Preparing to Airbrush Fondant

• Cover the work surface with craft or butcher paper to avoid staining the surface with food coloring, and wear plastic gloves to avoid staining your hands. Load the airbrushing tool with your choice of a single food color, per manufacturer's instructions. Use as little food coloring as necessary to achieve your desired results. Using too much color can result in the fondant having a bitter taste. Test the tool on a piece of paper or cardboard to get a feel for the pressure you'll need to apply to achieve the results you want.
  
  

Planning the Design

• You can use commercially produced plastic stencils to create precise designs on fondant, or make your own design forms from heavy card stock paper. You can also airbrush "freehand," taking care to steady your hand while spraying to ensure even distribution of color.
  
  

Applying Color

• Spray the coloring on the fondant-covered edible treat from a distance of 6 inches for wide color coverage; spray from a distance of 3 inches for a darker effect. For best results, apply with wide continuous bands of spray. Do not apply too much airbrushing pressure on the fondant, or it may pucker or tear during the airbrushing process.
  
  

Changing Colors

• Clean the airbrush with warm soapy water each time you want to change from one color to another. Allow two or three minutes of fondant drying time in between color applications to ensure the colors don't bleed into one another.
  
  

Finishing the Project

• Gently blot any dripping areas of color from the fondant with a paper towel or piece of cheesecloth, and place the finished piece in a refrigerator to keep the airbrushed fondant colors from running or melting. Food coloring can permanently stain clothing, kitchen utensils and work surfaces, so clean any spills or drips with warm, soapy water, and thoroughly clean the airbrushing tools before storing.