Damien Symonds

Correct. They apply the adjustments directly to the pixel layer. Very bad. What smart people do is go to Edit>Keyboard Shortcuts, and assign those shortcuts to add adjustment layers instead. Ctrl L to add a Levels adjustment layer, and so on. I wish Adobe would make that the default, you know?

http://www.damiensymonds.net/act_web.html

If you go to my site - damiensymonds.net - and type "eyes" in the search bar it should come up.

What about if you right-click on an image in the filmstrip? Is Export To in the contextual menu?

Darn. It's there in CS5. Maybe they've moved it to a different menu?

You should be able to use File>Export to>Hard Drive.

I see no reason why it would be unsafe to recalibrate.

Are you sure you didn't just do something silly like send them jpegs saved at extremely low quality?

Thanks, fixed.

Thanks. I think you simply didn't go strong enough with the D&S. I just had a try, and I think 10/7 does a good job.

May I see a 100% crop of the "before Dust & Scratches"?

Hi Nikki, yes, I think I can help with this. Go ahead and do your raw processing first, then post it again for me.

I'm out, I'm so sorry. You'll have to contact Adobe, I guess.

Uncheck "Use Graphics Processor" then restart your whole computer, and see if it makes any diff.

In Photoshop, can you go to Edit>Preferences, and take a screenshot of the Performance tab for me?

Crap.

Ok, let's reset Photoshop's preferences as well.

You said the images look ok in Bridge?

No, cache isn't the problem here. You really need to reset the preferences. If those instructions don't work for you, google "Reset preferences Adobe Bridge" and find some that do.

Ok, try this: http://blogs.adobe.com/jkost/2009/10/resetting_bridges_preferences.html

Oh, that's good news! Next question: From Bridge, there are two ways to open raw files into ACR. One is Ctrl O (for "open") and the other is Ctrl R. Can you try both, and see if both result in the problem? And I urge you to run Glary once a month.

Download the PSD file This is the easiest method I know, but it's NOT easy. You'll need to have read these two: http://www.damiensymonds.net/preventing-banding-in-backdrops/ http://www.damiensymonds.net/2012/10/using-photoshops-gradient-layer.html Basically, you set up the gradient layer as accurately as possible, then duplicate it twice. The bottom two have black masks, and are set to Screen and Multiply blend modes. You mask the top layer (using this where you can) and go fairly close to the hair. Then you start very patiently (with a very low opacity brush) you darken and lighten the difficult areas near the hair, using the Multiply and Screen layers respectively. Paint on those layers until the areas match the gradient as closely as possible. Repeat, this is NOT easy. Allow at least an hour, maybe more.

Christina is right, you have a BIG colour space problem here.

Yes, this. Plus a 100% crop as well.

Once you open a file from ACR to PS, does it look bad there too? If so, what about if you open a non-raw file into PS?