The shortcut will also toggle off any type of lock. It will reapply that lock type if you press the key again. This shortcut doesn’t work for the default Background layer. See the method below for info about unlocking it.
To lock the layer again, select the layer and click one of the lock options in the layer options toolbar (directly above the layer list).
After unlocking the Background, you can freely edit it! Try merging photos or flipping the image.
The Background is automatically locked when you create a new Photoshop file. Unlike other layers, unlocking the background layer replaces it with a new, normal layer called “Layer 0. ” If you don’t see the Layers tab, click Window in the menu bar. Then, select Layers from the drop-down menu. This will open the Layers tab in your tab area. See the alternative options below for more Background layer information. If you’re looking for how to delete the background in an image (not the Background layer), check out our guide for removing the background in a picture.
Double-clicking the Background layer will replace it with a new, normal layer.
Select the Background layer. Press Ctrl + J (Windows) or Cmd + J (macOS). This will make a copy of the Background layer above the original. The copy will be a normal layer. You can also click Layers in the menu bar, then select Duplicate Layer. Shopping for creative software or art supplies? Check out our coupon site for Staples discounts or our coupon site for Office Depot.
Lock Transparent Pixels limits edits to opaque parts of a layer. Lock Image Pixels prevents any edits to a layer’s pixels. Lock Pixel Position prevents you from moving the layer.
Click Image in the menu bar. Then click Mode. Select RGB Color to temporarily set your color settings to something manageable.
