IMovie 9 quality problem, investigation

I'm really confused where the iMovie image problem is coming from. As with most of Apple's data files you can right click on any iMovie project to check out whats inside and strange enough it stores movies and images in full quality.
I have tried to render the same photo in iMovie 5 HD, iMovie 9, FinalCut Pro 7 and PulpMotion and only iMovie 9 displays the weird posterization in dark gradient areas. It also seems to have a problem with the colours.
So now what? iMovie 9 has fun themes, is very easy to use, great features but I can't get decent results with still photos. Other applications and versions do great export but miss features or are cumbersome to use. Anyone got any suggestions?

I never said iMovie stores what it exports in the file. I'm trying to troubleshoot so was trying to eliminate causes for the bad image quality. Seeing the imported images are still of good quality inside the iMovie project file there is no problem with the importer.
I have just done my test again, created a 1280 x 720 file from a high res photo, imported that straight into iMovie 9 and Final Cut Express. Then exported from both the projects, both with highest setting and both 1280 x 720 and no video effects. I should get the same image. I do in Final Cut Express but not in iMovie 9, there is a world of difference.
You tell me how I can avoid this?

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