Locked background layer suggestion

I don't know anyone who likes that an opened image is always locked. And if you want to do something you need to get rid of the lock. And yes, there are work arounds to do that. Can you add a preference option to turn off the backround lock default.
Rather than having to add a mask, why not also have a any new layer to automatically have a mask. Its a small step, but its something we do alot. All layers should have blank masks associated to them.
Streamline out work, please.

I am one who prefers simple, flat photographs to open as a Background layer, and I find it no problem to double-click the background to make it into a layer as needed. But I support your idea of making it an option to open that way. As a workaround with today's Photoshop, in the absence of such an option, you could perhaps have Photoshop automatically run a script on file-open that would detect an image with a simple Background and convert it to a full layer. I believe that's quite doable, though I'm no scripting expert myself. I know there are folks here on the scripting forum who could do such a thing.
Your request to add a Layer Mask by default is a good one, especially in light of the fact that there already is a preference that tells Photoshop you want a layer mask on a new Adjustment layer by default...
I only ask this: Adobe, if you choose to implement this suggestion, PLEASE consider how it affects Actions operation, and don't make the mistake of allowing the (newly implemented) current setting for adding a mask by default affect actions that are already programmed. They MUST work as they do now (without adding a Layer Mask). Otherwise, this could break or at the least slow down many, many existing actions.
I mention this because Adobe HAS made this mistake before.
-Noel

Similar Messages

Locked background layer

When I open a photo in the editor, the background layer is locked with a transparent pixels locked lock, instead of the all pixels locked lock. How do I change
it back to the default?

Hi ,
There are 3 types of lock in the PSE
1)Background layer Lock.
2)Transparent Pixel layer lock.
3)Lock all Pixel
Background layer lock - This lock prevents to change layer to a normal layer which can contain both transparent and colored pixel.
Transparent pixel lock - This lock prevents to edit (like apply brush ) on transprent pixel .
Lock all pixels- for both trasnparent and colored pixels.
Background layer lock always depicts by tranparent pixel lock from previous versions to E11. just see the snapshots -

"Partially Locked" background layer = HELP please :)

Hi there. I am new to photoshop and still learning daily but am having tons of fun editing & playing I have PSE11
I have been editing the same group of pictures for the last few nights and just recently every picture that I bring over from the Organizer has the background layer being "partially locked".
I have googled it, watched help videos and still can't seem to fix the issue. I doubled clicked and renamed and still nothing. With that first layer being "partially locked" I can't seem to do much with the rest of the layers.
Is there possibly something that I may have hit by mistake? An easy fix? Feeling frusterated and hoping to find help......
Thanks so much

All background layers always are partially locked. It shouldn't prevent you from doing anything ohter than creating transparent areas. Other editing shouldn't be impeded at all. Double-clicking the layer in the layers panel should bring up a window asking if you want to convert it to a regular layer.

CS6 32 bit Image - Locked background layer

HI,
In Photoshop CS6 why can't I unlock the background layer in a 32 bit image as you used to in CS5?
I only seam to find answers as "change it to 16 bit" but that's not a solution.
In previous versions of Photoshop you were able to composite images in 32 bit.
What happen, what am I doing wrong?
Regards
David

No it doesn't
I have the EXACT same problem
Nothing has worked for me so far... I've tried double clicking the layer, changing modes "which can only be se to grayscale or RBG color, and RBG color doesn't work", ALT + double clicking on the layer and still nothio
"Edit"
I don't know if it makes a difference, but the image i'm trying to unlock is a render from 3ds Max. I checked the output to be .EXR, full RBG color and 32bit

Unlocking Background Layer with lots of other layers

I've been looking at the similar questions, but no script has worked perfectly yet. I have a series of phoshop actions that I run on a regular basis. I have two version of each, one for if there's a locked background layer, and one for when its already been unlocked. Otherwise my actions error.
I'd like to simplify the process and have a script run that finds any locked layers (ie: background) and unlocks it, even if there are 15 other layers and even if I have another layer selected. It should also run without errors if there are no locked (background) layers to be found.
I don't know the first thing about writing my own scripts, so can somebody tell me what lines of code I'd need? Thank you Thank you!

