Started using Freq Separation as part of PP process after some excellent help from the POTN masters. Everything was going great, and have been successfully using the technique for several hundred photos.
A few days ago something went wrong, perhaps I accidently bumped something off from default in either LR or PS CC, but have been pulling hair out trying to debug and fix the problem. I cant get the low frequencies to adjust properly like before. The High Frequencies adjustments are also acting weird but still work, but still not like before.
Here's my workflow which hasn't changed in the past month:
1. Import from CF bringing CR2 RAW into LR CC Catalog
2. Grade photos, perform some initial global adjustments (lens profile, minor noise reduction & Sharp, etc.)
3. Export from LR CC (right click-Export to PS CC) first photo needing Freq Separation. (Export set to TIFF/16 Bit/AdobeRGB Color Space)
4. Image opens PS CC
5. Duplicate Background layer twice (first dup layer called 'blur', second dup layer called "texture')
6. Re-arrange layers (bottom=background middle=blur Top = texture)
7. Turn off Texture layer visibility, select blur layer
8. Filter - Blur - Gaussian Blur apply 2 -5 % to entire image
9. Turn on "texture' layer visibility, select "texture" layer
10. Image - Apply Image - (Source=original file name Input Layer = Blur / RGB Output = Target (File name (Texture/RGB) Blending=Subtract scale/offset = 2/128 (all else unchecked)
11. Set Texture Layer to "Linear Light" DONE
--- TEXTURE RETOUCHING: Select texture Layer - I usually use the Healing Brush ( hardness 5-10%) to touch up rough texture , this appears to be working, but the sampling is not appearing accurate as before.
--- Heres the real problem - BLUR RETOUCHING - Select Blur layer- I usually use the Lasso Tool ( feather 5 - 20% depending on area) to select an area need tone smoothing, then select Blur - Gaussian Blur. A Preview Box previously popped up which showed the image zoomed into the selected area, I previously could then use the Zoomed image and Radius Slider to fine tune the blending. NOW - The Preview Box still pops up, but the image is not of the selected area, it usually defaults to some other random area of the photo. The Slider still works, but the blending effect on the image is VERY crude and usually only has effect when extreme radius settings are used.
I've rechecked all my settings and can find nothing wrong. I even reset PS back to defaults (no change) and then completely reloaded PS with default settings (still no change) ----- I also cannot find ANY changes in my LR export settings......... One CHANGE from before I did notice, on import into PS the Camera RAW box would briefly open and make a conversion, this no longer occurs and the file directly opens in PS.
Sorry for being so verbose, but better to provide more information than not enough when requesting assistance. Any ideas?? This is driving me nuts and cant perform any freq separation PP until I get this resolved.
