Abstract: A cake decoration system employing an integrated work surface having integral cake positioning guides in a first portion of the surface, a flat bed image scanner in a second portion of the surface, and an operator interface with display and entry keys incorporated in a third portion of the work surface provides an efficient self-contained cake decorating station. A motion control system using a traveling arm extending over the work surface to carry a colorant cartridge with a drop on demand colorant expulsion system all under the control of a central processor allows transfer of images obtained on the scanner to the surface of a cake to be decorated by use of a pixel map. Use of a multiple orifice drop on demand colorant expulsion system allows one pass three color printing on the article being decorated.