1. Preparation:
* Choose a Portrait: Find a portrait you'd like to edit. Ideally, it should be a fairly well-exposed image with reasonable skin tones.
* Reset Lightroom: Before you start, reset all the settings to zero. In the Develop module, double-click the word "Effect" near the top right, then the other settings should reset. This gives you a clean slate.
2. Basic Adjustments:
* Exposure: Slightly increase the exposure if needed. Aim for a brighter, but not blown-out, image. +0.10 to +0.30 is a good starting point.
* Contrast: Reduce the contrast. This is key to softening the image. Try -15 to -30.
* Highlights: Lower the highlights. This helps recover detail in bright areas and reduces harshness. -20 to -40.
* Shadows: Increase the shadows. This brightens up darker areas and evens out the skin tone. +10 to +30.
* Whites: Adjust Whites slightly, but don't blow them out. +5 to +15
* Blacks: Adjust Blacks slightly, but don't crush them. -5 to -15
* Clarity: Reduce the clarity significantly. This is critical for that soft, dreamy look. -20 to -40 (or even more, depending on the image).
* Vibrance & Saturation: Increase vibrance gently to bring out natural skin tones without making the image look over-saturated. +5 to +15. You might also decrease saturation slightly, between -3 and +3.
3. Tone Curve:
* Point Curve (recommended for more control): Create a very subtle "S" curve. Lift the shadows slightly (bottom-left portion of the curve) and pull down the highlights slightly (top-right portion). This further reduces contrast and adds a gentle, film-like quality. The curve should be very subtle – think of it as a slight bend rather than a dramatic curve.
* Alternatively, Channel Curve: You can also adjust the channel curve (Red, Green, Blue) to add warmth, especially in the skin tones. Experiment with slightly lifting the red curve in the midtones and pulling down the blue curve.
4. HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance):
* Hue: Subtle adjustments to orange and yellow hues can warm up skin tones. Try slightly shifting orange towards red (+2 to +5) and yellow towards orange (+2 to +5). Be very careful with these changes, as they can easily look unnatural.
* Saturation: Decrease the saturation of oranges and yellows slightly to prevent the skin from looking too orange or yellow. -5 to -10. Consider increasing the saturation of reds and blues slightly, if desired, to enhance lip color or eye color.
* Luminance: Increase the luminance of oranges to brighten skin tones. +5 to +15. Decrease the luminance of yellows to control yellow tones in the image. -5 to -10
5. Split Toning (Optional):
* Add a very subtle touch of warm tones to the highlights and cool tones to the shadows. This can add depth and a film-like look.
* Highlights: Hue: 35-45, Saturation: 5-10
* Shadows: Hue: 220-230, Saturation: 5-10
* Adjust the Balance slider to taste, usually towards the highlights (positive value).
6. Detail:
* Sharpening: Lower the sharpening significantly. This is crucial for a soft look. Amount: 0-25 (Start very low and increase gradually). Increase the Radius slightly to 1.2 and the Detail slightly to 50.
* Noise Reduction: Increase Luminance noise reduction to smooth out skin. Start with 10-20 and adjust as needed. Be careful not to over-smooth the skin, as this can make it look plastic.
7. Lens Corrections (Important):
* Enable Profile Corrections: Check the "Enable Profile Corrections" box under Lens Corrections. This will correct for lens distortion and vignetting, which can often enhance portraits.
* Chromatic Aberration: Check the "Remove Chromatic Aberration" box.
8. Effects:
* Vignetting (Optional): Consider adding a subtle negative vignette (Amount: -5 to -15). This can draw attention to the subject.
* Grain (Optional): Adding a very small amount of grain can add texture and a film-like feel. Try Amount: 5-10, Size: 25-35, Roughness: 50-70.
9. Saving the Preset:
1. Click the "+" button in the Presets panel (left side of the Develop module).
2. Give your preset a descriptive name, such as "Soft Portrait."
3. In the "New Develop Preset" dialog box, select which settings you want to include in the preset. Make sure you select all the settings you've adjusted, as you don't want Lightroom to accidentally change something else if you use the preset on a new image. It's generally safe to select *all* checkboxes if you've adjusted all of those settings. If you made *no changes* to a category (e.g., Transforms), then uncheck that box. The key is to only include the settings you actually adjusted.
4. Click "Create."
Important Considerations & Tips:
* Subtlety is Key: Don't overdo any of these adjustments. The goal is to enhance the portrait, not to create an artificial or unrealistic look.
* Adapt to the Image: Every portrait is different. You'll need to adjust the preset slightly for each image to get the best results. Don't just blindly apply the preset and assume it will look perfect. Treat the preset as a starting point.
* Experiment: Don't be afraid to experiment with different settings to find what works best for your style and the specific image.
* Before & After: Regularly compare the "before" and "after" versions of your image to see the effect of your adjustments. You can toggle the before/after view with the backslash (\) key.
* Skin Tones: Pay close attention to skin tones. Use the histogram and color sampler tool to ensure they look natural and healthy.
* Local Adjustments (Brush Tool): For even finer control, use the Adjustment Brush to selectively smooth skin, brighten eyes, or add contrast to specific areas of the image.
* Practice Makes Perfect: The more you practice creating and applying presets, the better you'll become at understanding how different settings affect the final image.
By following these steps and experimenting with different settings, you can create a "Soft Portrait" preset in Lightroom 4 that will give your portraits a beautiful, dreamy, and flattering look. Remember to always adjust the preset to suit each individual image for the best results.