How to photograph a dish for a 3D model (practical guide)

You do not need a studio. You need a still plate, steady light and a clean background.

In PratoAI, capture asks for four angles. Only the front shot is required. Each extra photo reduces what the AI invents on the side it did not see — and the build costs the same.

The four angles

• Front: facing the dish, about 45° above. This is the selling shot.
• Back: opposite side, same height.
• Left: 90° to the left.
• Right: 90° to the right.

Do not turn the plate between shots. You move.

Light and background

• Window light or a single warm lamp. Avoid blown flash.
• A plain, light background. A plain cloth beats a checkered one.
• Keep extra glasses, spare cutlery and the paper menu out of the frame.

Measure in centimeters

1:1 AR depends on plate width, not an AI guess. Measure the plate with a tape and enter Width (cm). A 12 cm burger in real life must appear as 12 cm on the table.

Common mistakes

• Moving the garnish between clicks.
• Changing the phone distance.
• Shooting a dish that is still steaming hard — vapor becomes a “cloud” in 3D.

Build the first dish in the studio and compare it with the demo menu.