1. Import and Select a Portrait Image:
* Import your portrait image into Lightroom.
* Select the image you want to work with. It's best to choose a portrait with good lighting and minimal distractions.
2. Basic Panel Adjustments:
* Exposure: Slightly increase exposure (e.g., +0.10 to +0.30) if the image is underexposed. Be careful not to overexpose, especially highlights.
* Contrast: Reduce contrast significantly (e.g., -15 to -30). This helps to flatten the tonal range and create a softer look.
* Highlights: Reduce highlights (e.g., -20 to -40). This helps recover detail in bright areas and soften the overall image.
* Shadows: Increase shadows (e.g., +20 to +40). This brightens up the darker areas, making the image less contrasty and more evenly lit.
* Whites: Adjust Whites carefully. You might slightly increase them to brighten the overall image, but avoid clipping.
* Blacks: Adjust Blacks carefully. You might slightly decrease them to add a touch of depth, but avoid crushing the blacks.
3. Tone Curve Adjustments (Optional, but recommended):
* Click on the Tone Curve Panel.
* S-Curve: Create a *very* subtle S-curve. A slight upward curve in the shadows and a slight downward curve in the highlights will add a gentle contrast while maintaining softness. Use the point curve for more precise control. The parametric curve can also work, but it's less precise.
4. HSL/Color Panel Adjustments:
* Hue:
* Orange: Slightly shift the orange hue towards red. This can enhance skin tones. (e.g., +3 to +5)
* Yellow: Slightly shift the yellow hue towards orange or green, depending on the skin tones. Be subtle.
* Saturation:
* Orange: Reduce orange saturation slightly (e.g., -5 to -15). This helps to desaturate skin tones a bit, contributing to a softer look.
* Yellow: Reduce yellow saturation slightly if the image has too much yellow cast.
* Luminance:
* Orange: Increase orange luminance (e.g., +5 to +15). This brightens the skin tones.
* Yellow: Adjust yellow luminance to control the brightness of yellows in the image. Be subtle.
* Red: Experiment. Increasing red luminance can brighten lips, but be careful not to overdo it.
5. Detail Panel Adjustments (Crucial for Softness):
* Sharpening: Reduce sharpening significantly. The default value is often too high for soft portraits.
* Amount: Lower the amount drastically (e.g., 0 to 20). You might even set it to 0 for a very soft look.
* Radius: Reduce the radius to the minimum (e.g., 0.5). This further reduces the sharpening effect.
* Detail: Lower the detail slider to reduce edge detail.
* Masking: Increase the masking slider to only sharpen edges and avoid sharpening skin texture.
* Noise Reduction: Increase luminance noise reduction to smooth out skin.
* Luminance: Increase luminance noise reduction (e.g., 15 to 30). Start low and increase gradually until you achieve the desired smoothness. Be careful not to overdo it, as it can make the skin look plastic.
* Detail: Adjust the detail slider in the noise reduction section to control how much fine detail is preserved.
6. Effects Panel Adjustments (Optional):
* Vignetting: Add a subtle negative vignette (e.g., -5 to -15). This can draw the viewer's eye towards the subject.
* Grain: Adding a small amount of grain can sometimes enhance the film-like look, but it's not always necessary for a soft portrait. Experiment with it.
7. Calibration Panel Adjustments (Optional, but can influence color rendering):
* This panel can be used to subtly influence the overall color rendering. Experiment, but be careful not to introduce unwanted color casts.
8. Save as a Preset:
* Go to the Presets panel (usually on the left side).
* Click the "+" icon (or the "New Preset" button).
* Name your preset something descriptive, like "Soft Portrait - [Your Name]" or "Dreamy Portrait."
* Carefully check the boxes next to the settings you want to include in the preset. It's generally a good idea to *uncheck* things like:
* White Balance: White balance often varies greatly between images.
* Transform: Transform settings are specific to each image.
* Spot Removal: Spot removal is image-specific.
* Crop: Crop settings are image-specific.
* Click "Create."
Tips and Considerations:
* Subtlety is Key: The best soft portrait presets are subtle. Avoid extreme adjustments.
* Adjust to Each Image: Presets are a starting point. You will almost always need to fine-tune the settings for each individual image to get the best results. Pay particular attention to exposure, white balance, and skin tones.
* Skin Tone Accuracy: Pay close attention to skin tones. Use the HSL/Color panel to adjust them as needed. You want the skin to look healthy and natural.
* Avoid Over-Smoothing: It's tempting to over-smooth skin, but this can make it look unnatural and plastic. Strive for a balance between softness and detail.
* Experiment! The best way to create a preset that works for you is to experiment with different settings and find what you like best.
* Presets are Non-Destructive: Lightroom presets are non-destructive, meaning they don't permanently alter your original image file. You can always remove the preset or modify it.
* Backup Your Presets: It's a good idea to back up your Lightroom presets in case of computer problems.
Example Preset Settings (Starting Point):
* Basic Panel:
* Exposure: +0.20
* Contrast: -20
* Highlights: -30
* Shadows: +30
* Whites: +5
* Blacks: -5
* Tone Curve: Subtle S-Curve
* HSL/Color:
* Orange Saturation: -10
* Orange Luminance: +10
* Detail:
* Sharpening Amount: 0
* Noise Reduction Luminance: 20
Remember to adjust these settings to suit your individual images and preferences. Good luck!