I. Starting Point: A Neutral Image
* Begin with a well-exposed portrait photo. Avoid overly dark or blown-out images as they'll be harder to adjust. A neutral image shot in RAW format will give you the most flexibility.
II. Basic Panel Adjustments
* Exposure: Tweak as needed to achieve a good overall brightness. Usually, a slight increase is beneficial for a soft look. Be careful not to overexpose highlights.
* Contrast: Reduce the contrast. This is key for softening the image. Try a value between -20 and -40.
* Highlights: Reduce highlights to recover details and create a softer transition. Experiment with values between -20 and -50.
* Shadows: Increase shadows to brighten dark areas and further soften the image. Try a value between +20 and +40.
* Whites: Slightly increase whites, but be very cautious. Overdoing this can blow out highlights.
* Blacks: Slightly decrease blacks to add a touch of depth, but be careful not to make the image look muddy.
III. Tone Curve Adjustments
* The Tone Curve is crucial for achieving a soft, faded look.
* Point Curve: Select the "Point Curve" tab. This allows for more precise control.
* Create a Gentle S-Curve:
* Click on the line near the bottom left to create a point. Slightly lift this point upwards. This brightens the shadows and adds a "lifted" look.
* Click on the line near the top right to create a point. Slightly lower this point downwards. This softens the highlights and reduces contrast in the brighter areas.
* Make sure the curve is very subtle. Avoid creating a drastic S-curve, as it will increase contrast, defeating the purpose.
* Fine-tune the curve until you achieve the desired softness.
IV. Detail Panel (Sharpening and Noise Reduction)
* Sharpening: Reduce sharpening considerably. High sharpening will accentuate skin texture and defeat the "soft" look.
* Amount: Lower the Amount slider. A value between 10-30 may be sufficient. Consider turning sharpening completely off and adding it back subtly later if needed.
* Radius: Reduce the Radius to minimize the halo effect that can occur with over-sharpening.
* Detail: Adjust the Detail slider to control how much fine detail is sharpened.
* Masking: Increase Masking to only sharpen the edges of objects, and not the skin itself. This is very important for portraits. Hold down the Alt/Option key while adjusting the Masking slider to visualize which areas are being sharpened.
* Noise Reduction: Increase noise reduction, especially Luminance Noise Reduction, to smooth out skin and reduce grain.
* Luminance: Increase the Luminance slider gradually until you see a noticeable smoothing effect on the skin. Values between 10-30 are often sufficient, but experiment to find what works best for your image. Don't overdo it, or the image will look unnatural.
* Color: Slightly increase Color noise reduction to address any color artifacts.
V. HSL/Color Panel
* Luminance: Adjust the Luminance of specific colors to brighten or darken them. For example:
* Orange & Yellow: Increase these to brighten skin tones.
* Red: Adjust to control lip color.
* Saturation: Adjust the Saturation of specific colors to enhance or mute them. For example:
* Orange & Yellow: Slightly desaturate if skin tones look too orange or yellow.
* Red: Adjust to control lip color.
* Hue: Adjust the Hue of specific colors to subtly shift them. For example:
* Orange & Yellow: Adjust these to correct skin tone.
VI. Split Toning (Optional)
* Split toning can add a subtle color cast to the highlights and shadows, contributing to a specific mood.
* Highlights: Add a subtle warm tone (e.g., orange or yellow) to the highlights. Keep the Saturation very low (e.g., 5-10).
* Shadows: Add a subtle cool tone (e.g., blue or green) to the shadows. Keep the Saturation very low (e.g., 5-10).
* Balance: Adjust the Balance slider to favor the highlight or shadow tones.
VII. Camera Calibration (Profile)
* Experiment with different Camera Profiles. Some profiles might provide a better starting point for your soft portrait look. Try profiles like "Camera Portrait" or other profiles that are specifically designed for portraits.
VIII. Creating the Preset
1. In the Develop module, go to the Presets panel (left side of the screen).
2. Click the "+" (plus) icon at the top of the Presets panel or click "Create Preset" at the bottom.
3. Name your preset (e.g., "Soft Portrait - v1").
4. Choose a Group to save the preset in (you can create a new group if desired).
5. Carefully select *which* settings to include in the preset. Important Considerations:
* Basic Tone adjustments (Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, etc.): *Definitely* include.
* Tone Curve: *Definitely* include.
* Detail (Sharpening & Noise Reduction): *Definitely* include.
* HSL/Color: *Definitely* include.
* Split Toning: Include if you used it and want to include that specific tone in your preset.
* Lens Corrections: It's generally *not* a good idea to include "Lens Corrections" because different lenses require different corrections.
* Transform: It's generally *not* a good idea to include "Transform" because different photos require different transformations.
* Camera Calibration: Include if you found a specific profile that consistently works well. However, realize this might need to be adjusted depending on the camera model used to capture the image.
6. Click "Create."
IX. Using and Refining Your Preset
* Apply the preset to new portraits.
* Fine-tune the adjustments as needed. Presets are a starting point, not a magic bullet. Every photo is different and will require some individual attention. Pay attention to skin tones, exposure, and overall brightness.
* Iterate! Don't be afraid to adjust the preset itself based on your experiences and preferences. You can update an existing preset by right-clicking on it and selecting "Update with Current Settings."
Important Considerations:
* Skin Tone: The most important thing is to get skin tones right. Use the HSL/Color panel to adjust them as needed.
* Subtlety: The key to a good soft portrait is subtlety. Avoid overdoing any of the adjustments.
* Lighting: Presets work best when applied to images with similar lighting conditions. You might need different presets for outdoor and indoor portraits.
* RAW vs. JPEG: RAW files provide more flexibility for adjustments.
* Experimentation: Don't be afraid to experiment and find what works best for your style.
* Clarity: Avoid using the Clarity slider. It tends to add sharpness and texture, which is the opposite of what we want for a soft portrait.
By following these steps, you can create a versatile and flattering "Soft Portrait" preset in Lightroom 4 that will help you achieve beautiful, dreamy results. Remember to practice and refine your preset as you gain experience. Good luck!