1. Start with a Baseline (Optional but Recommended):
* Choose a Good Portrait: Find a portrait photo that is reasonably well-exposed and in focus. This will be your test subject.
* Reset to Defaults: Before you start, click the "Reset" button at the bottom of the right panel to return the image to its original state. This ensures you're starting from a neutral base.
2. Basic Panel Adjustments:
* Exposure: Slightly increase exposure if the image is underexposed. Around +0.10 to +0.30 might be good starting point. The goal is to brighten the skin slightly without blowing out highlights.
* Contrast: Decrease the contrast. This helps smooth out skin tones. Try -10 to -20 as a starting point.
* Highlights: Lower the highlights significantly. This recovers detail in bright areas like the forehead and cheeks, reducing harshness. Try -30 to -50.
* Shadows: Slightly increase the shadows. This opens up the darker areas of the face and provides more even lighting. Start with +10 to +20.
* Whites: Adjust whites cautiously. Slightly decrease them if highlights are still too bright, or slightly increase them if the image looks flat. -5 to +5 is usually sufficient.
* Blacks: Adjust blacks cautiously. A slight decrease can add some depth, but too much can make the image look muddy. -5 to +5 is usually sufficient.
3. Tone Curve Adjustments:
* Go to the Tone Curve panel. Click the Point Curve button (the little square with the curve).
* Create a Slight S-Curve (subtle): Instead of a dramatic S-curve for contrast, we want a very *gentle* S-curve to add a touch of depth without harshness.
* Midtones: Click on the curve in the midtones (roughly the center) and drag it up *slightly* to brighten them.
* Shadows: Click on the curve in the shadow area (lower left) and drag it down *slightly* to darken them.
* Highlights: Avoid creating a steep curve in the highlight region. The goal is subtle.
This subtle S-curve adds a touch of contrast and depth while maintaining the soft feel. Be very careful not to overdo it. If it looks harsh, undo it and try again with smaller movements.
4. HSL/Color Adjustments:
* Luminance: This is where you can really refine the skin tones.
* Orange and Red: Increase the luminance of the orange and red sliders. This brightens skin tones. Start with +10 to +20 for both. Be careful not to overbrighten, as it can look artificial.
* Yellow: Slightly increase the luminance of yellow if the image has a warm cast or if the subject has blonde hair.
* Saturation:
* Orange and Red: Decrease the saturation of orange and red slightly to reduce any overly vibrant skin tones. -5 to -10 might be good.
* Other Colors: You may want to subtly adjust the saturation of other colors in the image, like blues (for the sky) or greens (for foliage), to complement the portrait.
* Hue: You can subtly shift the hues of colors. For instance, shifting the orange hue slightly towards red can give a warmer skin tone. Be VERY subtle with these adjustments.
5. Detail Adjustments (Sharpening and Noise Reduction):
* Sharpening: Reduce the sharpening amount. Soft portraits don't need to be razor-sharp.
* Amount: Decrease the "Amount" slider to around 20-40.
* Radius: Keep the "Radius" relatively small (around 1.0).
* Detail: Decrease the "Detail" slider to reduce the appearance of texture. Start around 20-30.
* Masking: Increase the "Masking" slider to protect smoother areas (like skin) from being over-sharpened. Try values between 50 and 80. Hold the ALT/Option key while dragging the Masking slider to see what areas are being masked.
* Noise Reduction: Increase Luminance noise reduction. This smooths out skin and reduces grain.
* Luminance: Increase the "Luminance" slider until you achieve a smooth look. Start around 10-20, and adjust as needed. Be careful not to overdo it, as it can make the skin look plastic.
* Color: You might also want to slightly increase "Color" noise reduction (5-10) to reduce color artifacts.
* Detail: Reduce "Detail" slider under noise reduction to further smooth out the skin.
6. Lens Corrections and Camera Calibration (Optional):
* Lens Corrections: In the "Lens Corrections" panel, check the "Remove Chromatic Aberration" and "Enable Profile Corrections" boxes. This will correct any lens distortion or color fringing.
* Camera Calibration: Experiment with the Camera Calibration settings (especially the "Profile") to see if any of them enhance your image. These settings are camera-specific and can affect the overall color tone. The "Camera Standard" profile is a good starting point.
7. Effects (Optional):
* Vignetting: A subtle, negative vignetting (darkening the corners) can help draw the viewer's eye to the subject. Use the "Amount" slider in the "Effects" panel, and keep the value very small (e.g., -5 to -15). Increase the "Midpoint" slider to keep the vignetting subtle.
8. Save the Preset:
* Click the "+" button in the Presets panel on the left.
* Give your preset a descriptive name, such as "Soft Portrait v1" or "Smooth Skin Portrait."
* Carefully choose which settings you want to include in the preset. Generally, you'll want to include:
* Basic Tone: Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Shadows, Whites, Blacks
* Tone Curve: Point Curve
* HSL/Color: Hue, Saturation, Luminance
* Detail: Sharpening and Noise Reduction
* Lens Corrections: Profile Corrections
* Effects: Vignetting (if used)
* Camera Calibration: Profile (if used)
* Click "Create."
Important Considerations and Tips:
* Subtlety is Key: Soft portraits are all about subtlety. Avoid extreme adjustments.
* Skin Tone is Crucial: Pay close attention to skin tones. The goal is to make them look natural and healthy, not orange, gray, or plastic.
* Experiment: Don't be afraid to experiment with different settings to find what works best for your style and the specific image.
* Iterate: Create multiple versions of your preset. You might have a "Soft Portrait - Bright" and a "Soft Portrait - Dark," for example.
* Apply Selectively: Remember that you can always adjust the preset after you apply it to a photo. Sometimes a preset is a great starting point, but needs tweaking for the specific image. The Adjustment Brush and Graduated Filter tools can be helpful for making targeted adjustments.
* Calibration for Different Photos: Your preset might not work perfectly on every photo. Factors like lighting conditions, subject skin tone, and camera settings can all influence the results. Be prepared to tweak the preset slightly for each image.
* Backup Your Presets: Lightroom presets are valuable. Back them up regularly! They are typically stored in a folder within your Lightroom settings directory.
By following these steps and experimenting, you can create a beautiful and effective "Soft Portrait" preset in Lightroom 4 that will enhance your portrait photography. Remember to practice and refine your preset over time as you develop your own style.