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 in the form of a thin fruit based paste or confection slurry by a digital imaging printer. The length of food is at a temperature of at least about 75° C. at the time of application. During application, the food is supported upon a moveable platform mounted by parallelogram links and which is moved parallel to the digital imaging printer according to a condition of the top major surface upon which the topical high resolution image is applied and detected by detecting provisions.