"The system is not rocket science and uses standard print peripherals," said Mono director of business development, Paul Odell.

The process uses a PhotoCake scanner to copy a photo or image. An industrial strength PhotoCake ink-jet printer is then used to print the image using edible food-grade ink dyes onto a sheet of edible frosted icing paper.

Once printed, the image is then ready to be applied onto the cake.

The frosted backing sheet is peeled off and the image is lightly dampened into its required position.

"We have been developing this system for the past four years, and so far have sold 150 units over the past year," said Odell.

The company is currently speaking to a number of corporate organisations, Odell said, with branches of Safeway and Sainsburys set to install the machines for commercial use in the near future.

A number of clip art options are also available, including many Disney characters, which Mono hopes to increase through negotiations with image copyright holders.

The entire print package costs around 4,000, and includes software, a PhotoCake scanner, printer with food-grade ink cartridges and a touch-screen image processor.

Story by Andy Scott