First of all, we need to open the required photo in Photoshop. This tutorial uses a photo of the model, which will be placed against a bright striped background.
To learn how to remove unnecessary background, read
In this tutorial we will have only two layers, but in fact, their number is not limited.
Step 1
Select the layers to be pinned. In the layers panel, select the layer you want to pin. We fix an individual layer or group.
To completely lock the layer, click on the dock button, which is located above the layers (it is made in the form of a lock). If you need to dock several layers, select all the layers you need, and then click on the dock button.
After that, you will see a tiny lock icon next to each pinned layer. To unpin a layer, just select it and click on the same button. The lock icon will disappear.
Step 2
Partially fix the layer.
If you do not want to freeze the entire layer, you can always lock only part of it (for example, only transparent pixels). How to do this will be described in the next steps.
Fixing transparent pixels.
To fix the transparent pixels of the layer (and this allows you to edit only the image without touching its transparent background), click on the button Preserves the transparency of pixels(Lock Transparent Pixels).
Step 3
Fixing the pixels of the image
To freeze the pixels of the image (this will only allow editing the transparent background), click on the button Preserves pixel colors(Lock Image Pixels) which looks like a paintbrush.
Step 4
Fixing the position of the layer
If you want the pixels of the layer to be impossible to move, click on the button Anchors the position(Lock Position), which looks like four arrows pointing in different directions.
If you partially docked a layer, the lock icon in the layers panel will be semi-transparent.
Step 5
Alternatively, you can pin the layer via the menu Layers> Pinlayers(Layer> Lock Layers). Then, in the window that opens, you can put a checkmark in front of the necessary parameters.
Translator: Shapoval Alexey
When working in Adobe Photoshop, sometimes it becomes necessary to freeze (lock) layers. For example, if you are finished working on a layer and you want to protect it from accidental changes. To freeze layers, follow these steps.
You will need
- - computer;
- - Adobe Photoshop program.
Instructions
Let's talk about how to quickly and easily unlock a layer in the program Adobe photoshop any version. To do this, we need to open one of the images and go to the Photoshop layers panel.
First you need to understand that when the layer lock icon is on, you cannot edit, edit or change it in any way, so we need to remove it or make a new layer similar to the background.
To do this, go to the desired layer and click on it 2 times with the mouse - in this case, the lock icon will disappear, and we will get a layer that can be changed. This brings up a dialog box with settings for a new layer - here you can specify the name of the layer, color and blending mode with the degree of opacity.
There are a number of other actions that will help us unlock the layer. For this, let's go to the Photoshop menu - Layer-New-Layer from Background ... With this operation we will create a new layer from our background.
Well, and finally, the simplest action is to press the keys - CTRL + J or create a duplicate of the layer. But in this case, you will have to either remove the visibility of the lower layer (the default background), or remove it.
At the top of the layers palette there is a row of four buttons - these are the commands responsible for protecting the layer from movement and various kinds of actions during editing. In Photoshop, this is called - Freeze layer... Each button is responsible for its own type of protection. In this article, we'll look at how each command works.
When one or another protection is applied to a layer, a lock icon appears on the right side. This icon is the same for all types of docking (the exception is Saves everything, the icon there is darker than the others). To understand exactly what restrictions are imposed, you need to click on this layer and see which icon at the top of the palette is marked with the pressed one (displayed as a frame around the icon with a shadow, as if it was depressed).
The first item in a row is the command Maintains transparency of pixels(Lock Transparent Pixels).
This kind of docking is used to restrict editing of transparent pixels. Let me remind you that it is displayed in the form of a checkerboard.
In the example below, the yellow circle is protected from transparent pixel editing. If I take a brush and try to start painting with it, then except on the circle itself, the pixels will not appear anywhere (because the circle is surrounded by transparent pixels, and I forbade drawing on them).
Note
It should be borne in mind that transparent pixels mean 100% opacity. If the transparency of the layer is reduced by any other percentage, then such pixels will not be protected from editing.
