Getting a clean smooth grad background...

[P_fuzz]

I am on fire posting up new threads...

I have some portraits that usually end up showing a blotchy background due to creases in the old colorama rolls I refuse to waste (tight budget)

Do all photographers keep their background in a state of perfection or there is a trick to even/smooth things out?

I saw amy dresser just paints over at low opacity... is that the way to go for that clean grey bg?

any tips

[Adrianr]

You can sort a lot of background problems with usual heal/stamp and then dodging and burning as you would with any tonal area you wish to even out. Alternatively if the picture requires absolute perfection, mask out the subject and drop in your own with solid colour + gradients if necessary. Obviously for full length studio shots the drop in method is a little trickier as you have to account for shadows of the model etc.

Also don't forget if it's the popular grey/neutral background, a desat layer will rid you of any colour casts (common if the photographer is shooting with flash but still has all the studio lights turned on :p).

[manpreetah]

P_Fuzz, How many images are there to be cleaned/evened for BG???