AE and PS Gaussian Blur not smooth
 

So I'm building a AE composition for an opening, and I want a round blob in my background, so I create a circle object, and I apply Gaussian blur to it, and make it take up most of the frame.

I am noticing that the blur is not smooth, there's banding, the gradient is clearly layered, straiated... not smooth.

Any idea how I can deal with this?

Re: AE and PS Gaussian Blur not smooth
 

Check to make sure you have your display settings as Full Resolution (small drop down list to the right of the preview monitor window).

Re: AE and PS Gaussian Blur not smooth
 

Yea, I checked. The blending is visible on export

I did find a fix though:
How to Remove Banding Artifacts in After Effects - Greyscalegorilla

By adding a solid, and a Ramp effect, and upping the scatter property, it can basically add noise to help remove the problem.

He describes several tactics with dealing with it.

I am wondering though, I want a oval... how do I create that with a solid? Perhaps pre-compose it, and then stretch the new composition a little?

Re: AE and PS Gaussian Blur not smooth
 

Perhaps also switching to 16-bit or 32-bit might help. Look for the switch at the bottom of the project panel. You have to alt-click it.