function makeActiveByIndex( index, visible ){
    var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
    var ref = new ActionReference();
    ref.putIndex(charIDToTypeID( 'Lyr ' ), index )
    desc.putReference( charIDToTypeID( 'null' ), ref );
    desc.putBoolean( charIDToTypeID( 'MkVs' ), visible );
    executeAction( charIDToTypeID( 'slct' ), desc, DialogModes.NO );
function getNumberOfLayers(){
    var ref = new ActionReference();
    ref.putProperty( charIDToTypeID( 'Prpr' ), charIDToTypeID( 'NmbL' ) );
    ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('Dcmn'), charIDToTypeID( 'Ordn' ), charIDToTypeID( 'Trgt' ) );
    return executeActionGet( ref ).getInteger( charIDToTypeID( 'NmbL' )) ;
function getProperty( psClass, psKey, index ){// integer:Class, integer:key
    var ref = new ActionReference();
    if( psKey != undefined ) ref.putProperty( charIDToTypeID( "Prpr" ), psKey );
    if(index != undefined ){
        ref.putIndex( psClass, index );
    }else{
        ref.putEnumerated( psClass , charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" ), charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" ) );
    try{
        var desc = executeActionGet(ref);
    }catch(e){ return; }// return on error
    if(desc.count == 0) return;// return undefined if property doesn't exists
    var dataType = desc.getType(psKey);
    switch(dataType){// not all types supported - returns undefined if not supported
        case DescValueType.INTEGERTYPE:
            return desc.getInteger(psKey);
            break;
        case DescValueType.ALIASTYPE:
            return desc.getPath(psKey);
            break;
        case DescValueType.BOOLEANTYPE:
            return desc.getBoolean(psKey);
            break;
        case DescValueType.BOOLEANTYPE:
            return desc.getBoolean(psKey);
            break;
        case DescValueType.UNITDOUBLE:
            return desc.getUnitDoubleValue(psKey);
            break;
        case DescValueType.STRINGTYPE:
            return desc.getString(psKey);
            break;
        case DescValueType.OBJECTTYPE:
            return desc.getObjectValue(psKey);
            break;
        case DescValueType.LISTTYPE:
            return desc.getList(psKey);
            break;
        case DescValueType.ENUMERATEDTYPE:
            return desc.getEnumerationValue(psKey);
            break;
var doc = app.activeDocument;
var layerCount = getNumberOfLayers();
var invisibleLayers = [];
var loopStart = Number(!doc.layers[doc.layers.length-1].isBackgroundLayer);
for(var layerIndex = loopStart;layerIndex<=layerCount;layerIndex++){
    if(!getProperty( charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), stringIDToTypeID( 'visible' ), layerIndex )) invisibleLayers.push(layerIndex);
for(var hiddenIndex=0;hiddenIndex<invisibleLayers.length;hiddenIndex++){
    makeActiveByIndex( invisibleLayers[hiddenIndex], true);
    if(doc.activeLayer.allLocked) doc.activeLayer.allLocked = false;
    if(doc.activeLayer.pixelsLocked) doc.activeLayer.pixelsLocked = false;
    if(doc.activeLayer.positionLocked) doc.activeLayer.positionLocked = false;
    if(doc.activeLayer.transparentPixelsLocked) doc.activeLayer.transparentPixelsLocked = false;
    doc.activeLayer.visible = false;

Why does the Background Layer unlock itself?

When I open a picture in PS the first layer is a locked background layer. If I start working in PS it changes automatically to an unlocked Layer 0. I want it to stay as an locked background layer. I have used PS for a few years, and just started happening.

With the new version of Photoshop if you work on the background layer and do something like click on the add layer mask icon in the layer palette. Since the background layer does not support transparency Photoshop knows you need to convert the background layer to a normal layer so Photoshop automatically does that for you. If you just paint on the background layer or clear or fill an area, stroke a selection it will remain a background layer with its transparency locked. The Background layer is only partially locked so you can work on it as shown by the un-filled in lock icon on the background layer in the layer palette. If you look here you see layer 2 is unlocked, Layer 1 is fully locked and the background layer is partly locked and has been worked on.

