1. Import and Select an Image:
* Open Lightroom 4 and import a portrait image you want to use as your base for the preset. Choose an image that is already well-exposed and has decent skin tones to begin with.
2. Basic Tone Adjustments:
* Exposure: Adjust to achieve a balanced brightness. You might slightly increase it for a brighter look.
* Contrast: Lower the contrast. This is a key step for softening the image. Reduce it to around -15 to -30. This helps to flatten out the tonal range and makes the skin appear smoother.
* Highlights: Reduce highlights. This recovers detail in bright areas and prevents clipping. Try -20 to -40.
* Shadows: Increase shadows. This opens up the darker areas and adds more detail to the shadows. Try +15 to +30.
* Whites: Adjust to add a touch of brightness, but be careful not to clip. Experiment with -5 to +5.
* Blacks: Adjust to set the black point. Slightly increase it to lift the blacks and further soften the image. Try +5 to +15.
3. Tone Curve Adjustments (Important for Softness):
* Go to the Tone Curve panel.
* Point Curve: The key to a soft look is often a subtle "S" curve, but for a softer effect, flatten it slightly, especially in the highlights. You can achieve this by adding a slight lift to the lower left and gently bringing down the upper right of the curve. Don't overdo it! Small adjustments make a big difference.
* Channel (RGB, Red, Green, Blue): Experiment with subtle adjustments in the individual RGB channels to subtly influence skin tones and color. For example, slightly lifting the red channel can add warmth to skin. However, use these with caution and keep adjustments very small.
4. Detail Adjustments (Softening Skin):
* Sharpening: Reduce the sharpening amount significantly. This is crucial for softening skin. Start with Amount set to 0 and slowly increase it, watching the skin closely for harsh lines. Typically, you'll want it much lower than the default, possibly around 10-20.
* Radius: Keep the radius low (around 0.5 - 0.7) to avoid over-sharpening edges.
* Detail: Lowering the Detail slider in Sharpening helps smooth out fine details, further softening the skin. Try -20 to -50.
* Masking: Use the Masking slider to control where sharpening is applied. Holding the Alt/Option key while dragging the slider will show you which areas are being sharpened. Increasing the masking will prevent sharpening on smooth areas like skin, focusing it on edges. Aim for masking 50-70, or adjust based on the image.
* Noise Reduction (Luminance): Increase the luminance noise reduction slightly to further smooth out the skin and reduce grain. Start with a value of around 5-10 and adjust to taste. Avoid going too high, as it can make the image look blurry and artificial.
5. Color Adjustments:
* White Balance: Adjust to achieve accurate and pleasing skin tones. Use the Temp (warmth) and Tint (green/magenta) sliders.
* Vibrance: Slightly increase the Vibrance to boost the saturation of muted colors without over-saturating the already vibrant colors. Try +5 to +15.
* Saturation: Adjust the overall saturation sparingly. Generally, it's better to use Vibrance. If you do adjust saturation, keep it subtle.
* HSL/Color Panel: This is where you can fine-tune specific colors.
* Hue: Adjust the hue of skin tones slightly to make them more pleasing. Pay attention to the orange and red hues. Small adjustments go a long way.
* Saturation: Adjust the saturation of specific colors that are prominent in the image (e.g., the subject's eye color or clothing). Be careful not to over-saturate skin tones.
* Luminance: Adjust the luminance (brightness) of specific colors. For example, you might slightly increase the luminance of oranges to brighten skin tones.
6. Effects Panel (Optional):
* Vignetting: Add a subtle vignette to draw attention to the subject. Use the Amount slider in the Post-Crop Vignetting section. Negative values darken the edges. Keep it very subtle (around -5 to -15) to avoid an obvious effect.
* Grain: Adding a small amount of grain can sometimes enhance the soft, film-like look. If you choose to add grain, keep it very subtle.
7. Calibration Panel (Subtle, Advanced Adjustments):
* This panel allows you to adjust the primary colors in your image (Red, Green, and Blue). Experiment with small adjustments to the hue, saturation, and luminance of each color channel to fine-tune the overall look.
* Shadow Tint: Adjust the shadow tint to subtly influence the color of the shadows. Adding a slight purple or blue tint to the shadows can create a cooler, more ethereal look.
8. Saving the Preset:
* Once you're happy with the adjustments, click the "+" button in the Presets panel to create a new preset.
* Give your preset a descriptive name, such as "Soft Portrait L4".
* In the "New Develop Preset" dialog box, check all the settings you want to include in the preset. Make sure to select all the settings you adjusted.
* Click "Create".
Tips and Considerations:
* Subtlety is Key: The key to a good "Soft Portrait" preset is subtlety. Avoid overdoing any of the adjustments.
* Customization is Important: Every image is different, so you'll likely need to tweak the preset settings slightly for each individual photo. This preset is a starting point.
* Practice and Experiment: The best way to learn how to create good presets is to experiment with different settings and see how they affect your images.
* Pay Attention to Skin Tones: Monitor skin tones carefully throughout the process. The goal is to create a flattering and natural look, not to make the skin look unnatural or plastic.
* Consider Your Style: Develop a preset that aligns with your personal aesthetic. This guide offers a foundation, but your creative vision will drive the final result.
* Version Compatibility: Presets made in newer versions of Lightroom are not always backward-compatible with older versions like Lightroom 4. This guide is tailored specifically for Lightroom 4.
By following these steps and experimenting with different settings, you can create a beautiful and effective "Soft Portrait" preset in Lightroom 4 that will help you achieve a flattering and professional look for your portrait photography. Remember to start with a good base image and make subtle adjustments to achieve the desired effect.