Pixelated colors in clipped shadows

[Windy1]

Hello,

I recently updated Photoshop CC to 20.0.2 and updated Bridge CC (9.0.2) and Camera Raw to the most recent versions as well.  Suddenly, I am noticing that areas that are clipped in the shadows have strange, pixelated shapes and sometimes colors.  These are areas that are not important and that I don't mind being clipped.  I never noticed this in the past.  Other than lightening these areas, which I prefer to keep dark, is there anything I can do?  Is this something new happening with PS?  I see it in Raw files in Bridge as well, before editing anything, but not as obviously.  It is much worse after editing, which I suppose is because I darkened already dark areas.  I'm especially not sure why some areas are turning magenta.  I am attaching crops from different photos, including a longer screen shot of an area as seen in Bridge.  All photos have been edited.  I need to send these to print in a school program ASAP and can't have magenta popping up in odd places.  There is magenta along the person's neck and edge of face in the first photo, a streak in the girl's hair in the shadow in the second, and odd black shapes in the last.

 

I have a Mac laptop running Mojave 10.14.2 and Photoshop 20.0.2. It is over 2 years old, and has 16GB of RAM. Its hard drive has 218GB free out of 500GB. The last time I shut down was just before posting this thread. I have never run a cleanup program.

 

As always, thank you for your assistance,

Leslie

[Damien Symonds]

Hi @Windy1, given that I can't see what you're talking about, it suggests a problem with your screen or calibration, not with the files (which is good news!).

First, how long since you last calibrated?

[Windy1]

Oh wow - you can't?  I calibrated about a month ago, however I did update my computer since then.  It didn't even occur to me to calibrate since the update.  Shame on me!  I'm glad you can't see it.  I'll take a look on another computer.

Thank you!

[Windy1]

For what it's worth, the problem is only happening in Photoshop and it's related apps.  If I open the photo in Preview or view it in a mail program or on another computer in a non-PS app, the problem doesn't appear.  As long as it doesn't print that way, I'm happy.  Off to recalibrate!

Thanks again,

Leslie

[Damien Symonds]

Right.  Because only the Adobe apps are colour-managed.  That is, only those programs recognise and utilise your monitor profile.

That's another pointer towards a problem with the calibration profile.