Lock Layers in Photoshop Elements- Instructions

How to Lock Layers in Photoshop Elements: Video

            This video lesson, titled “Learn How to Lock Pixels in Layers in Adobe Photoshop Elements 2023: A Training Tutorial,” shows how to fully lock or partially lock layers in Photoshop Elements. This video lesson is from our complete Photoshop Elements tutorial, titled “Mastering Photoshop Elements Made Easy v.2023.”

Overview of How to Lock Layers in Photoshop Elements:

            You can fully or partially lock layers in Photoshop Elements to protect their contents. When you fully lock a layer, you protect all its contents from changes. Alternatively, you can apply a partial lock to the transparent pixels in a layer. Doing this then prevents changes only to its transparent pixels.

            When you lock layers in Photoshop Elements, a “lock” icon will display to the right of the layer name in the Layers panel. The “lock” icon will appear with a small pixel image next to it when only the transparent pixels within an image are locked. It appears as a single, larger lock icon when all pixels within the layer are fully locked.

            To lock layers in Photoshop Elements, first select the layer to lock in the Layers panel. Then select what kind of a lock you want to place on the pixels in the layer. Then click the corresponding button in the toolbar at the top of the Layers panel.

            To lock all the layer’s pixels, click the “Lock all pixels” button in the Layers panel’s toolbar. If you want to lock only the layer’s transparent pixels, click the “Lock transparent pixels” button in the toolbar, instead. To unlock the locked pixels, click the same “Lock” button you originally clicked again.

A picture showing how to lock layers in Photoshop Elements by clicking the pixel locking buttons within the Layers panel.

Instructions on How to Lock Layers in Photoshop Elements:

1. To lock layers in Photoshop Elements, select the layer to lock in the Layers panel.
2. To lock all the layer’s pixels, click the “Lock all pixels” button in the Layers panel’s toolbar.
3. If you want to lock only the layer’s transparent pixels, click the “Lock transparent pixels” button in the toolbar, instead.
4. To unlock the locked pixels, click the same “Lock” button you originally clicked again.