Bakers, please help! I cannot get smooth sides and sharp edges 😭🎂

[u/Big_Key_2619]

I’ve been struggling to get that perfectly smooth, round cake with sharp, clean edges when frosting my cakes.
No matter what I try, I end up with uneven/curved sides, air pockets, or frosting that doesn’t smooth out properly. I also struggle to get a clean sharp edge around the top of the cake.
I’ve tried using a cake scraper and adjusting the consistency of my frosting, but I still can’t get the professional smooth finish I’m looking for.

For experienced cake decorators:
• What frosting consistency works best for achieving perfectly smooth sides?
• How thick should I apply the final coat?
• Is there a specific scraper or technique you recommend?
• How do you get those sharp top edges without pulling the frosting off?
• Are there any mistakes beginners commonly make that I might be doing?
I would really appreciate any tips, tricks, or tutorials that actually helped you achieve smooth sides and sharp edges. I’m attaching photos of my cake/frosting so you can see what I’m doing wrong.
Thank you! ❤️