Help with a background replacement

[JamieStefankoPhotography]

Just trying for a realistic looking background replacement - the joys of not having a studio and backdrops. Not looking to print it, but the banding was pretty awful - think the noise layer is at 40% here. Anything I can do to improve this? SOOR and edit.

[Damien Symonds]

May I see a screenshot, showing your layers panel?

Is this what you were doing?

[JamieStefankoPhotography]

Sure - I used the dreaded Quick Selection tool, but believe me, it was a last resort. There's levels work above not shown, but that's mostly on his face.

 

[JamieStefankoPhotography]

And I'm wondering if the issue is that I used solid color layers instead of gradients. 

[Damien Symonds]

What the heck????  This is a complete disaster.  WAAAAY too many pixel layers.

Have you read the Layers & Masks Class yet?

[JamieStefankoPhotography]

I did. I was literally just trying different things to see what would work, it's not my normal workflow. 

[Damien Symonds]

Well, start over.

[JamieStefankoPhotography]

Sure. However, there's one pixel layer I'm having trouble getting rid of, and that's the separate one of my son away from the background (and even this isn't perfect, but better than what I'm coming up with). The most careful of masking isn't really helping me with this. 

[Damien Symonds]

Just delete all the layers, and show me the SOOR.

[JamieStefankoPhotography]

[Damien Symonds]

Thank you.  And you want a circular gradient in the background, which is black on the outside and very dark blue in the middle, is that correct?

[JamieStefankoPhotography]

Yep, that's what I'm looking for. I really don't mind a dark grey instead of blue either (meaning, grabbing from the color in the background) if it makes it work easier. This is why I ended up resorting to that stupid Quick Select.

[Damien Symonds]

Ok, so, just add the gradient.

http://www.damiensymonds.net/preventing-banding-in-backdrops/

[JamieStefankoPhotography]

And you suggest just careful masking around the subject?

[Damien Symonds]

Yes.  And as you said, it will be much easier if you choose a colour that's most similar to the colour that's already there.  Plus, of course, use the Shift key.

[Damien Symonds]

Here's my attempt

[JamieStefankoPhotography]

Damien - I somehow missed the notification for this, just seeing it now. Fantastic job, as always. Will take a closer look after dinner, and give it a try on a few other pictures - thank you.