A topical high resolution image of edible ink and having a resolution of at least 100 dots per inch is applied to a top major surface of a length of food (14) in the form of a thin fruit based paste or confection slurry by a digital imaging printer (130). The length of food (14) is at a temperature of at least about 75° C. at the time of application. During application, the food (14) is supported upon a moveable platform (136) mounted by parallelogram links (138) and which is moved parallel to the digital imaging printer (130) according to a condition of the top major surface upon which the topical high resolution image is applied and detected by detecting provisions (144).
