Before you start:
* Choose a Test Image: Select a portrait image that is well-exposed and has good overall composition.
* Create a New Preset: In Lightroom's Develop module, look for the "Presets" panel on the left. Click the "+" button to create a new preset. This will let you save your adjustments.
* Name your Preset: Give it a descriptive name like "Soft Portrait" or "Dreamy Portrait."
Core Settings (in the Basic Panel):
* Exposure: Slight Adjustment (typically +0.1 to +0.3 stops): Slightly brighten the image to enhance the airy, light feel. Adjust based on your image; you might need to reduce exposure slightly for already bright images.
* Contrast: Slightly Reduce (-5 to -15): Reducing contrast flattens the tonal range, making the image less harsh and contributes to the soft effect. Too much reduction makes it look dull, so be subtle.
* Highlights: Lower Significantly (-30 to -50): Protecting and softening highlights is crucial. Reducing them prevents blown-out areas and contributes to the overall softness.
* Shadows: Slightly Increase (+5 to +15): Opening up the shadows adds detail in darker areas and creates a more even, gentle tonal range.
* Whites: Slight Adjustment (-5 to +5): Fine-tune the brightest parts of the image. Slightly reducing whites can prevent harsh highlights, while slightly increasing them can add a touch of brightness. Judge this visually.
* Blacks: Slightly Increase (+5 to +15): Lifting the blacks makes the darkest areas less dense, which further softens the overall look. Be careful not to overdo it, as it can make the image look washed out.
* Clarity: Reduce Significantly (-15 to -30): This is a key component for the soft effect. Reducing clarity softens edges and decreases sharpness, contributing to a smoother, more ethereal look. Too much reduction makes it blurry.
* Vibrance: Slightly Increase (+5 to +15): Vibrance selectively boosts the saturation of less saturated colors, adding a subtle richness and preventing the image from looking washed out after reducing clarity and contrast.
* Saturation: Slightly Reduce (-5 to +5): Watch skin tones. If vibrance causes skin to look too orange or red, slightly reduce saturation overall.
Tone Curve:
* Point Curve (Subtle S-Curve or Flat Curve): Avoid a strong S-curve, which adds contrast. A very subtle S-curve or even a slightly flattened curve can work well. A flattened curve, achieved by gently raising the black point and lowering the white point, enhances the soft, dreamy effect. You can also try lifting the shadows slightly using the point curve.
Detail Panel:
* Sharpening: Reduce Sharpening (Amount: 0-30, Radius: 0.5-0.8, Detail: 50-75, Masking: 40-60): Sharpening inherently adds sharpness and definition. Reduce the "Amount" to minimize sharpening. Lower the Radius to affect smaller areas. Increase the "Masking" slider to protect smooth areas like skin from excessive sharpening. This ensures sharpness is applied mainly to edges, preserving the soft skin look. You can also disable sharpening altogether for very soft looks.
* Noise Reduction (Luminance): Slight Increase (+5 to +15): A small amount of luminance noise reduction can help smooth out skin, but don't overdo it, as it can lead to a plastic, unnatural look.
HSL/Color Panel (Optional - Adjust based on image):
* Luminance: Adjust the luminance of individual colors (Reds, Oranges, Yellows) to fine-tune skin tone brightness and overall tonal balance. For example, slightly increasing the luminance of Oranges can brighten skin tones.
* Saturation: Adjust the saturation of individual colors to fine-tune skin tones and overall color balance. For example, slightly reducing the saturation of Reds or Oranges can tame overly red or orange skin.
Effects Panel (Optional):
* Grain: Subtle Grain (Amount: 5-10, Size: 20-30, Roughness: 50-70): A very subtle amount of grain can add a film-like texture and prevent the image from looking too sterile. Use it sparingly.
* Vignetting: Slight Negative Vignette (Amount: -5 to -10, Midpoint: 50-60): A very subtle vignette can draw the eye to the center of the image. Make it nearly imperceptible.
Calibration Panel (Optional):
* This is where you can adjust the colors further. Try reducing the saturation of one or more of the color primaries (Red, Green, Blue) to get a more muted look.
Saving the Preset:
1. Once you're satisfied with the adjustments:
2. Click the "+" button in the Presets panel.
3. Name your preset something descriptive (e.g., "Soft Portrait - Dreamy").
4. In the "New Develop Preset" dialog box, *uncheck* any settings you *didn't* adjust (e.g., White Balance, Lens Corrections, Transform, etc.). This ensures that the preset only applies the changes you intended. You want to only save what you adjusted. This is crucial for a versatile preset.
5. Click "Create."
Important Considerations:
* Image-Specific Adjustments: Remember that presets are a starting point. You will almost always need to fine-tune the settings for each individual image. Pay close attention to exposure, white balance, and skin tones.
* Skin Tones: Monitor skin tones carefully. Over-processing can lead to unnatural skin colors or textures.
* Subtlety: The key to a good "Soft Portrait" preset is subtlety. Avoid extreme adjustments that can make the image look artificial.
* Experimentation: Don't be afraid to experiment with different settings to find what works best for your style and your images.
* Backup: Regularly back up your Lightroom catalog and presets.
* Lightroom Version Compatibility: Presets created in older versions of Lightroom (like 4) might need adjustments when used in newer versions.
In summary, the "Soft Portrait" look is achieved by reducing contrast and clarity, softening highlights and shadows, subtly adjusting color, and minimizing sharpening. Remember to fine-tune the settings for each image to achieve the best results.