1. Find a Base Image:
* Choose a good starting point: Select a portrait photo that's well-exposed and properly focused. This will give you the best foundation for building your preset.
2. Develop Module Settings (Basic Panel):
* Exposure:
* Adjust to achieve the right brightness. You might slightly underexpose a little and then compensate with shadows/highlights. This gives you room to adjust later.
* Contrast:
* Reduce contrast. This is key to achieving the soft look. Aim for a value between -15 and -30. Too little contrast can make the image look flat.
* Highlights:
* Lower the highlights. This will help to recover details in bright areas and prevent blown-out skin. Try a value between -20 and -40.
* Shadows:
* Increase the shadows. This will open up the darker areas, further reducing contrast and adding detail. Aim for +15 to +30.
* Whites:
* Slightly adjust the whites if needed to fine-tune the overall brightness. Generally, leave this close to 0 or make small adjustments.
* Blacks:
* Slightly adjust the blacks to fine-tune the overall contrast and depth. Generally, leave this close to 0 or make small adjustments.
3. Tone Curve (Panel):
* Point Curve (Recommended):
* This is where you can really shape the softness. Create a slight "S" curve, but very shallow:
* Darken Shadows Slightly: Click in the lower-left quadrant (shadows) and pull down a tiny bit.
* Brighten Highlights Slightly: Click in the upper-right quadrant (highlights) and pull up a tiny bit.
* The key is subtlety. A larger "S" curve will increase contrast, which we're trying to avoid. A very small curve adds depth without harshness.
* Alternatively, you can try the Parametric Curve:
* Experiment with adjusting the Highlights, Lights, Darks, and Shadows sliders to create a similar gentle "S" curve effect. It can be less precise than the Point Curve, but some find it easier to visualize.
4. HSL/Color (Panel):
* Luminance:
* Orange: Slightly increase the Luminance of the Orange channel (around +5 to +15). This will brighten the skin tones. Be careful not to overdo it, as it can look artificial.
* Yellow: If the image has prominent yellows, adjust the Luminance of the Yellow channel as needed, but generally leave it close to 0.
* Saturation:
* Orange: Reduce the Saturation of the Orange channel slightly (around -5 to -10). This can help to tame overly saturated skin tones.
* Other Colors: Reduce the Saturation of any overly vibrant colors in the image to create a more muted, soft look. Consider Blues (sky) and Greens (foliage).
* Hue:
* Orange: You can subtly shift the Orange hue slightly towards Red (around +2 to +5) to warm up the skin tones, or towards Yellow (-2 to -5) to cool them down, depending on your preference and the subject's complexion. This requires very small adjustments.
5. Detail (Panel):
* Sharpening:
* Reduce Sharpening: Lower the Amount slider significantly (e.g., from the default 25 to around 10-15, or even lower). Too much sharpening will work against the soft effect.
* Increase Radius: Consider increasing the Radius slightly (e.g., from 1.0 to 1.2-1.5) to soften the edges more gradually. This can create a slightly blurred look. Be cautious with this setting as higher values can introduce artifacts.
* Increase Masking: Increase the Masking slider to protect areas of low detail (like skin) from sharpening. This will focus the sharpening on edges and textures. Try a value around 60-80.
* Noise Reduction:
* Luminance Noise Reduction: Slightly increase Luminance Noise Reduction (e.g., from 0 to around 5-10). This will help smooth out skin tones and reduce any graininess. Don't overdo it, as it can make the image look plastic.
6. Effects (Panel):
* Post Crop Vignetting:
* Consider adding a very subtle, negative Amount vignette (e.g., around -5 to -10) with a slightly higher Midpoint to brighten the edges and draw the eye towards the subject. This isn't essential, but it can enhance the softness.
7. Calibration (Panel):
* Experimentation: You can subtly adjust the Red, Green, and Blue primary sliders to fine-tune the overall color tone. This is more advanced, and you'll need to experiment to see what works best for your style. Generally, avoid making drastic changes.
8. Create the Preset:
1. In the Left Panel, click the "+" button in the "Presets" section.
2. Choose "Create Preset..."
3. Give your preset a descriptive name (e.g., "Soft Portrait", "Dreamy Portrait").
4. Choose a group (e.g., "User Presets," "Portrait"). You can create a new group if you want.
5. Important: Select which settings to include in the preset. Here are the recommended settings to include:
* Basic Tone: Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Shadows, Whites, Blacks.
* Tone Curve: Point Curve or Parametric Curve.
* HSL/Color: Hue, Saturation, Luminance.
* Detail: Sharpening (Amount, Radius, Detail, Masking), Noise Reduction (Luminance, Color).
* Effects: Post Crop Vignetting (if you used it).
* Camera Calibration: (Optional, if you made changes).
6. Click "Create."
9. Testing and Refining:
* Apply the preset to a variety of portraits. Different lighting conditions and skin tones will require adjustments.
* Fine-tune as needed: Don't be afraid to tweak the settings after applying the preset. A good preset is a starting point, not a final solution.
* Iterate: Save new versions of the preset as you refine it.
Key Considerations and Tips:
* Subtlety is key: The "soft" look is achieved through gentle adjustments, not drastic changes.
* Skin tone: Pay close attention to skin tones. Avoid making them look too orange or artificial.
* Experimentation: The specific settings will depend on your preferences and the characteristics of your photos. Don't be afraid to experiment to find what works best for you.
* Don't overdo it: Avoid excessive blurring or noise reduction, which can make the image look unnatural.
* Consider a Graduated Filter: To further enhance the dreaminess, consider using a graduated filter with a slight increase in exposure and a slight decrease in clarity over the background.
By following these steps, you can create a versatile "Soft Portrait" preset that will help you achieve a beautiful and flattering look for your portrait photography in Lightroom 4. Remember to experiment and adapt the settings to your own style and the specific needs of each image. Good luck!