[1123581321]

The main difference is those restaurants photograph their real products. Even though they use top tier food prep, lighting, camera work and editing for the shoot, they’ve shown the thing you’re ordering and it’s theoretically achievable by the local store.

I’m sure it’s possible to tune an AI to work within similar constraints but I haven’t seen that to exist yet. (You can shoot hundreds of photos of a chicken sandwich for much less money than trying to create one.)

[wkearney99]

You are sadly naive if you think food shown in advertising is anywhere near close to the real thing. Faking both the appearance of the actual ingredients and using entirely different analogues. Shaving cream instead of whipped cream being one of the more obvious examples.

[atonse]

I remember reading that (at least in some countries) food marketing is regulated and requires you to use the same ingredients and quantities as the real food.

Doesn’t mean someone won’t lovingly make that McDonald’s burger patty and pick the most beautiful color corrected piece of lettuce, but it’s still real.

[1123581321]

I've been to or helped plan many food photoshoots for national and regional brands. They aren't done like they were 20-40 years ago.