Preserving pixel colors
The second item in the docking list is Preserves pixel colors(Lock Image Pixels).
This restriction prohibits performing any actions aimed at editing already existing pixels. That is, you will not be able to use such tools as: Brush, Eraser, Fill, Gradient, Blur, Stamp, Healing Brush and others - those that at least somehow affect the pixels of the layer.
At the same time, it is possible to perform the rest of the actions, be it moving, transformation, cropping, and the like.
If you try to perform a forbidden action, for example with a brush, you will see an error: “ Can't use Brush tool: Layer is pinned.«
Locking layer position
The third element, an icon in the form of an intersection of two double-headed arrows, is Anchors the position(Lock Position).
This restriction allows you to set a ban on moving the layer and it. In other words, the layer will be rooted to the spot and will remain in place, no matter what happens. You can't even rotate it.
When you try to move it, you will see an error:
In this case, the layer can continue to change: paint on something, add / remove pixels, at least change it beyond recognition.
Prevent any layer change
The last item in the docking group is a button Saves everything(Lock All).
This command prohibits us in general. With such a layer, we, as with tied hands, cannot do anything. You can't even remove it from the palette, let alone move it and do any editing.
You have already noticed that if you select two or more layers on the palette, the dock buttons will immediately become inactive. It turns out that you need to work with each layer separately? No. There is a workaround.
Now let's move on to the menu command Layers - Freeze Layers(Lock All Layers in Group). A dialog box will appear in which you need to mark the desired docking method.
Thus, the team can work simultaneously with several layers. But it is not clear why this can be done only from the palette ...
If you spot an error in the text, select it and press Ctrl + Enter. Thanks!
Many people choose such graphic editors, which combine an intuitive interface and many necessary functions. These programs are in the greatest demand compared to complex professional or extremely simple (with a small set of features) applications. The leader among graphic editors for both ordinary people and professionals is Adobe Photoshop. Of course, there is always room for misunderstanding and other problematic situations. For example, some beginners cannot figure out how to unlock layers in Photoshop, and other complexities of the program. Fortunately, this article will cover the most common layer locking problems and solutions.
How to unlock layers in Photoshop?
If you are faced with this problem, then there may be several reasons for its occurrence. The most common option is a regular layer lock, which prevents changes with it. Sometimes the layer does not open due to the mode of working with the document. Another issue that begs the question: "How do I unlock layers in Photoshop CS6?" - incorrect previous saving. Let us dwell on the latter situation in more detail.
Let's say a user started working in Photoshop - started editing images, creating graphic objects or retouching photographs. After a certain period of time, a certain number of layers are created. When saving the work, the user decides that it is worth saving the work in a format other than PSD (file with "Photoshop" settings, where all the options applied to the image are saved). Let's say the file was saved in PNG format. After exiting the program after a while, he opens the PNG file with Photoshop and sees that all the layers are merged into one. Unfortunately, if the user of the program has not previously saved the work in PSD format, then it is not possible to unlock the group of layers.
Therefore, it is necessary to save all works in PSD format, since only this format provides a full set of saved functions. The rest of the formats simply do not support the saved settings in Photoshop.
The most common case
Initially, the zero layer called "Background" is locked. If the user is thinking of how to unlock the pinned layer in Photoshop and use it to the fullest, then it is necessary to get rid of the closed padlock icon. You can double-click the left mouse button or drag the icon to the trash can to unlock. Layers can be locked by the user himself, then the procedure for opening a layer remains unchanged.
Non-standard operating mode
In practice, it sometimes happens that, before unlocking layers in Photoshop, you need to change the operating mode, which differs from the standard and usual RGB mode. Then the unlocking of the layers in the standard way cannot be realized. It is necessary to completely switch the operating mode to the color palette. To do this, go to the "Image" tab, then find the "Mode" item and select "RGB" in the list that appears. After the performed operation, all layers that were previously locked will become open.
