Damien Symonds

Hi Cindy, here's the PSD. I've used simple Solid Color layer where you will use a Gradient layer instead, but importantly, I want you to see the Levels layer.

Can you still open them ok?

Free is fine.

Great! So that confirms it isn't your computer. Have you calibrated this one?

Hi Lloyd, please don't do any editing until you've finished the class. This is all explained.

Well, it makes everything the same colour. Are you satisfied with it?

So far so good. The question is, should we remove the texture from the parts of the blanket where it's visible? I mean, do you feel it's too obvious that there are some textured parts and some not?

Well, is the temporary monitor ok?

"Pow" doesn't happen in raw. Just do your clean processing exactly as normal.

Ok, can you open one of the photos that shows banding, and go to Edit>Assign Profile, and assign the monitor profile to the image, and tell me if that makes it better, or worse, or the same.

Use the eyedropper, like this, to match the dark section to the light section - roughly match, at least. Then it's the normal matter of using a gradient layer to replace the whole background.

No, it has nothing to do with File>Place or Smart Objects. May I see a closeup of that area?

Replacing the background is the only safe solution. May I see your "fake looking" attempt?

Oh gee, 4GB is only half of the minimum RAM that Adobe recommends for running CC. Definitely start by running this.

Have you found another photo with a suitable bit of toe for swapping? In what way is this one different? May I see one of the other photos on which you did it successfully?

I still think I see it, a tiny bit.

I agree with Sam. And I'd say once you fix the colour, you might not even need much dodging.

This is the best I can offer. It's not perfect, but an improvement to a degree, at least. First, a fabric-coloured Solid Color layer on Lighten mode, and paint gently (10% brush) over the darkest areas. Then the Hue/Sat layer over the top.

Yeah, no, Channel Mixer won't work here, because the tones aren't different enough.

You've restarted your computer, I trust?

Was the banding evident before you calibrated, do you remember?

Ok, I don't think that's cause for concern. As long as it's not there at 100%, you'll be fine.

What about at 50% and 25%? Banding or no banding?

Yay!

Check this: