I. Understanding the Basics
* What is a Preset? A preset is a saved set of Lightroom settings applied to an image. It's a starting point, and you'll almost always need to tweak it further for individual photos.
* The Develop Module: This is where the magic happens. Familiarize yourself with each panel: Basic, Tone Curve, HSL/Color, Split Toning, Detail, Lens Corrections, and Calibration.
* Start with a Good Base Image: A well-exposed, properly lit photo is the foundation for a good preset. Avoid images with severe exposure problems or color casts.
* Consider the Style: What kind of look are you going for? Warm and vintage? Cool and modern? High contrast and dramatic? Soft and dreamy? Having a vision is crucial.
II. Building Your Preset: Step-by-Step
1. Choose a Test Image: Select a portrait that represents the kind of images you'll be using the preset on (lighting, skin tone, background).
2. Basic Panel Adjustments: These are the fundamentals.
* Profile: Experiment with different camera profiles (found at the top of the Basic panel). "Adobe Color" is a good starting point, but explore others like "Camera Standard" (if you shoot in RAW).
* White Balance: Get the skin tones right. Use the white balance selector tool to click on a neutral area (if available). Adjust Temperature and Tint manually until the skin looks natural and pleasing. Don't be afraid to go slightly warm or cool depending on your desired look.
* Exposure: Correct the overall brightness of the image.
* Contrast: Increase or decrease the overall contrast to add depth or create a softer look.
* Highlights: Recover detail in blown-out highlights.
* Shadows: Open up the shadows to reveal more detail. Be careful not to overdo it, or the image will look flat.
* Whites: Set the white point of the image. Slightly clip the whites (hold Alt/Option while dragging the slider) to create some punch.
* Blacks: Set the black point of the image. Slightly clip the blacks (hold Alt/Option while dragging the slider) for richer blacks.
* Presence: Adjust Texture, Clarity, and Dehaze.
* *Texture* can enhance fine details. Use sparingly.
* *Clarity* adds mid-tone contrast. Be careful, as it can also add harshness.
* *Dehaze* removes atmospheric haze or adds a hazy effect.
3. Tone Curve: This is where you can fine-tune contrast and create a specific mood.
* Point Curve: The most common way to adjust the Tone Curve. Experiment with different curves:
* S-Curve: Increases contrast.
* Inverted S-Curve: Decreases contrast (for a softer, "matte" look).
* Raise the Black Point: Create a faded, vintage look by lifting the bottom left point of the curve slightly.
* Split the Curve: Add points to the curve to target specific tonal ranges (highlights, midtones, shadows).
* Channel Curves (Red, Green, Blue): Adjust the color balance in specific tonal ranges.
4. HSL/Color: This panel is key for controlling skin tones and color palettes.
* Hue: Shift the hue of individual colors. For example, slightly shifting the orange hue towards red can create a warmer skin tone. Be subtle.
* Saturation: Increase or decrease the intensity of colors. Desaturating yellows and oranges can help reduce yellowness in skin. Boosting blues can enhance skies.
* Luminance: Adjust the brightness of colors. Lowering the luminance of reds can create a richer, deeper red in lips. Increasing the luminance of oranges can brighten skin.
* Color Grading (Split Toning): Add color casts to the highlights and shadows. This is a great way to create a vintage or stylized look. Use subtle complementary colors for a harmonious effect. Adjust the Balance slider to favor highlights or shadows.
5. Detail: Sharpen and reduce noise.
* Sharpening: Increase sharpening slightly to bring out detail. Use the Masking slider (hold Alt/Option while dragging) to apply sharpening only to the edges of the subject, avoiding unnecessary sharpening of skin. Experiment with Radius and Detail sliders.
* Noise Reduction: If your image has noise (especially in the shadows), increase the Luminance Noise Reduction. Color Noise Reduction can also help remove color blotches. Balance sharpness with noise reduction.
6. Lens Corrections:
* Enable Profile Corrections: Automatically corrects for lens distortion and chromatic aberration. Select your lens profile if Lightroom doesn't automatically detect it.
* Remove Chromatic Aberration: Check this box to remove color fringing.
* Manual Adjustments: You can also manually adjust distortion, chromatic aberration, and vignetting.
7. Calibration: Fine-tune color balance.
* Red/Green/Blue Primary Hue/Saturation: These sliders allow you to make subtle changes to the overall color balance of the image. Experiment and see what you like.
8. Experiment and Refine: This is where the real creativity comes in. Try different combinations of settings. Don't be afraid to break the rules. Constantly evaluate the effect on the skin tones. Zoom in to 100% to check for artifacts or over-sharpening.
9. Save Your Preset:
* Click the "+" button in the Presets panel and select "Create Preset."
* Give your preset a descriptive name.
* Choose a group to save the preset in (you can create new groups).
* Carefully select which settings to include in the preset. Consider *not* including:
* White Balance: May vary greatly depending on the individual image.
* Exposure: Will likely need adjustment for each photo.
* Lens Corrections: These might not apply to all lenses.
* Transform: Perspective adjustments are specific to the image.
* Local Adjustments (Adjustment Brush, Radial Filter, Graduated Filter): These are specific to each photo.
* Click "Create."
III. Tips for Creative Presets
* Vintage/Film Look:
* Lower contrast.
* Raise the black point on the Tone Curve.
* Add a slight warm or cool tone using Split Toning.
* Introduce some grain (Effects panel).
* Matte Look:
* Lower contrast.
* Inverted S-Curve on the Tone Curve.
* Slightly desaturate colors.
* High-Contrast Black and White:
* Convert to black and white.
* Increase contrast.
* Experiment with the Tone Curve.
* Adjust the B&W Mix sliders to control the tonal range of each color.
* Dreamy/Soft Look:
* Soften the image with negative clarity.
* Slightly blur or add a glow effect in Photoshop.
* Soften contrast with an inverted S-curve.
* Play with the Highlight and shadow sliders to taste
* Bold and Colorful:
* Increase saturation.
* Experiment with color grading to create unique color palettes.
* Use HSL to fine-tune individual colors.
IV. Important Considerations
* Skin Tones: Prioritize natural and flattering skin tones. Pay close attention to the orange, red, and yellow hues in the HSL panel.
* Lightroom Mobile: Presets can be synced to Lightroom Mobile, allowing you to apply them to your photos on your phone or tablet.
* Batch Processing: Presets are great for applying a consistent style to a large batch of images.
* Iterate and Adapt: Don't be afraid to revisit and refine your presets over time. As your style evolves, so should your presets.
V. Key Takeaways
* Experiment: Play with all the sliders and see what happens. There are no right or wrong answers.
* Subtlety: Start with small adjustments and gradually increase them.
* Consistency: Focus on creating presets that are consistent with your overall style.
* Flexibility: Remember that presets are a starting point. Be prepared to adjust them for each individual image.
* Practice: The more you practice, the better you'll become at creating amazing portrait presets.
By following these guidelines and experimenting with different settings, you can create unique and effective Lightroom Develop presets that will help you achieve your desired look for your portrait photography. Remember to always keep the skin tones looking natural and flattering, and don't be afraid to break the rules and try new things. Good luck!