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_Peggy_Herrington_
Participant
Apr 20, 2008 8:02 PM UTC
Answered

Can't unlock background layer using Photoshop CS3 Extended

I installed CS3 a few days ago (though I'm an experienced CS2 and Photoshop 6 user) and opened Photoshop CS3 Extended today for the first time.

The problem I'm having is with unlocking the background layer. I read in the documentation and on the Net about double-clicking and renaming the layer (which is what I did in other versions), or creating a new file with a transparent background, but those things aren't working for me in this version.

I opened a tiff file (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 opens the option to use transparent in the Background Contents dropdown is grayed out, too.

I'd appreciate some help with this.

Thanks,
Peggy
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    theparkerjCorrect answer
    Participant
    Apr 8, 2009 5:40 PM UTC

    The issue has to do with the mode that you are in.  If it is a TIFF or GIF file that you are opening, when you click on "Image -- Mode" you are likely to see "Indexed Color..." with a checkmark next to it.  Be sure to select "RGB Color."  Once you have done that, you can simply double-click the background layer in the layers palette to unlock the image.

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    10 replies

    deanp59348653
    deanp59348653
    Participating Frequently
    Oct 23, 2020 4:42 AM UTC

    That works. Thanks for the tip!  2020, I'm taking PS lessons with CS3 and iMac 2009 while the instructor is using CC. Ha ha...!

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    theparkerjCorrect answer
    Participant
    Apr 8, 2009 5:40 PM UTC

    The issue has to do with the mode that you are in.  If it is a TIFF or GIF file that you are opening, when you click on "Image -- Mode" you are likely to see "Indexed Color..." with a checkmark next to it.  Be sure to select "RGB Color."  Once you have done that, you can simply double-click the background layer in the layers palette to unlock the image.

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      konradpl
      konradpl
      Participant
      Jul 25, 2018 5:25 PM UTC

      This works, thank you!

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      _Silkrooster_
      Participating Frequently
      Apr 21, 2008 9:55 PM UTC
      The only mode that I know of that will do what Peggy says is the multichannel mode.
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        n8turepix
        Known Participant
        Apr 21, 2008 6:00 AM UTC
        Hold down the Alt key and double-click on the lock symbol on the background layer. It will rename to layer 0, unlocked.

        -Chris.
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          Anonymous
          Apr 20, 2008 9:32 PM UTC
          what's the mode? (image> mode)
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            Rodger5CD4
            Participant
            Oct 6, 2020 4:35 PM UTC

            If you select the color option under the mode, you can change it to RGB which allows you to do whatever you want to your image. 

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            _Peggy_Herrington_Author
            Participant
            Apr 20, 2008 8:20 PM UTC
            Hi Curt. Can't do that either; all options on the flyout menu are greyed, too.
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            Anonymous
            Apr 20, 2008 8:15 PM UTC
            If you right click on background can you duplicate layer or create layer from background?
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