All right. This might explain something and then again, maybe not. Anyway, if I just load RAW files directly into photomatix to make an HDR image the color gradients are generally smooth after I'm done with tonemapping. This, however, produces softer result than creating the HDR from TIFF-files generated with PPL from the RAW-files (no curve adjustements, everything as neutral as can be). So the results after tonemapping are:
1) Sharper output than with RAW files converted by photomatix
2) Somewhat more crude color gradients with skies and weirdo halo effects here and there
Also, pulling back slightly overexposed details in PPL often results in crude banding versus pulling details back in some other major converter. See this thread:
http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/p...-dxo-mark.html - Ishpuini pulled off some major recovery with lightroom. I cannot see that happening with PPL.