Background colour in Photoshop

[andy1868]

So just a quick question. I'm just experimenting in photoshop at the moment with some images i took a while back. At the moment the backdrop is white seamless and i was hoping to add some colour to jazz them up abit, and make them match their subjects abit more. This is my example

This is what i'm looking to achieve and this is one i've been messing about with. My method at the minute is just selecting the inverse of the subject and using a new fill layer with the selected colour, then dropping the opacity til it looks half natural. Is there another method to make it look more natural? Or am i being too critical of my own shot here (i've been looking at the screen for quite a while! )

Please ignore the shadow in the bottom right, it shouldn't be there but that's not important right now

I'd also be interested to know if anyone knows a good way of perhaps getting a little texture into the backdrop. I know i can do the same with a pattern file instead of solid colour but i can't get it looking anywhere near right

 

[Raptor Mike]

Could you not do it by using the Replace Colour tool?

 

[Raptor Mike]

No you can't, just tried. It won't change white except the lightness.

 

[andy1868]

Ahhhhh shame! I'm not a big user of PS it has to be said so I don't know a lot of the tools available hence the question!

 

[swanseamale47]

I'd probably just cut him out and paste him into a new background, but anyr way you do it you'll pretty much have to select either the lad or the background first.