I. Basic Settings
* Exposure: This is a good place to start. Adjust to brighten the image slightly without blowing out highlights. A subtle increase is usually best (e.g., +0.10 to +0.30). This contributes to the overall brightness and "softness."
* Contrast: Reduce this significantly. This flattens the tonal range, removing harsh shadows and highlights, and contributing to the soft, even look. Start with -20 to -40 and adjust to taste.
* Highlights: Lowering highlights further helps prevent blown-out areas (like skin highlights) and adds to the softness. Try -20 to -50.
* Shadows: Increase shadows to bring out detail in darker areas. This, combined with reduced contrast, creates a more even tonal range. Try +10 to +30.
* Whites: Adjust this to fine-tune the overall brightness and prevent clipping. A slight reduction (-5 to -15) can sometimes help.
* Blacks: Adjust this subtly to set the darkest point in the image. A slight increase (+5 to +15) can soften the blacks and prevent them from being too harsh.
II. Tone Curve
* The tone curve is crucial for achieving a soft look. You'll want to create a subtle "S" curve, but a *very* gentle one.
* Highlights: Slightly pull the top right point (highlights) down.
* Shadows: Slightly pull the bottom left point (shadows) up.
* Midtones: Add a small anchor point in the middle and lift it slightly.
The goal is to *subtly* flatten the highlights and shadows while lifting the midtones, further reducing contrast and creating that airy, soft feel. Avoid extreme curves, as they can introduce unwanted color shifts or artifacts.
III. Detail (Sharpening and Noise Reduction)
* Sharpening: This is important to control.
* Amount: Lower this significantly. A sharper image detracts from the soft portrait look. Start with 0-20 and adjust.
* Radius: Keep this low (around 0.5 - 1.0).
* Detail: Lower this, around 10-20.
* Masking: Increase masking (e.g., 50-70) to only sharpen edges and avoid sharpening skin texture. Hold Alt/Option while dragging the slider to see the masking in black and white. White areas will be sharpened, black areas will not.
* Noise Reduction: Apply noise reduction to smooth out skin texture further.
* Luminance: Increase luminance noise reduction moderately (e.g., 15-30). Be careful not to overdo it, as it can make the image look plastic.
* Color: A slight increase in Color noise reduction (e.g., 5-15) can help clean up color noise.
IV. HSL / Color
* Luminance: Adjust luminance of specific colors to further refine skin tones and background.
* Orange: Slightly increase the luminance of orange to brighten skin tones.
* Yellow: Adjust Yellow based on the ambient light.
* Saturation: Reduce the saturation of certain colors to create a more muted and subtle look.
* Orange: A slight reduction in orange saturation can help even out skin tones.
* Reds, Yellows, and Greens: Subtly reducing these can create a more harmonious color palette.
* Hue: Make minor adjustments to skin tones by tweaking the orange and red hue sliders. Slight adjustments to shift towards a more pleasing tone.
V. Camera Calibration (Optional, but often impactful)
* This section can greatly affect skin tones and overall color rendition. Experiment with the profiles.
* Profile: Consider using profiles designed for portraiture, such as "Camera Portrait" or "Camera Standard" (if available) or a custom profile you've created. These are designed to render skin tones accurately. If you have access to custom or professional camera profiles, definitely try them out.
* Shadow Tint: Subtle adjustments to shadow tint can influence the overall color balance.
VI. Effects
* Vignetting: A very subtle vignette can help draw the viewer's eye towards the subject. Choose a style (e.g., "Highlight Priority") and reduce the amount slightly.
* Grain: Adding a very small amount of grain can sometimes enhance the film-like look (if desired), but is often unnecessary for a soft portrait.
VII. Creating the Preset
1. Open an Image: Open a portrait in Lightroom 4. This should be a raw file if possible, as it gives you the most latitude.
2. Apply Adjustments: Make the adjustments described above to the image.
3. Create a Preset: Go to the Presets panel (usually on the left side of the screen). Click the "+" button (or the small menu button in the Presets panel) and choose "Create Preset."
4. Name the Preset: Give your preset a descriptive name, such as "Soft Portrait Dreamy."
5. Select Settings: In the "New Develop Preset" dialog box, carefully select the settings you want to include in the preset. *Crucially, make sure you select* the settings you adjusted:
* Basic Tone
* Tone Curve
* Detail
* HSL / Color
* Camera Calibration
* Effects
Generally, it's best to *avoid* including settings that are specific to individual images, such as "White Balance" (unless you want that exact white balance to always be applied). "Transform" and "Lens Corrections" may also be excluded if they are scene-specific.
6. Click "Create": Click the "Create" button.
Important Considerations and Tips:
* Start with RAW: Working with RAW files is essential for the best results.
* Subtlety is Key: The goal is to enhance, not dramatically alter, the image. Overdoing any of these adjustments will result in an unnatural look.
* Iterative Process: This is an iterative process. Apply the preset to multiple portraits and adjust the preset based on the results.
* Exposure: The exact exposure setting needed will vary from image to image. Consider leaving the Exposure checkbox *unchecked* when creating the preset and adjusting it manually for each image.
* Customization: The beauty of presets is that they are a starting point. Feel free to tweak the preset further to match your artistic vision and the specific characteristics of each photograph.
* Skin Tones: Pay close attention to skin tones! Make small adjustments to the HSL/Color panel to achieve natural and pleasing skin.
* Backup: Regularly back up your Lightroom presets.
* Profile Matters: The "Camera Profile" in the Calibration panel has a significant impact on how colors are rendered. Experiment with different profiles to find one that suits your style and your camera.
By following these steps and experimenting, you'll be able to create a beautiful "Soft Portrait" preset that you can use to enhance your portrait photography in Lightroom 4. Remember to practice and refine your preset to achieve the best results. Good luck!