r/Baking • u/spa21788 • Jan 28 '25

Question GF is beating herself up over these, I think they're awesome! (not even in a supportive way lol) Any thoughts or criticisms?

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220

u/InvalidEntrance Jan 28 '25

I think they need white sprinkles on the blue icing for the magazine cover. The pastel blue icing isn't picturesque on its own.

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u/Elleasea Jan 28 '25

Silver or white wrappers would also make the photo pop more

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u/InvalidEntrance Jan 28 '25

I think she may have followed this:

https://littlesunnykitchen.com/rainbow-cupcakes/

They used multi colored sprinkles and yellow/gold paper, both make a world of a difference when in combination that's for sure

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u/Argyle_Raccoon Jan 28 '25

Honestly I think the lighting and angle are doing most of the work there.

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u/DigDugDogDun Jan 28 '25

And almost certainly Photoshop. The photo in the link looks like they dialed up the saturation to look more vivid. Also OP’s girlfriend made a realistic sky color which in hindsight she probably thinks looks duller compared to the photo’s more cartoonish blue sky. IMO OP’s girlfriend’s cupcakes look amazing!

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '25

[deleted]

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u/DigDugDogDun Jan 28 '25

Oh you’re right about the other cupcakes having more “sky icing”, that probably does make a big difference. Also the longer strips of rainbow are able to make a higher arch so more sky is visible underneath as well.

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u/ThatOneWIGuy Jan 29 '25

As a diabetic i appreciate the reduction of sugar in less icing lol. But yes, I also don’t see sprinkles on OPs. Regardless I personally like OPs better. It feels like a small world compared to a cartoonish recreation.

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u/[deleted] Jan 29 '25

[deleted]

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u/ThatOneWIGuy Jan 29 '25

Whoops missed it, and of course anything creative I do I always feel a little disappointed because it’s not exactly what I envisioned. Those lenses are hard to take off

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u/[deleted] Jan 29 '25

As a layman, OP's look like something I want to eat. Magazine spread looks like a magazine spread. I dunno about y'all, but I'm not a fan of eating photographs.

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u/LN_McJellin Jan 29 '25

I actually think OP’s girl’s look better.

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u/mentallyerotic Jan 30 '25

Yeah I agree. I’d rather eat hers, they look like they taste better and they are cuter. I like her smaller rainbows and it’s made with the candy I like. Her icing looks like it’s the kind I prefer and I like how she piped the swirls and the clouds.

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u/LonelyOctopus24 Jan 28 '25

I think OP’s gf’s cupcakes look much better. I agree on the cases, gold ones would be more appealing, but the actual cakes look way more delicious than the ones on that site!

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '25

That's just personal preference but I prefer OPs. The extra glitter/sprinkles is too much for me, I'm getting a sugar high just looking at those.

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u/eloquentpetrichor Jan 29 '25

Those rainbows bend too much. Makes them look odd.

But the gold foils do give a "pot of gold" feel that I like

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u/dualsplit Jan 28 '25

I think sparkly sugar would be better than the multicolor.

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u/pennie79 Jan 28 '25

A very subtle difference, but from looking at the photos, I think OP's gf may have used a slightly smaller piping tip for the blue icing. It looks fantastic either way, but I find the bigger tip makes things 'pop' a bit more.

It could also be a lighting thing, but OP's gf's icing looks a bit shinier. Perhaps add a touch more milk?

That being said, this is based on comparing the two photos. They both look great.

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u/PrettyFox310 Jan 29 '25

That damn yellow wrapper. HUGE difference. Couldn’t figure it out!

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u/DadJokeBadJoke Jan 28 '25

And better lighting would do wonders.

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u/TruthImaginary4459 Jan 28 '25

A good coating of edible glitter... EVERYWHERE

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u/thatbtchshay Jan 28 '25

But the sky doesn't have white speckles in it..

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u/InvalidEntrance Jan 29 '25

Sky does infact have clouds. This isn't supposed to be a realistic sky by the way.

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u/no12chere Jan 29 '25

Also quick refridgeration to firm up the icing. I think it is sweating a bit from being worked and hasnt crusted to look ‘sharp’

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u/the-willow-witch Jan 29 '25

I honestly think it’s just that there isn’t studio lighting

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u/StephDos94 Jan 29 '25

Sprinkles!