Lightroom is a great photo editor, but it can be hard to soften images in the program. Here are some tips to help make your photos more gentle and less harsh.

  1. Choose the right tools for the job. When softening images, you need to use a variety of tools: a soft brush, a light pencil, or a cloning tool. You also need to be careful not to overdo it—too much softened image will make your photos look artificial and unnatural.
  2. Use saturation levels wisely. Saturation levels can play an important role in how softened images look. Too much saturation will make your photos look too bright and harsh; too little saturation will give your photos a more natural appearance.
  3. Use contrast levels wisely. Contrast levels can also play an important role in how softened images look—too much contrast will make your photos look too dark and gritty; too little contrast will give your photos a more realistic appearance.