I. Start with a Good Base Image:
* Well-Exposed: Your portrait should be properly exposed to begin with. Adjust exposure during the shooting process or in Lightroom if needed.
* Reasonable White Balance: Try to achieve a natural white balance either in-camera or during initial adjustments in Lightroom.
II. Develop Module Settings - Key Adjustments:
This is where the magic happens. Experiment with these settings until you achieve your desired soft look.
A. Basic Panel:
* Exposure: Adjust as needed to achieve the desired brightness. Usually, you might want to slightly *increase* the exposure for a brighter, airier feel. Be careful not to overexpose, especially the highlights.
* Contrast: *Decrease* the contrast. Lowering contrast is essential for a soft look. Try a value between -10 to -30 as a starting point.
* Highlights: *Decrease* highlights to recover detail in bright areas and reduce harshness. Try -10 to -30 as a starting point.
* Shadows: *Increase* shadows to open up dark areas and add detail. Try +10 to +30 as a starting point.
* Whites: Adjust to control the brightest tones. A slight *decrease* might be helpful to soften the brightest parts. Try -5 to -15.
* Blacks: Adjust to control the darkest tones. A slight *increase* can lift the blacks and contribute to the soft look. Try +5 to +15.
* Clarity: *Decrease* the clarity significantly. This is crucial for softening the skin. Try -20 to -50 as a starting point. Be careful not to overdo it, or the image will look muddy.
* Vibrance: *Increase* vibrance slightly to boost the colors without oversaturating skin tones. Try +5 to +15.
* Saturation: Adjust as needed, usually a slight *increase* or leaving it as is. If the colors look too strong after boosting Vibrance, reduce Saturation slightly.
B. Tone Curve Panel:
* Point Curve (Recommended for finer control): Create a subtle "S" curve, but very gentle. Lift the shadows slightly and gently lower the highlights. This further reduces contrast and adds a gentle, film-like quality. Avoid creating a steep S-curve, as this will increase contrast again.
* Parametric Curve (Alternative):
* Highlights: Slightly *decrease*
* Lights: Slightly *decrease*
* Darks: Slightly *increase*
* Shadows: Slightly *increase*
C. HSL / Color Panel:
* Hue: Minor adjustments to skin tones (orange and red) to fine-tune the skin color. Generally, shifting them slightly towards the warmer side (orange) can be flattering.
* Saturation: *Slightly decrease* the saturation of oranges and reds to further soften the skin. Try -5 to -15. Also, consider slightly increasing the saturation of blues and greens for a more vibrant background.
* Luminance: *Increase* the luminance of oranges and reds to brighten the skin. Try +5 to +15.
D. Detail Panel:
* Sharpening: *Reduce* the Amount. Soft portraits don't require a lot of sharpening. Set it very low (10-20) or even turn it off completely. You might use a small radius and detail setting to preserve some sharpness without creating harsh lines.
* Noise Reduction (Luminance): *Increase* Luminance Noise Reduction to smooth out skin and reduce grain. Try a value of 15-30 as a starting point. Experiment to find a balance between smoothness and detail. Avoid over-doing it, as it can make the skin look plastic.
* Noise Reduction (Color): Increase Color Noise Reduction to remove color artifacts, especially in shadows. A value of 20-30 is usually sufficient.
E. Effects Panel:
* Grain: Adding a *very subtle* amount of grain (Amount: 5-10) can give the image a film-like quality and add a bit of texture that prevents it from looking too smooth. This is optional.
F. Lens Corrections (Optional):
* Enable Profile Corrections: If your lens profile is available, enable it to correct distortion and vignetting. This can improve the overall image quality.
III. Saving the Preset:
1. Click on the "Presets" panel on the left side of the Develop module.
2. Click the "+" (plus) icon at the top of the panel or select "Create Preset" from the Presets menu.
3. Give your preset a descriptive name, such as "Soft Portrait Lightroom 4" or "Dreamy Portrait."
4. Choose a group to save the preset to. You can create a new group (e.g., "My Portrait Presets").
5. Crucially, select which settings to include in the preset. Be sure to *select* the checkboxes next to the settings you adjusted, such as:
* Exposure
* Contrast
* Highlights
* Shadows
* Whites
* Blacks
* Clarity
* Vibrance
* Saturation
* Tone Curve
* HSL/Color (Hue, Saturation, Luminance)
* Sharpening
* Noise Reduction
* Effects (Grain)
* Lens Corrections (if you enabled them)
6. Click "Create."
IV. Using the Preset:
1. Open a new portrait image in Lightroom.
2. Go to the Develop module.
3. Find your "Soft Portrait" preset in the Presets panel on the left.
4. Click on the preset to apply it.
V. Important Considerations and Tips:
* Adapt to the Image: Every image is different. Your preset will provide a starting point, but you'll likely need to make further adjustments based on the specific image's lighting, skin tone, and overall composition. Don't be afraid to tweak the settings after applying the preset.
* Skin Tone: Pay close attention to skin tones. Use the HSL/Color panel to fine-tune them so they look natural and flattering. Avoid making them too orange or unnatural.
* Over-Processing: Be careful not to over-process the image. Too much noise reduction or clarity reduction can make the skin look plastic or unnatural.
* Local Adjustments: Use the Adjustment Brush or Graduated Filter for local adjustments to further refine the image. For example, you might selectively reduce clarity or increase smoothing on the skin in specific areas. Also, use the brush to brighten the eyes.
* Blemish Removal: Use the Spot Removal tool to remove any blemishes or distractions.
* Experiment! The best way to find the perfect soft portrait look is to experiment with different settings and find what works best for your style and the images you typically work with.
* Backups: Always back up your presets so you don't lose them if you re-install Lightroom.
Example Starting Point Settings (Remember these are just starting points):
* Exposure: +0.3
* Contrast: -25
* Highlights: -20
* Shadows: +20
* Whites: -10
* Blacks: +10
* Clarity: -35
* Vibrance: +10
* Saturation: +5
* Tone Curve: Gentle S-curve
* HSL/Color (Orange Saturation): -8
* HSL/Color (Orange Luminance): +8
* Sharpening: 15 (low)
* Noise Reduction (Luminance): 25
* Noise Reduction (Color): 25
By following these steps and experimenting with the settings, you'll be able to create a beautiful and flattering "Soft Portrait" preset in Lightroom 4 that enhances your portrait photography. Good luck!