Why is my Background Layer unlocked

Using Adobe, PSE 5.0, Windows XP
When I opened a blank file in the Full Editor a Background layer appeared on the Layers Palette with an icon that indicated the layer was Locked.
Next I loaded a JPG into the Full Editor. It appeared in the Palette Bin, and also appeared in the Background Layer's icon.
I Closed the JPG. It disappeared from the Palette Bin and the Background Layer icon.
I created another Layer. So now on the Layers Palette I have Layer 0 - Background - Locked, and Layer 1 - Unlocked . Aagin I load a JPG. It appeared in the icon of the Locked Background Layer instead of the unlocked layer 1. Why does this happen?

The palette just shows the layers in the current image. If you open a photo with a background layer, it shows the locked layer. If you open a photo with regular layers it shows those layers. When you switch another image to be the currently active image, the layers palette changes, too, to show you what is currently the state of the active image.

Unlock background layer

How do I unlock the background layer without duplicating it first and deleting the locked layer. It's a nuisance. I never ever want that background layer locked. why is photoshop locking it by default?

I have always wondered why they locked the initial layer. Many times I will open a picture to do alterations on it, and many times I have to unlock that layer, pretty much all the time actually. It is simple to promote to a regular layer, I just don't see the productivity enhancement in locking it.
Many times a regular image you open will just have 1 layer, and the whole layer is the background layer. I agree that locking the "background" is a good idea, but not when an image is 99% of the time interpreted as a single layer, in the form of a locked background layer. Not that I'm sitting here day in and day out pulling my hair out over it, but it is slighty perplexing and slightly annoying, and I've always wanted to ask a Photoshop Guru the benefits of making this happen by default with no option to change it at all.

Background layer default opening vanishing

Hi, when you open, let's say a PNG file, it creates a default locked Background layer, fine, now edit it, turn it into Layer 0 for example, and save, again as PNG, ...the next time you open that file, you'll get your Layer 0 and not a Background layer, I definitely need to get rid off that behavior, I need that Background Layer to be there! PNG isn't a PSD or TIFF, why is Photoshop saving Layer infos? and where? in the PNG? in a Cache ? I tried a bit of things to retrieve that "Background layer" when opening but PS CS5 still stores that info somewhere...

Hello! If you have unlocked the Background and need a new one, you can reassign a layer to be a Background using the "Background from Layer" command in the Layer menu. See attached screenshot.

Elements 12 -background layer only partially locked

i recently purchased elements 12. When using layers, I noticed the background layer was only partially locked and not fully locked as I was assuming it should be. I couldn't find anywhere that I could change this. Any suggestions.
Message was edited by: new6and

Just forget it. The background layer is as the background layer has always been, only adobe decided to confuse things by changing the way it's worded in the past couple of versions. Actually, it's more correct now--background layers have never been completely locked--you could always do many kinds of edits on them.

Background Layer colors and images

I just made the switch from gimp to Freehand. After reading
the instruction booklet, the only real problem I'm having is
setting the background. I'd like to make a gradient background, but
I can't figure out how to make any background whatsoever show up.
Even when I select a new color for the color box, the page remains
white. Any help would be appreciated.

Since you are coming from GIMP you are still thinking in
terms of Bitmap
Editors. Freehand is very different and you have to change
your way of
thinking. The white box is not a background, it is an empty
page. You
place items on that page according to what you want it to
look like. If
you want a color to fill the entire page then draw a
rectangle the size
of the page and apply your color/gradient to the rectangle.
FYI: When placing items in Freehand, it does have layers like
Photoshop
(does Gimp?) but they work differently. In Freehand multiple
items can
exist on the same layer without destructing/changing other
items on that
layer. So if your background rectangle goes on the same layer
as
something else you may find yourself accidentally sending the
other item
behind the background or the background in front of the item.
Thinking
in bitmap editing terms you may think the item is wiped
out/gone, but
it's not. Just send the background behind it again. You can
eliminate
these problems by setting up different layers for different
categories
of items, background, text, graphics, etc. You can then lock
layers so
that you don't accidentally grab onto items that you don't
want moved,
such as the background.
Look out for the "Background" layer that appears by default.
See that
bar right above it in the Layers Panel that separates it from
Guides and
Foreground? That's a printing bar. Anything below the bar
will not
print and will be represented as ghosted image in the
preview. So if
you intend to use the Background layer for your background I
suggest
that you move the Background layer above the bar and under
the
Foreground layer. Lock the Background layer and then place
items on
your Foreground layer.
Rich
bippity wrote:
> I just made the switch from gimp to Freehand. After
reading the instruction
> booklet, the only real problem I'm having is setting the
background. I'd like
> to make a gradient background, but I can't figure out
how to make any
> background whatsoever show up. Even when I select a new
color for the color
> box, the page remains white. Any help would be
appreciated.
>

