Our Edible Printing Materials Guide

Not all edible printing materials are created equal — and the right choice can make a big difference to the finished look of your cake, cupcakes or cookies.

At Topsy Curvvy Co, we print using quality edible inks and offer a selection of edible printing materials, including icing sheets, wafer card and wafer paper. Each has its own finish, flexibility and best uses, so we’ve created this guide to make choosing the right option nice and easy.

Whether you’re after the smooth, vibrant finish of an icing sheet, the extra structure of wafer card, or the lightweight versatility of wafer paper, you’ll find information below about each material, what it’s best suited to, and a few handy tips for getting great results.

Our goal is simple: to help you choose the edible printing material that works best for your creation — without needing a degree in cake science. 🎂✨

Choosing the Right Edible Printing Material

From detailed edible images to full cake wraps and cupcake decorations, the material we print on can make a big difference to the finished result.

We use specialist edible inks together with premium icing sheets, wafer paper and wafer card. Each has its own look, texture and strengths — this guide will help you choose the best option for your creation.

A clear plastic sleeve encloses a white A4 edible icing sheet from Topsy Curvy Co, printed with rose gold text and heart icons, set against a solid pink background.

Premium Icing Sheets

Smooth, flexible and beautifully vibrant.

Our premium icing sheets are our go-to choice when colour, fine detail and print quality really matter.

Their smooth surface produces clear, vibrant prints, making them ideal for photographs, detailed designs and full edible cake wraps.

Best for: Edible images, cake wraps, photographs, detailed designs, logos, cupcakes and cookies.

A hand holding a sheet of Topsy Curvy Co edible wafer paper against a soft pink background. The sheet is pale pink with the brand name printed in a matching dusty rose color.

Wafer Paper

Wafer paper is a lightweight edible paper with a slightly translucent appearance and a more traditional wafer texture.

It produces a softer print than an icing sheet, making it a great choice for simple designs and edible decorations where photographic detail or really vibrant colour isn't essential.

Because it's so lightweight, wafer paper is particularly useful for adding decorative elements without adding weight to your cake.

Best for: Cupcake decorations, lightweight cake decorations and simple printed designs.

A hand holding a white edible wafer card with rose gold foil text that reads 'TOPSY CURVY CO' and 'EDIBLE WAFER CARD' against a solid pink background.

Wafer Card

Wafer card is thicker and more rigid than standard wafer paper, giving edible decorations extra strength and helping them hold their shape.

Like wafer paper, it has a more natural wafer texture and produces softer colours than an icing sheet. Its added thickness makes it our preferred option when a printed decoration needs a little more structure.

Best for: Freestanding edible decorations, cupcake toppers and designs that need extra rigidity.

Which One Should I Choose?

  • Premium Icing Sheet

    Best for vibrant colour & detail.

    Choose an icing sheet when you want the smoothest finish, strongest colour and finest printed detail.

    Perfect for:

    • Photos
    • Logos
    • Wraps
    • Detailed designs

    Our pick when print quality matters most.

  • Wafer Paper

    Best for lightweight decorations.

    Thin, light and delicate, with a traditional wafer texture and a softer printed finish.

    Perfect for:

    • Simple designs
    • Lightweight decorations
    • Cupcake decorations

  • Wafer Card

    Best when you need more structure.

    Thicker and more rigid than wafer paper, making it ideal when your edible decoration needs to hold its shape.

    Perfect for:

    • Cupcake toppers
    • Freestanding decorations
    • Structured designs
Four small white bottles of edible ink from the brand Cake Craft, lined up in a row on a white background. Each bottle features a white cap and a vertical label with a cupcake icon and the brand name 'CAKE CRAFT' in vertical text.

Our Edible Inks

Specialist edible ink for beautiful, food-safe printing.

All of our edible images are printed using Cake Craft edible inks specifically designed for edible printing.

We use a dedicated Epson EcoTank printer that is used exclusively for edible printing, so conventional printer inks never come into contact with our edible products.

We print using cyan, magenta, yellow and black edible inks to produce everything from photographs and logos to colourful cake designs and edible wraps. Because icing sheets, wafer paper and wafer card each absorb ink differently, we adjust our printing to achieve the best possible result for the material being used.

Good to Know

Ingredients + Allergen Information

Icing Sheets

Our Cake Craft edible icing sheets contain starches (E1422, E1412), maltodextrin, glycerine, sugar, water, stabilisers (E414, E460i), dextrose, emulsifiers (E435, E471), food colour (E171), citric acid, vanillin and preservatives (E202, E330).

Wafer Paper

Our Cake Craft wafer paper contains potato starch, water and vegetable oil.

Wafer Card

Our Cake Craft wafer card is a thicker edible wafer product. Please contact us if you require current ingredient or allergen information before ordering.

Edible Ink

We print using Cake Craft edible inks specifically formulated for edible printing. The ingredients and permitted food colours vary between individual ink colours.

Storage + Handling

Keep your edible decorations sealed in their original packaging until you're ready to use them. Store them flat in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, heat and moisture.

Wafer paper and wafer card are particularly sensitive to moisture and humidity, which can cause them to soften, curl or lose their shape.

Always handle edible prints with clean, dry hands.

Applying Your Edible Image

Before you begin: Keep your edible image sealed in its packaging until you're ready to use it. Make sure your hands are clean and dry before handling.

Icing Sheets

Carefully remove the icing sheet from its backing plastic. Apply to a smooth cake surface, gently positioning it before smoothing it into place with clean, dry hands.

For fondant, a very light amount of water or edible glue can be used to help the image adhere. Avoid using too much moisture, as this can cause the image to become sticky or affect the print.

For buttercream, apply the image to a smooth surface. The moisture in the buttercream will generally help the icing sheet adhere without needing additional water.

Wafer Paper & Wafer Card

Wafer products are much more sensitive to moisture. Use only a very small amount of edible glue or water where needed to attach the decoration, rather than wetting the entire back.

Too much moisture can cause wafer paper to curl, soften or warp, so a little really does go a long way.

For the best finish: Apply your edible decoration as close to the celebration as practical and keep the finished cake protected from excessive heat, moisture and hum

Print + Colour

We adjust our print settings to ensure you receive the best quality print. As each material absorbs ink differently, we change our settings based on the material you use. If you are providing your own images/logos, please do not change any colour settings before sending sending through to us.