Could not use the move tool because the layer is locked.
Can’t unlock background layer using Photoshop CC. I installed CC 2015 a few days ago.
I usually use and experienced in Photoshop CS6 and
Photoshop CC 2014, till Installed Adobe Photoshop CC 2015, and opened and edited some picture today for the first
time.
The problem I’m having is with unlocking the background layer. I
read in the documentation and searching on the internet about this problem. By double-clicking and
renaming the layer (which is what I did in older versions), or creating a
new file with a transparent background, but those things aren’t working
for this time in this version (Adobe Photoshop CC 2015).
I opened a tiff file (with a logo I want to use as the basis for a new
image) but I can’t unlock the background layer so I can copy, manipulate
or add to it.
Everything on the Layers drop-down menu is grayed out, as
are the word Lock: and the symbols following it in the Layers window.
I tried creating a new image but when File [New dialog box opened the
option to use transparent in the Background that Contents dropdown is grayed
out, too.
I’d appreciate some help with this.
Step 1
Open Photoshop file
First of all, you’ll need to make sure that the file you’re working
on and open it in Adobe Photoshop. Here, we’re using a model shot, which will be
placed in front of a stripy background.
See also: 86 Best Photoshop tutorials
You can find out how to achieve a cut-out like the model shown above in our ‘How to remove a background in Photoshop’ tutorial.
We’re working on just two layers in this image, but you might be working on lots more layers.
Step 2
Select the layers you want to lock
Select the layer that you want to protect in the layers panel.
Lock individual layers or a group of layers
Now, click the Lock button (it looks like a padlock) above the layers to lock that panel and all of its properties.
If you want to lock a group of layers you can select multiple layers and then click the Lock button.
You’ll now see a little padlock symbol beside each locked layer.
To unlock a layer, simply select it and click the Lock button again. The padlock symbol should disappear.
Step 3
Partially lock a layer
If you don’t want to lock all of a layer’s properties, you can partially lock a layer by following the next few steps.
Lock transparent pixels
To lock the transparent pixels in a layer, which will only allow you
to edit the portions of a layer that are not transparent, click the
square Lock Transparent Pixels button.
Step 4
Lock image pixels
To lock the image pixels in a layer, which will only allow the
modification of the transparent pixels in your image, you can click the
Lock Image Pixels icon, which looks like a paintbrush.
Step 5
Lock the position of pixels on a layer
If you want to ensure that you don’t move the pixels on a layer, you
can click the Lock Position button, which looks like four arrows.
If you have partially locked an image, the padlock symbol shown on
that particular layer in the layers panel will not be completely filled
in.
Step 6
Alternatively, you can lock layers by selecting the layer or layer group and going to Layer > Lock Layers and then choosing your preferences from the Lock Layers window.
