1. Import and Select an Image:
* Open Lightroom 4 and import a portrait image you want to work with. Ideally, choose an image with good natural light and decent exposure.
* Select the image in the Library module and switch to the Develop module.
2. Base Adjustments (Camera Calibration)
* Profile: Go to the "Camera Calibration" panel (at the very bottom) and experiment with the camera profiles available for your specific camera. Often, "Camera Portrait" or "Camera Neutral" can provide a good starting point for soft portraits. This can have a surprisingly big impact on skin tones right from the start.
3. Basic Panel Adjustments (The Core of the Look):
* Exposure: Adjust the exposure slightly to brighten the overall image. A slight increase (e.g., +0.20 to +0.50) can help. Be careful not to overexpose and blow out highlights.
* Contrast: Reduce contrast significantly. Lowering the contrast flattens the image, making the skin appear smoother. Try a value between -20 to -50.
* Highlights: Lower the highlights to recover details in bright areas. A value around -20 to -40 is usually a good starting point.
* Shadows: Increase the shadows to brighten up the darker areas of the image. A value around +20 to +40 can help bring out detail.
* Whites: Increase the whites slightly to add a little bit of brightness. Use the clipping indicators (hold Alt/Option while adjusting) to make sure you're not clipping any important highlights. A slight adjustment, +5 to +15, is usually enough.
* Blacks: Adjust the blacks to control the overall mood. Experiment with small changes here (e.g., -10 to +10). A slight decrease in blacks can sometimes add a touch of depth.
* Clarity: This is CRUCIAL for softening the image! Reduce the clarity significantly. Values between -20 to -50 are common, but experiment to find what works best. Negative clarity is key to that soft, dreamy feel.
* Vibrance/Saturation: Increase Vibrance slightly to enhance the colors without making them look oversaturated. A value around +10 to +20 is a good starting point. You may also want to *slightly* decrease saturation to further soften the overall look, perhaps -5 to -10.
4. Tone Curve:
* The Tone Curve allows for more nuanced adjustments to contrast. A subtle "S-curve" can work well, but for a soft look, a gentler curve is better.
* Point Curve (Recommended for easier control): Create a very slight S-curve. Lift the shadows slightly (pull up the bottom-left point a tiny bit) and lower the highlights slightly (pull down the top-right point a tiny bit). This will further soften the contrast.
5. HSL/Color Panel:
* This panel is crucial for fine-tuning skin tones and colors.
* Hue: Adjust the Hue of Orange and Red channels slightly to refine skin tones. Small changes here can make a big difference. Subtle adjustments to Yellow and Green can also enhance the overall feel of the image.
* Saturation: Slightly desaturate the Orange channel (usually responsible for skin tones) to further soften the skin. A value around -5 to -15 might be appropriate.
* Luminance: Increase the Luminance of the Orange and Red channels to brighten skin tones. A value around +5 to +15 might be a good starting point.
6. Split Toning:
* Split Toning adds a subtle color cast to highlights and shadows. For a soft portrait, try adding a warm tone to the highlights and a cooler tone to the shadows:
* Highlights: Choose a warm color (e.g., orange or yellow) and set the saturation to a very low value (e.g., 5-10).
* Shadows: Choose a cool color (e.g., blue or purple) and set the saturation to a very low value (e.g., 5-10).
* Balance: Adjust the Balance slider to blend the highlight and shadow tones.
7. Detail Panel (Sharpening and Noise Reduction):
* Sharpening: Reduce the sharpening amount. Too much sharpening will work against the soft look. Try a value around 20-30.
* Radius: Keep the radius low (around 0.5 - 1.0) to avoid harsh edges.
* Detail: Reduce the Detail slider to further soften the image.
* Masking: Use masking (hold Alt/Option while adjusting) to apply sharpening only to important areas like eyes and hair, avoiding sharpening the skin.
* Noise Reduction: Increase Luminance Noise Reduction slightly to smooth out skin. A value around 10-20 might be appropriate. Don't overdo it, or you'll lose detail.
* Color Noise Reduction: Increase Color Noise Reduction to remove color blotches. A value around 20-30 is usually sufficient.
8. Lens Corrections (Optional):
* Enable "Remove Chromatic Aberration" and "Enable Profile Corrections" to fix lens distortions and aberrations. These are typically good to enable as a starting point for most images.
9. Saving the Preset:
* Once you're happy with the adjustments, click the "+" button in the Presets panel on the left side of the Develop module.
* Give your preset a descriptive name (e.g., "Soft Portrait Preset").
* In the "New Develop Preset" dialog box, select the settings you want to include in the preset. Make sure to include all the settings you adjusted, especially the Basic panel, Tone Curve, HSL/Color, Split Toning, and Detail panel settings.
* Click "Create" to save your preset.
Tips and Considerations:
* Experimentation is Key: The best settings will vary depending on the original image, lighting conditions, and your personal preference. Don't be afraid to experiment and fine-tune the settings.
* Subtlety is Important: The goal is to create a soft and flattering look, not to make the image look artificial. Avoid overdoing any of the adjustments.
* Skin Tones: Pay close attention to skin tones. Use the HSL/Color panel to fine-tune the colors and luminance to achieve natural-looking skin.
* Brush Tool for Local Adjustments: For even more control, use the Adjustment Brush to selectively soften skin, brighten eyes, or dodge and burn specific areas of the image.
* Starting Point, Not a Final Solution: Treat the preset as a starting point. You'll likely need to make further adjustments to the preset for each individual image.
* Dodge and Burn: Consider subtle dodging and burning (local exposure adjustments) to enhance the subject's features and create more depth.
By following these steps, you can create a custom "Soft Portrait" preset in Lightroom 4 that will help you achieve beautiful, flattering portrait images. Remember to practice and experiment to find the settings that work best for your style and your images. Good luck!