1. Start with a Base Image:
* Open a portrait photo in Lightroom 4. It's best to choose an image with decent lighting and a clear subject.
2. Basic Tone Adjustments:
* Exposure: Adjust as needed to achieve a well-lit image. Generally, increasing exposure slightly can contribute to a softer look. Aim for slightly brighter than usual. (e.g., +0.10 to +0.30 - adjust to your base image)
* Contrast: Lowering contrast is crucial for a soft portrait. Reduce it significantly. (e.g., -20 to -40). This will flatten the tonal range and make the image less harsh.
* Highlights: Reduce highlights. This recovers detail in brighter areas and prevents blown-out skin. (e.g., -30 to -60)
* Shadows: Raise shadows to reveal detail in darker areas and further reduce contrast. (e.g., +20 to +50)
* Whites: Slightly adjust the whites. Often, subtly reducing them is beneficial. (e.g., -5 to -15)
* Blacks: Slightly raise the blacks to flatten the image further. This also helps to create a more faded look. (e.g., +5 to +15)
3. Tone Curve Adjustments (Subtle S-Curve):
* The Tone Curve allows for finer control of contrast. A very subtle S-curve can add a touch of contrast back in without being harsh.
* Click the Point Curve icon (the small curve graph).
* Medium Contrast: (My recommendation for Soft Portrait) You'll adjust the curve manually.
* Create two points: One in the shadows area (lower left) and one in the highlights area (upper right).
* Gently lift the shadows point slightly (move it up a little). This further brightens the dark areas.
* Gently lower the highlights point slightly (move it down a little). This further darkens the bright areas.
* Keep the curve very gentle. Overdoing this will undo your previous contrast reduction.
4. Clarity and Sharpness:
* Clarity: Reduce clarity significantly. This is one of the most important steps for creating a soft look. (e.g., -20 to -50 or even more, depending on the image). Clarity adds mid-tone contrast, and reducing it softens details and reduces harshness.
* Sharpening: Reduce sharpening, or even turn it off completely. Soft portraits generally aren't highly sharpened.
* Go to the Detail panel.
* Set "Amount" to a very low value (e.g., 0-25) or to zero.
* Increase "Masking" (e.g., 50-80) to limit sharpening to edges only, preserving the smooth skin texture.
5. Noise Reduction:
* Consider adding a small amount of noise reduction. This can further smooth out skin and contribute to the overall soft effect.
* Go to the Detail panel.
* Increase "Luminance" noise reduction (e.g., 5-15). Be careful not to overdo it, as it can make the image look artificial.
6. HSL/Color Adjustments (Optional):
* These adjustments are optional but can refine the preset further.
* Saturation: Consider subtly reducing saturation in the reds and oranges to soften skin tones. (e.g., Red -5 to -10, Orange -5 to -10).
* Luminance: Slightly increase the luminance of oranges to brighten skin tones. (e.g., Orange +5 to +15).
7. Split Toning (Optional):
* Split toning can add a subtle color cast. This is a matter of personal preference.
* Highlights: Add a very subtle warm tone (e.g., Hue around 35-45, Saturation 2-5) for a slightly golden glow.
* Shadows: Add a very subtle cool tone (e.g., Hue around 220-240, Saturation 2-5) for a subtle contrast.
* Balance: Adjust the balance slider to fine-tune the effect.
8. Calibration (Optional):
* Calibration adjustments can have a significant impact on color and tone. Experiment with these *after* your other adjustments.
* Red Primary: Often, moving the Red Primary hue slider slightly towards orange can improve skin tones. (e.g., Hue +5 to +10).
* Green Primary: Adjusting the Green Primary hue can impact the overall color cast of the image. Experiment until you find a pleasing result.
9. Save the Preset:
* Once you're happy with the adjustments:
* Click the "+" button in the Presets panel on the left side of Lightroom.
* Name your preset (e.g., "Soft Portrait", "Dreamy Portrait").
* In the "New Develop Preset" window, check the boxes for all the settings you've adjusted (Basic Tone, Tone Curve, Detail, HSL, Split Toning, Camera Calibration, etc.). Important: Make sure "Process Version" is checked.
* Click "Create."
Important Considerations:
* Every Image is Different: The settings provided are starting points. You'll likely need to tweak the preset for each individual image, as lighting, skin tone, and subject matter will vary.
* Subtlety is Key: The best soft portrait presets are subtle. Avoid extreme adjustments.
* Experiment: Play around with the settings to find what works best for your style.
* Skin Tone: Pay close attention to skin tones. Ensure they look natural and healthy. Use the HSL adjustments to refine them.
* Before/After Comparison: Use the "backslash" (\) key to toggle between the original and adjusted image to see the impact of your settings.
* Process Version: Ensure your Lightroom is using the latest process version for optimal results. If not, upgrade to the most recent version. However, since you specified Lightroom 4, make sure "Process Version" is checked when saving the preset to ensure compatibility.
Troubleshooting:
* Preset Looks Too Blurry: Reduce the reduction in Clarity or add a touch of sharpening.
* Skin Tones Look Unnatural: Adjust the HSL settings for red, orange, and yellow.
* Image Looks Too Flat: Add a very subtle S-curve in the Tone Curve or increase the contrast slightly.
* Image Looks Too Dark: Increase the exposure or shadows.
By following these steps and experimenting with the settings, you can create a beautiful and effective soft portrait preset in Lightroom 4. Remember to adjust the preset for each image to achieve the best results. Good luck!