1. Start with a Baseline Photo:
* Choose a portrait photo that you'd typically work on. This will allow you to visually assess the effects of your adjustments. Ideally, it should be a photo with good lighting and composition as a starting point.
2. Basic Panel Adjustments:
* Exposure: Slightly increase the exposure if the image is underexposed. Don't overdo it, as you'll brighten it more later. A general range is +0.10 to +0.30.
* Contrast: Lower the contrast significantly. This is crucial for a soft look. Try -20 to -40 as a starting point. Lower contrast reduces harsh shadows and highlights, making the skin appear smoother.
* Highlights: Decrease the highlights. This helps recover detail in bright areas and soften them further. Try -30 to -50.
* Shadows: Increase the shadows. This opens up the darker areas and reduces harshness. Try +20 to +40.
* Whites: Slightly decrease the whites. This prevents any pure white areas from appearing too harsh. Try -10 to -20.
* Blacks: Slightly increase the blacks. This adds a subtle touch of contrast and depth without being harsh. Try +5 to +15.
3. Tone Curve Adjustments:
* The Tone Curve is key to creating a soft, airy feel. Use the Point Curve (accessed by clicking the "Point Curve" icon next to the "Region" dropdown).
* Create an S-Curve (but gentle):
* Lift the Shadows: Click on the line in the bottom left corner and drag it slightly upwards. This "lifts" the shadows, making them brighter and contributing to the soft look.
* Soften the Highlights: Click on the line in the top right corner and drag it slightly downwards. This softens the highlights.
* Mild Midtone Pull: Optionally, create a very slight "S" curve by gently pulling down the midtones a little. This adds a subtle contrast boost without harshness. The curve should be subtle, not steep.
4. HSL/Color Adjustments:
* Luminance:
* Orange: Increase the Luminance of the Orange slider to brighten skin tones. Try +5 to +20. This is usually the most important slider here.
* Red: Increase the Luminance of the Red slider slightly to complement the orange. +5 to +10.
* Yellow: Decrease the Luminance of the Yellow slider slightly if it's too bright (especially in outdoor shots). -5 to -10.
* Saturation:
* Orange: Decrease the Saturation of the Orange slider *slightly*. Overly saturated orange skin can look unnatural. Try -5 to -10.
* Red: Decrease the Saturation of the Red slider *slightly*. -5 to -10.
* Yellow: Reduce Yellow saturation slightly to avoid a yellowish cast, especially if the highlights are leaning that way. -5 to -10.
* Hue: Leave this section mostly untouched unless you need to correct specific color casts.
5. Detail Panel Adjustments:
* Sharpening: Reduce the amount of sharpening. A soft portrait shouldn't be overly sharp. Consider setting the "Amount" to around 20-30 (or lower, depending on the original image).
* Radius: Keep the radius low (around 1.0).
* Detail: Increase the detail slider slightly to retain some texture. Around 25-35.
* Masking: Increase the masking slider to only sharpen edges and prevent sharpening noise in smooth areas like skin. A masking value of 50-70 can be good. Hold down the Alt/Option key while adjusting Masking to visualize what's being sharpened.
* Noise Reduction (Luminance): Apply a small amount of luminance noise reduction to smooth out skin. Start with a value of 5-15 and increase as needed, but be careful not to overdo it, as it can make the skin look plastic-like. Adjust the "Detail" and "Contrast" sliders within the Noise Reduction panel to refine the effect.
6. Lens Corrections:
* Enable Profile Corrections: Check the "Enable Profile Corrections" box to correct for lens distortion and chromatic aberration. This often improves the overall image quality.
* Remove Chromatic Aberration: Check the "Remove Chromatic Aberration" box.
7. Effects Panel Adjustments:
* Vignette: Add a very subtle vignette (negative value) to draw the viewer's eye towards the subject. Amount: -5 to -10. Adjust the Midpoint and Roundness for desired effect.
* Grain: Adding a *small* amount of grain (Amount: 5-10, Size: Small, Roughness: Low) can add a touch of texture and film-like quality to a digital image, which can sometimes complement the softness. This is optional.
8. Calibration Panel: (Often skipped, but can be useful)
* Experiment with the Red, Green, and Blue Primary sliders to adjust the overall color tone. Small adjustments here can fine-tune the look. Be subtle.
9. Save the Preset:
1. In the left panel, click the "+" button next to "Presets."
2. Give your preset a descriptive name (e.g., "Soft Portrait - Subtle Glow").
3. Carefully select the settings you want to include in the preset. Crucially, uncheck any settings that are specific to the individual image you used (e.g., Exposure, White Balance). You want the preset to be adaptable to other photos. Settings like contrast, highlights, shadows, tone curve, sharpening, and noise reduction are usually good to include. Lens Corrections are also good to include.
4. Click "Create."
Important Considerations:
* White Balance: Don't include White Balance in your preset. White balance is highly dependent on the lighting conditions of each photo, so it's best to adjust it separately for each image.
* Exposure: As mentioned above, don't include Exposure in your preset. Exposure will vary drastically from image to image.
* Individual Photos Vary: This preset is a starting point. You'll likely need to make further adjustments to individual photos based on their specific lighting, composition, and subject.
* Subtlety is Key: The best soft portrait presets are subtle. Overdoing the effects can result in an unnatural or overly processed look.
* Experiment! Don't be afraid to experiment with different settings and combinations to find what works best for your style. Duplicate the preset and make variations.
Troubleshooting:
* Skin Tone Problems: If the skin looks too orange or muddy, adjust the Orange and Red Luminance and Saturation sliders in the HSL/Color panel.
* Overly Smooth Skin: If the skin looks too smooth and lacks texture, reduce the amount of Noise Reduction and increase the Sharpening Detail slider.
* Harsh Shadows: If shadows are still too harsh, increase the Shadows slider and further adjust the Tone Curve.
By following these steps, you can create a "Soft Portrait" preset in Lightroom 4 that will give your portraits a gentle, flattering look. Remember to adjust the settings to suit each individual image for the best results. Good luck!