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3 Easy Methods to Use Shade Grading in Meals Pictures


All through my years of instructing modifying, I’ve discovered that shade grading feels daunting for a lot of photographers. On this submit, I’ll share 3 easy methods you’ll be able to take into consideration incorporating shade grading in meals images.

It’s undoubtedly one thing that takes time to be completed nicely, however most individuals simply aren’t certain the place to start. I’ve created 10 easy Shade Grading Adjustment Presets for Lightroom that can assist you dip your toe into the water!

What’s Shade Grading?

Firstly, let’s cowl what shade grading is!

Shade grading includes including coloured tones to your shadows, midtones, and highlights—independently or globally.

It’s widespread in images, videography, and movie as a result of it helps give a picture (or video) a particular feel and appear. 

For instance:

Add blue to your shadows, yellow to your midtones, and orange to your highlights with out including these colours wherever else in your picture for a inventive look.

Screenshot of Capture One Color Balance Tool for color grading
Including tones individually in Shade Grading

Add a golden-orange shade globally—to all tones—to create a heat feeling within the picture

Screenshot of Capture One Color Balance Tool for color grading
Including heat tones globally to a picture for a heat feeling.

Shade grading may be intense or delicate. In meals images, delicate is the way in which to go so as to add temper and emotion.

Shade Grading Modifying Instruments

It doesn’t matter what modifying program you employ, you’ll doubtless have entry to paint grading instruments.

The Shade Steadiness Software in Seize One

In case you use Seize One, shade grading known as the Shade Steadiness Software. It’s quite simple to make use of. Merely choose the Tone Wheel you wish to add shade to, (Shadows, Midtones or Highlights) and drag the center cirle to the specified shade.

Screenshot of Capture One Color Balance Tool for color grading
The left picture reveals a cool shade grade utilizing the Shade Steadiness Software in Seize One.

The Shade Grading Panel in Lightroom

In Lightroom, you’ll discover shade grading within the Shade Grading Panel with 4 sliders:

  • Steadiness: Helps you steadiness the shadows, midtones, and highlights that you simply regulate
  • Luminance management: Offers you management over the colour correction of very particular tones in your picture
  • Mixing: Helps you seamlessly merge all the colours you adjusted
Screenshot of Lightroom editing software Color Grading Panel for food photographers
Shade Grading Panel in Lightroom.

After all, it’s a little bit extra nuanced than simply transferring some sliders round! To get to know all of the ins and outs of those superior modifying applications, join my Lightroom Magic or Seize One Magic course.

3 Easy Methods to Use Shade Grading in Meals Pictures

All through my years of instructing modifying, I’ve discovered that shade grading feels daunting for a lot of photographers. It’s undoubtedly one thing that takes time to be completed nicely, however most individuals simply aren’t certain the place to start.

Listed here are some ideas that can assist you get began:

Use Shade Concept:

Take into account your analogous, complementary, and monochromatic colours while you’re deciding which of them to make use of for shadows, midtones, and highlights

Color theory color wheels for color grading in food photography

Add Heat For a Comforting Feeling:

Heat colours like reds, oranges, and yellows will provide a heat, cozy, comforting feeling

New York Sour with overlay of color grading in food photography
Including additional heat tones with a golden glow

Add coolness For a Recent Feeling:

Cool colours like blues, greens, and purples will make your picture really feel cool, crisp, and refreshing

Rosemary Gimlet with overlay of color grading in food photography
Including a cool feeling to match the temper on this picture

Need to dabble in shade grading for meals images? I’ve created 10 shade grading presets that can assist you get began! They’re appropriate with Lightroom Basic or Lightroom Cell and embrace step-by-step directions for simple set up.

Received shade grading questions? Let me know within the feedback beneath.



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