I entered text on to my background layer and now I can not edit it. Is there any way to edit this?

Please help! I am trying to make a Christian calendar and entered text on to my background layer and can not edit this. I have tried to duplicate the background layer so it is not locked but I still can not edit this text. Does anyone have any suggestions?

The text should be on its own layer. If so, you can delete the layer and start over.
If you have flattened the image layers, open the undo history palette, and go back to the state prior to flattening.
If you saved the original file as .PSD, then the layer structure should remain intact for further refinement in a subsequent session.

Lightroom does not create a background layer when editing in Photoshop - on Mac.

Thought this was a Photoshop problem. When I select a portion of an image in Photoshop (which has come from Lightroom) and press Delete, it no longer brings up the Fill dialog; it just deletes the pixels.
After some discussion on the Photoshop forum, I see that now, when I tell Lightroom "Edit in Photoshop", it creates a file which does not have a Background layer, and this causes the Delete key to act differently. This was not the case several weeks ago, but has just started to happen. Is there any adjustment I can make to the "Edit In" settings to get a Background layer in Photoshop?
JK

You must have changed a setting in Photoshop because Lr has no influence on how Photoshop treats the background layer.
There is nothing you can do in Lr to change this behavior of Photoshop.
What happens in Photoshop is this: For some reason the image is opened with transparent background.Such an image does not have a background layer and the layer at the bottom does not have the constraints of a regular background layer.
I am not aware of any command or script in Photoshop that would automatically do this on opening a file.
Try this: Reset your Workspace (>Window >Workspace). If that doesn't help I'd suggest to ask on the Photoshop forum why your Photoshop opens an image with transparent background.
You could also try to re-install Photoshop, supposedly this would reset any hidden settings that are causing this.

Unlocking Background layer

I am making a collage of pictures and realized I had added a number of pictures directly onto the background without creating separate layers. When I wanted to move some of them, I couldn't because the background is locked.Is there a way to unlock the background so I don't have to redo it?Abbey

Abbey,
To unlock the Background layer, simply double-click it and rename it to something other than "Background". The default name "Layer 0" is sufficient.
But I'm a bit confused. You say you already added some items to the background? Since these are not layers I'm guessing they are permanent and unlocking the Background won't buy you anything.
I find it good practice to first duplicate the Background layer, turn off it's visibility, and start working from the duplicate layer. This way the orignal will still be there in an emergency.

Background layer seizes added images.

I am trying to create a photo collage by scratch (not using "Collage"). First I create a new blank page for the background and save it. It is shown as "locked" with a padlock. Then I open an image file (.jpg) to add to the background layer, and I get a message that I need to unlock the background layer so I click to unlock it. However the added image locks onto the background layer and doesn't make a new layer. If I open another image file it locks on top of the others.

The Layers panel only shows the layer(s) belonging to the currently active file. You need to arrange your image windows so that you can see your composite image as well as the source. With the source image active the Layers panel will show the source - click and drag that layer to the composite.
So in the following, the violet image is the active image and I drag its layer to the white image I've created for my collage. In the composite image with the new layer selected I can position it where I want. Select each of the other images in turn and do the same. Refer to my previous note, you can also do this with Copy & Paste.
When finished, your composite image and its Layers panel will look like this:
Cheers,
Neale
Insanity is hereditary, you get it from your children
If this post or another user's post resolves the original issue, please mark the posts as correct and/or helpful accordingly. This helps other users with similar trouble get answers to their questions quicker. Thanks.

Locked background layer suggestion

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