Damien Symonds

How's the calibration now?

The only way to do this properly is to replace the background altogether. https://www.damiensymonds.net/preventing-banding-in-backdrops/

Download: PSD 1 PSD 2 PSD 3

Ok, so it'll be the eyedropper method as described in this article: https://www.damiensymonds.net/levels-eyedropper

Has this been printed yet? How did it turn out?

Well, I have to think about the method I suggest to you, you see? What works for this photo might not work for another photo. So, could you show me one or two other close-ups of the problem as well?

Yeah, I can live with that too.

Ok. I'd asked for two versions of the photo - both before and after your fix. That would really help me if you could provide it, thanks.

Do you only have this one image to deal with? Or does this problem pop up a few times?

Sorry, forgot to add the photo:

This should work: Download PSD file Add the Channel Mixer layer first. Then go back and make the Levels layer below it, invert its mask, and paint on gently until the darkness is gone.

There's a "Report post" button in faint text at the top of every post and comment.

So you want to keep the box shape of the background?

Ok, thanks. And may I see an actual photo you've taken (with a subject in it), before and after your wall fix?

Ok, I understand more now. If you just sharpen up the masking (use a smaller brush) around the rug behind the baby's butt, I think it'll be fine.

May I see the whole photo as well, for context?

May I see the separate photos which you combined?

Yeah, that's just ok.

I wonder why it changed? That's a funny ol' glitch, all right.

Hooray!

That's right. Because mine is set to Bicubic.

This is well short of the 1/3rd free space that Brian recommends, but it's not dangerously small either, particularly since you restart regularly. I see no particular problem here. Bingo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It must be on Bicubic (best for smooth gradients).

Can you check something for me? Under Edit>Preferences>General, what is your "Image Interpolation" set to?

Just to be safe, can you do this for me?

What about if you have a smart object layer, and use Ctrl T to resize it bigger or smaller (no rotation). Does that end up with any blockiness?