Elegant and Modern Fine Dining Video Color Grading

This Modern Fine Dining Color Finishing project for Elysium required a departure from the traditional "warm and cozy" restaurant look. The brand identity of Elysium is sleek, contemporary, and high-end, so the grading strategy had to reflect sharpness, cleanliness, and sophistication. The primary objective was to create a pristine visual environment where the culinary artistry takes center stage without being overwhelmed by heavy mood lighting.

White Balance & Cleanliness In modern fine dining, "clean whites" are luxury. A major part of the workflow in DaVinci Resolve involved rigorous white balancing. I used the chromatic adaptation tools to neutralize any unwanted color casts from the venue’s mixed practical lighting. By ensuring the white tablecloths and plates were neutral (rather than yellow or blue), I created a canvas that allowed the vibrant colors of the Pan-Asian cuisine—the fresh greens, deep reds, and seared browns—to pop naturally and accurately.

HSL Qualification for Food To enhance the appetite appeal, I used secondary color corrections. I isolated specific hues in the dishes—such as the glaze on a duck or the freshness of a garnish—and subtly boosted their saturation and luminance. This technique, often called "food beauty retouching," ensures that the texture of the food looks moist and appetizing on screen, drawing the viewer's eye immediately to the plate.

Contrast & Atmosphere While the look is clean, it isn't clinical. To maintain the "evening dining" atmosphere, I deepened the shadows in the background while protecting the mid-tones where the subjects and food reside. This creates a sense of depth and intimacy. I also applied a very subtle, cool-teal push to the shadows to contrast with the warm skin tones of the diners, adding a modern cinematic color separation that feels premium and current.