1. Initial Setup: Choosing the Right Photo
* Start with a well-exposed, in-focus portrait. This will give you a good foundation. Avoid overly contrasty images, as softening will make that more pronounced.
2. Basic Panel Adjustments
* Exposure: Slightly brighten the image if necessary. Aim for a well-lit, but not overexposed, face. +0.2 to +0.5 stops is a good starting point.
* Contrast: Reduce the contrast. This is crucial for a soft look. Start around -15 to -30 and adjust to taste.
* Highlights: Lower the Highlights to recover detail in bright areas of the face (like the forehead or nose). Try -10 to -20.
* Shadows: Increase the Shadows to bring out details in darker areas and even out the skin tone. +10 to +20 is a good starting point.
* Whites: Slightly increase the Whites to add a little brightness and pop. +5 to +10.
* Blacks: Slightly decrease the Blacks to maintain some depth in the image. -5 to -10.
* Clarity: This is crucial! Dramatically reduce Clarity. This smooths out skin and creates a dreamy effect. Aim for -30 to -50 or even lower, depending on the subject. Be careful not to overdo it, as it can make the image look unnatural.
* Vibrance: Slightly increase Vibrance to subtly enhance colors without making the skin tones look orange or artificial. +5 to +15.
* Saturation: Leave Saturation as is or slightly decrease it (-5 to -10) if the colors become too intense after adjusting Vibrance.
3. Tone Curve Adjustments
* Create a Gentle S-Curve: This is a subtle S-curve to lift the shadows and slightly boost the highlights, adding a touch of contrast without harshness.
* Click on the Point Curve icon (the one with the line).
* Add a point in the lower-left portion of the curve and gently pull it *upward* to lift the shadows.
* Add a point in the upper-right portion of the curve and gently pull it *downward* to lower the highlights slightly.
* Avoid Steep Curves: A steep curve will increase contrast and reduce the soft effect.
4. HSL/Color Panel Adjustments
* Luminance:
* Orange: Increase the Luminance of Orange to brighten skin tones. +10 to +20. This is usually the most important.
* Yellow: Increase the Luminance of Yellow to further brighten skin tones and hair. +5 to +15. Be cautious, as too much can make skin look artificial.
* Saturation:
* Orange: Slightly decrease the Saturation of Orange if skin tones are too orange. -5 to -10.
* Yellow: Slightly decrease the Saturation of Yellow to desaturate any yellow tones in the skin or background. -5 to -10.
* Hue: Adjusting Hue is usually less critical for a soft portrait, but if skin tones are too red or yellow, you can slightly adjust the Orange and Yellow hues to correct them.
5. Detail Panel Adjustments
* Sharpening: Reduce Sharpening. Over-sharpening will counteract the soft effect.
* Amount: Reduce the Amount to 20-30 (or even lower, depending on the image).
* Radius: Keep the Radius relatively low (around 0.5 - 0.7).
* Detail: Lower the Detail slider to smooth out textures. 10-20.
* Masking: Increase the Masking slider to prevent sharpening in smoother areas like the skin. 60-80. Hold down the Alt/Option key while adjusting Masking to visualize the areas being masked.
* Noise Reduction:
* Luminance: Increase Luminance Noise Reduction to smooth out skin further. Start with 10-20 and adjust to taste. Be careful not to overdo it, as it can make the image look plasticky.
* Color: Slightly increase Color Noise Reduction to remove any color artifacts. 5-10 is usually sufficient.
6. Lens Corrections Panel (Optional, but recommended)
* Enable Profile Corrections: Check the "Enable Profile Corrections" box. This will automatically correct for lens distortion and vignetting, which can improve the overall image quality.
* Remove Chromatic Aberration: Check the "Remove Chromatic Aberration" box to remove any color fringing.
7. Effects Panel (Optional)
* Post-Crop Vignetting: Add a subtle vignette (negative value for Amount) to draw attention to the subject's face. Around -5 to -15 is usually enough. Adjust the Midpoint and Feather to control the size and softness of the vignette.
8. Save the Preset
* In the left panel, click the "+" button in the Presets panel and choose "Create Preset."
* Give your preset a descriptive name (e.g., "Soft Portrait - V1").
* Important: Carefully select which settings to include in the preset. Generally, include all the settings you've adjusted (Exposure, Contrast, Tone Curve, HSL/Color, Detail, Lens Corrections, Effects). *Deslect* White Balance and Transform, as those are often specific to each photo. Leaving those checked will override your white balance and transform settings in future images!
* Click "Create."
Tips and Considerations:
* Skin Tone: Pay close attention to skin tones. Adjusting the Orange and Yellow sliders in the HSL panel is crucial for achieving natural and flattering skin tones.
* Overdoing It: Avoid overdoing the softness and noise reduction, as it can lead to a plasticky or unnatural look.
* Experimentation: These are just starting points. Experiment with different settings to find what works best for your style and the specific images you're working with.
* Individual Adjustments: Remember that every photo is different. While a preset provides a good starting point, you'll likely need to make individual adjustments to each photo to achieve the best results. Especially adjust exposure, white balance, and other specific image settings.
* Refine, Refine, Refine: Don't be afraid to revisit your preset and refine it over time as you gain more experience.
* Back Up Your Presets: Regularly back up your Lightroom presets to avoid losing them.
By following these steps, you can create a custom "Soft Portrait" preset in Lightroom 4 that will help you achieve beautiful, flattering portraits with a smooth and ethereal look. Remember to experiment and adjust the settings to suit your individual style and the specific characteristics of each photo. Good luck!