture a small test print is a helpful to be sure the print head is primed & flowing. Set up a picture file with 4 small color blocks- black, red, blue, yellow —across the top of the page. Print this picture on Standard and High Quality settings (DTP & Photo settings for newer models) to check print quality & pinpoint difficulties with a specific color. If imperfections are seen (lines, etc.) use Cleaner Cartridges per instructions until clear. Do not assume that a new print head is clear. It is unfortunate but common that new print heads need Cleaner Cartridge treatment before they will properly prime.

Store cartridges with the orange cap snapped in place and upright. This will encourage fluid to travel toward the outlets. Keep sealed in a Zip-Loc bag. Another common cause of blockage and poor flow is long periods of printer inactivity. This problem is common to all inkjet printers. Clean the print head thoroughly & store it & cartridges properly if your printer will be inactive for more than 3 days. This will be explained further in the section on print heads. Of course you may want to perform one or more cleaning cycles (printer properties window, maintenance procedures) and a test print. If none of these things produce good results and you are sure there is no blockage in the print head follow the instructions in the next paragraph to test your cartridges.

CARTRIDGES TIPS: If you are having difficulty getting color to flow from a cartridge, the outlet wick may be dry. Try injecting a small amount (1 or 2cc) of hot water or Pure Grain Alcohol (available at most liquor stores) through the wick into the cartridge cell. You will see the wick swell as is absorbs moisture. This will prime & encourage flow. Push gently on the wick with a pencil eraser to be sure it is not stuck. The PF21 cartridges are a simple design with few parts. In the black cartridge there is a single vent hole in the top cover which is under the upper cap. The cap also has a vent hole. In the tri-color tank there are three separate color cells, each with its own sponge. The color cell has three vent holes in the cover hidden by the top cap, which has only one vent hole. The vent holes must not be clogged in both the covers and caps. If the tanks have been stored up side down it is possible that the inner vent holes are clogged. The PF30 series cartridges work in the same way but with a separate tank for each color. Remember to remove the tape to open the vent hole. DO NOT refrigerate cartridges when not in use. When cooled it is possible for the colors to 'thicken' and create clogs. You can also try tapping the cartridge (not the print head) on a hard surface to encourage fluid to travel to the bottom. You should see some color spotting through the wick.