1. Start with a Suitable Portrait:
* Choose a portrait image that has decent lighting and sharpness. This will make it easier to achieve the desired effect.
2. Develop Module is Key:
* Make sure you are in the Develop Module of Lightroom 4. This is where you'll make all your adjustments.
3. Basic Adjustments (Foundation):
* Exposure: Adjust slightly to brighten the image. Aim for a subtle lift. A value between +0.10 to +0.50 is a good starting point, but adjust based on your image.
* Contrast: Reduce the contrast a bit. This helps flatten the skin and create a softer look. Try a value between -10 to -25.
* Highlights: Lower the highlights to recover details in bright areas and further soften the image. Try -15 to -30.
* Shadows: Raise the shadows to brighten darker areas and even out the lighting. Try +10 to +30.
* Whites: Slightly decrease the Whites slider to avoid clipping. Try -5 to -15.
* Blacks: Slightly increase the Blacks slider to lift the darkest parts of the image, contributing to the soft look. Try +5 to +15.
4. Tone Curve Adjustments (Refine the Tones):
* This is crucial for adding that subtle, airy feel.
* Go to the Tone Curve panel.
* Choose the Point Curve option (if you're using the Parametric Curve, switch to Point Curve).
* Create a subtle "S" curve.
* Midtones: Pull the midpoint of the curve upwards slightly to brighten the midtones.
* Highlights: Gently flatten the top of the curve to soften highlights.
* Shadows: Gently flatten the bottom of the curve to lift shadows.
* Important: Keep the curve *very* subtle. Exaggerated curves will look artificial. Aim for a very gentle bend.
5. HSL/Color Adjustments (Enhance Skin Tones):
* This is where you fine-tune the colors, focusing on skin tones.
* Go to the HSL/Color panel.
* Hue: Make subtle adjustments to the hue of orange and red (skin tones). Often, slightly shifting orange towards red can improve skin. Try Orange: +3 to +8; Red: -3 to +3. Experiment to see what looks best on your subject.
* Saturation: Reduce the saturation of orange and red slightly to prevent over-saturated skin. Try Orange: -5 to -15; Red: -5 to -15.
* Luminance: Increase the luminance of orange and red to brighten skin. Try Orange: +5 to +15; Red: +5 to +15. Be careful not to overdo it; you want a natural look.
6. Detail Adjustments (Softening & Sharpening):
* These settings are key for achieving that smooth, soft look without sacrificing too much detail.
* Go to the Detail panel.
* Sharpening: Reduce the Amount of sharpening. Start by setting it to 0. Then, slowly increase it to a very minimal amount if needed. Too much sharpening will counteract the soft effect. If you must sharpen, try Amount: 10-20, Radius: 0.5-0.7, Detail: 25-50, Masking: 50-70.
* Noise Reduction (Luminance): Increase the Luminance noise reduction slider. This helps smooth out skin and reduce visible noise. Try a value between 10 and 30. Experiment to find the right balance between smoothness and detail retention. Too much noise reduction will make the image look waxy. Leave color noise reduction at the default (25) unless you have significant color noise in your image.
7. Lens Corrections (Optional):
* If your lens causes distortion or vignetting, you can correct it here.
* Go to the Lens Corrections panel.
* Check the box "Enable Profile Corrections." Lightroom will attempt to automatically detect and correct for your lens.
* If you still see vignetting after profile correction, adjust the Amount slider under Manual tab until satisfied.
* Also, check the "Remove Chromatic Aberration" box.
8. Effects (Subtle Vignette - Optional):
* A subtle vignette can draw the viewer's eye to the subject.
* Go to the Effects panel.
* Under Post-Crop Vignetting, use the Amount slider. A negative value will darken the edges (traditional vignette). A positive value will brighten the edges (which can be used to subtly lighten the edges of a brighter portrait).
* Keep it *very* subtle. Try Amount: -5 to -15 for a darkening vignette, or +5 to +15 for a brightening effect. Adjust the Midpoint and Roundness sliders to control the shape and size of the vignette.
9. Calibration (Subtle Tone Adjustments - Optional):
* This panel can be used for very fine, subtle color adjustments. Unless you have a good understanding of color calibration, it's best to leave this alone. If you want to experiment, try slightly shifting the Blue Primary Hue slider towards blue or purple.
10. Saving Your Preset:
* Once you're happy with your adjustments, it's time to save your preset.
* In the Presets panel (on the left side of the Develop Module), click the + button.
* In the "New Develop Preset" dialog box:
* Give your preset a descriptive name (e.g., "Soft Portrait").
* Choose a group for the preset (e.g., "User Presets" or create a new group like "Portrait").
* Crucially: Make sure that *all* the settings you adjusted are checked. If you *didn't* adjust a setting, uncheck it. This ensures that the preset only applies the changes you want it to. In general, you should leave "Process Version" unchecked to ensure compatibility with a wider range of images. If you used "Lens Corrections," make sure to check the corresponding box to save those settings. *Important:* "White Balance" is often left unchecked as white balance is scene specific. The same is true of "Transform" if you manually adjusted perspective.
* Click Create.
Tips & Considerations:
* Subtlety is Key: The goal is to enhance, not drastically alter, the portrait.
* Adjust for Each Image: Presets are a starting point, not a one-size-fits-all solution. You'll likely need to make further adjustments to the preset settings for each individual image.
* Experiment: Don't be afraid to play around with the settings to find what works best for your style and your subjects.
* Skin Tones: Pay close attention to skin tones throughout the process. Ensure they look natural and healthy.
* Monitor Calibration: A properly calibrated monitor is essential for accurate color rendition and consistent results.
* Underexposure: If your original image is significantly underexposed, you may need to start with a higher exposure adjustment.
* Clarity: Avoid using the clarity slider at all, or use it extremely sparingly (e.g., -5 to +5). It can introduce unwanted sharpness and texture to the skin, which defeats the purpose of a "soft" portrait.
By following these steps, you can create a beautiful "Soft Portrait" preset in Lightroom 4 that will enhance your portrait photography. Remember to experiment, adjust, and refine your settings to achieve the desired look. Good luck!