I. Initial Setup (Important):
* Choose a good starting image: Select a portrait photo that's well-exposed (or close to it) and has decent skin tones. It will make fine-tuning the preset easier.
* Reset All Adjustments: Before you start, make sure you reset all the adjustments on the image. Go to Develop > Reset. This gives you a clean slate.
II. Core Adjustments (Develop Module):
Here's where the magic happens. Adjust the sliders and values to your liking, remembering that these are starting points, and you'll likely want to fine-tune them depending on the specific image.
1. Basic Panel:
* Temperature: Slightly warm up the image. Experiment with values between +5 to +15. A little warmth adds a healthy glow.
* Tint: Adjust to correct any green or magenta cast. Often, a *slight* move toward magenta (+2 to +5) can be flattering, but watch out for making the skin look unnatural.
* Exposure: Adjust *very carefully*. Often, a *slight* increase (+0.05 to +0.15) can brighten the eyes, but avoid overexposure. Use the histogram to guide you.
* Contrast: *Reduce* the contrast. This is crucial for the soft look. Try a setting between -20 to -40. Reducing contrast makes the tones smoother.
* Highlights: *Reduce* highlights to recover details in bright areas like skin or clothing. Try -30 to -60.
* Shadows: *Increase* shadows to brighten the darker areas and reveal detail. Experiment between +20 to +40.
* Whites: Slightly adjust the white point. Often, a *slight* decrease (-5 to -15) helps avoid clipping.
* Blacks: Adjust the black point. Increasing the blacks a bit (+5 to +15) can soften the image, but be careful not to flatten the tonal range.
2. Tone Curve Panel:
* Point Curve: The S-Curve is a standard starting point, but for a *softer* look, you'll want a *very subtle* S-Curve, or even a flatter one.
* Reduce Contrast: Gently pull down the top right point of the curve slightly and gently lift the bottom left point slightly. This makes the image flatter. A straight line (no curve) is the most "flat" look, but this can look a little dull.
* Consider the Darks: Slightly lifting the bottom left point can make the shadows less harsh.
3. HSL/Color Panel:
* Luminance:
* Orange: Increase the Orange luminance (skin tone) slightly to brighten the skin. +5 to +15.
* Yellow: Increase yellow luminance slightly. +3 to +10.
* Saturation:
* Reduce Saturation: You can *slightly* reduce the overall saturation (e.g., -5 to -10), or selectively desaturate colors. For example, slightly desaturating blues can often improve a portrait.
* Orange: You may want to *slightly* decrease orange saturation if the skin is too vibrant.
4. Detail Panel:
* Sharpening: *Reduce* sharpening. Too much sharpness can make skin look harsh.
* Amount: Start with an amount between 20-40.
* Radius: Keep the radius low (0.5 - 0.8).
* Detail: Increase the Detail slider (50-70) to prevent too much blurring.
* Masking: *Important:* Use the masking slider (hold ALT/Option while dragging) to apply sharpening only to the edges, *not* the skin. Mask out the skin to avoid enhancing texture.
* Noise Reduction:
* Luminance Noise Reduction: *Increase* luminance noise reduction to smooth out skin. Start with a setting between 10-30. Higher values will make the skin look unnaturally smooth, so be careful.
* Color Noise Reduction: Increase this slightly (5-15) to get rid of any color noise.
5. Effects Panel:
* Post-Crop Vignetting: *Optional*. A subtle vignette (negative amount) can draw the viewer's eye to the subject. Start with a very small amount (-5 to -15). Use "Highlight Priority" mode for the most natural look.
* Grain: *Optional*. A small amount of grain (2-5) can add a subtle texture and prevent the image from looking too clinical, but it's a matter of taste.
III. Saving the Preset:
1. Click the "+" button in the Presets panel (left side of the Develop module).
2. Choose "Create Preset."
3. Name your preset something descriptive like "Soft Portrait," "Dreamy Portrait," or similar.
4. Choose a group to save it in (e.g., "User Presets").
5. Important: Check the Boxes Carefully! Make sure *only* the settings you want to apply are checked. You might want to *uncheck* things like:
* White Balance: Unless you want the preset to always force a specific white balance on every image.
* Local Adjustments: (If you've made any spot edits).
* Lens Corrections: If you prefer to apply those manually, or have different lenses.
* Transform (Unless the preset is specifically designed to fix distortion).
6. Click "Create."
IV. Using and Fine-Tuning the Preset:
1. Apply the Preset: Select your new preset from the Presets panel on a different image.
2. Fine-Tune: *Always* fine-tune the settings for each image. A preset is just a starting point. Pay attention to:
* Exposure: The most likely adjustment you'll need to make.
* White Balance: Adjust this if the colors look off.
* Noise Reduction: If the image already has a lot of noise, you may need to increase this. If the image is very clean, you may be able to reduce it.
* HSL/Color Adjustments: Skin tones vary, so you might need to adjust the Orange luminance or saturation.
Key Concepts for Softness:
* Reduced Contrast: Flattens the tonal range, making transitions smoother.
* Highlight Recovery: Prevents blown-out highlights, which can look harsh.
* Increased Shadows: Reveals detail in the shadows, avoiding harsh black areas.
* Reduced Sharpening: Minimizes the appearance of fine details like skin texture.
* Noise Reduction: Smooths out the skin and reduces grain.
* Warm Tone: Adds a healthy, flattering glow.
* Subtle Curves: Avoids overly contrasty or harsh tonal shifts.
Important Tips:
* Subtlety is Key: Don't overdo the adjustments. The goal is to enhance the portrait, not make it look artificial.
* Monitor Your Skin Tones: Pay close attention to skin tones. Avoid making them too orange, too yellow, too red, or too gray.
* Experiment! These are starting points. Don't be afraid to experiment with the settings to find what works best for your style and your images.
* Use a Calibrated Monitor: For accurate color representation, use a calibrated monitor.
* Practice: The more you practice, the better you'll become at creating and using presets.
By following these steps, you can create a "Soft Portrait" preset in Lightroom 4 that will help you quickly and easily achieve beautiful, flattering portraits. Good luck!