1. Import and Select an Image:
* Open Lightroom 4 and import the portrait you want to use as a reference. Choose an image that you think could benefit from softening.
* Select the image and go to the Develop module.
2. Basic Panel Adjustments:
* Exposure: Adjust this to get a good overall brightness for your subject. Slightly overexposing can contribute to the soft look, but be careful not to blow out highlights. Experiment between +0.3 to +0.7 stops.
* Contrast: Lowering the contrast is crucial for the soft look. Try a value between -20 and -40. This reduces harsh shadows and highlights.
* Highlights: Reduce highlights to recover details in bright areas of the face, such as the forehead or cheeks. Experiment between -20 and -50.
* Shadows: Increase shadows to lift the darker areas and further even out the tone. Try values between +20 and +50.
* Whites: Fine-tune the whites to control overall brightness. A slight decrease (-5 to -15) can help prevent clipping.
* Blacks: Similar to whites, adjust blacks carefully. A slight increase (+5 to +15) can add a bit of "lift" to the image.
3. Tone Curve Adjustments:
* The Tone Curve is vital for a soft, matte look. Use the Point Curve (the one with the graph).
* Create a subtle "S-Curve" but in reverse.
* Slightly raise the black point (lower left) to lift the shadows and create a matte effect.
* Slightly lower the white point (upper right) to tame the highlights a bit more.
* Make sure the curve isn't too drastic; subtle changes are key.
* Alternatively, you can experiment with the Parametric Curve for broader control.
* The goal is to reduce the overall contrast and flatten the tonal range.
4. HSL/Color Adjustments:
* Hue: Make subtle adjustments to skin tones.
* Slightly shift the orange towards red for warmer skin.
* Slightly shift the yellow towards orange for a healthier glow.
* Saturation: Reduce the saturation in certain colors, especially reds and oranges, to make skin tones look more natural and less harsh. Try -5 to -15 on oranges and reds.
* Luminance: Adjust the luminance (brightness) of colors.
* Increase the luminance of oranges and yellows to brighten skin tones.
* Be careful not to overdo this, as it can make skin look artificial.
5. Split Toning Adjustments (Optional):
* Adding subtle color toning can enhance the soft feel.
* Highlights: Add a warm tone to the highlights. Choose a hue in the orange/yellow range (25-40) with a low saturation (5-10).
* Shadows: Add a slightly cooler tone to the shadows. Choose a hue in the blue/purple range (220-240) with a low saturation (5-10).
* Adjust the Balance slider to favor either highlights or shadows. A slightly higher balance towards highlights is usually preferred.
6. Detail Panel Adjustments:
* Sharpening: Reduce sharpening significantly. This is crucial for a soft look. Set the Amount to a low value (e.g., 0-20).
* Radius: Keep the radius low (around 0.5-1.0).
* Detail: Lower the detail slider to further soften the image.
* Masking: Use masking to apply sharpening only to specific areas, if necessary. This is less important for a soft portrait.
* Noise Reduction: Increase luminance noise reduction to smooth out skin textures. Start with a value between 10 and 20 and adjust as needed. Be careful not to over-smooth, as this can make the image look plastic. Color noise reduction is usually good to leave around its default value.
7. Lens Corrections:
* Go to the Lens Corrections panel.
* Check the box for Remove Chromatic Aberration.
* Consider checking the box for Enable Profile Corrections if Lightroom recognizes your lens. This can often improve sharpness and reduce distortion. However, for a soft portrait, you might *skip* this step to preserve a slightly softer look.
8. Effects Panel:
* Vignetting: Add a subtle vignette (either positive or negative) to draw the viewer's eye to the subject. Use the Amount slider under Post-Crop Vignetting. A slight negative vignette (darkening the edges) is more common for portraits, but a subtle positive vignette (brightening the edges) can add to the dreamy feel.
* Grain: Consider adding a small amount of grain for a more film-like texture. However, for very smooth, soft portraits, you might skip this step.
9. Save the Preset:
* Once you are happy with the results, go to the Presets panel on the left side of the Develop module.
* Click the "+" button to create a new preset.
* Give the preset a descriptive name, such as "Soft Portrait" or "Dreamy Portrait."
* Carefully choose which settings to include in the preset. This is important! You'll generally want to include:
* Basic Tone (Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Shadows, Whites, Blacks)
* Tone Curve
* HSL/Color
* Split Toning
* Detail (Sharpening and Noise Reduction)
* Lens Corrections (if desired)
* Effects (Vignetting and Grain)
* Uncheck any settings that are specific to the particular image you used to create the preset (e.g., camera profile).
* Click Create.
Important Considerations:
* Subtlety is Key: The goal is to enhance, not drastically alter, the image.
* Skin Tone: Pay close attention to skin tones. Over-processed skin can look unnatural.
* Experimentation: Don't be afraid to experiment with different settings and find what works best for your style and the specific image.
* Apply and Adjust: Presets are starting points. You'll likely need to fine-tune the settings on each image to get the best results.
* Batch Processing: Once you have a preset you like, you can apply it to multiple images and then make individual adjustments as needed.
By following these steps, you can create a versatile "Soft Portrait" preset in Lightroom 4 that will help you achieve beautiful, flattering results. Remember to adjust the settings to suit the specific characteristics of each individual photograph. Good luck!