I am experiencing image quality degradation using certain LR3 develop module settings in images with a broad range of tonal value.
Certain images that I have worked on recently have developed pixellation, banding and chromatic aberration issues that I have not experienced before. My issues seem to arise mostly when using the HSL color adjustments (especially luminosity) and the GND tool to achieve graduated darkening and saturation of bright sky areas, particularly around the bright edges of backlit clouds. I am also having difficulty controlling C.A. along the skyline profile edges of the same images. I am admittedly trying to achieve fairly strong luminosity adjustments, but I have never had these kinds of issues before. If I back off on the intensity of the adjustments being applied, the issues diminish, but then I do not achieve the result I intend.
I am wondering if my LR skills are not up to snuff, or if I'd be better off trying to make these adjustments in PS, or if I'm simply trying to go too far with these files. I've stopped using Capture One as my raw processor given that LR3 has, up until now, seemed to do a great job, but maybe I need to go back to that? (Until LR3 came out I was an Aperture user, and used C1/5 as my raw processor prior to importing files into Aperture.)
I am shooting 16bit raw files (Phase One P30 back, Mamiya 645 AFD3), and importing directly into LR3 for raw conversion, using 64bit mode. Images were shot at ISO 100, f16, with a Mamiya MF 35mm lens and 3 and 5 stop Galen Rowell soft GND filters.
Can anyone provide help with any of this?
Thanks!
Other images from this group that I have had trouble with can be seen at:
http://jamesbourret.photoshelter.com/gallery/Sawtooth-Range-Idaho/G0000.z2dveewazs/P00005Dv5c42raL4Specifically images 2,3,14