The original in 16-bit mode is linear 12-bit acquire using Canon eos*dcs3 camera into Photoshop 15-bit space and then cropped.

Gaussian blur in gamma space flattens light areas and does not bite to dark edges well.

Toggle between the linear edit and gamma edit and see what happens to the C, Y and M colors at the upper left in the image, M(agenta) changes considerably.

There is also other hue-changes in the shadows.

Linear space processing

1. Open the original linear higher bit-depth image.
2. convert to 8-bit mode.
3. apply Gaussiaan Blur at radius=0.9.
4. apply inverse gamma 2.2.
5. save as jpeg using quality factor 4.

Gamma-space processing

1. Open the original linear higher bit-depth image.
2. apply inverse gamma 2.2.
3. convert to 8-bit mode.
4. apply Gaussiaan Blur at radius=0.9.
5. save as jpeg using quality factor 4.