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Adobe_lawsuit_coming
Participating Frequently
February 28, 2011
Answered

Read only images- how to unlock

  • February 28, 2011
  • 5 replies
  • 32196 views

This is the kind of thing that drives me insane.  Hours ago I wanted to open some images in "bridge".  The images are all RAW files- images of the the Milky Way (night sky) that I wash to stack, with the idea that multiple images of the same night sky will show extensive detail when stacked, etc. The problem is they have a pad lock symbol on them.  This makes them a 'read only' image.  There is no obvious way to open these images.  Two books on photoshop provide no answers in the index.  Secondly, I want to auto- align these images, but there does not seem to be a way to do this in CS-4.  Any ideas are appreciated.

Now for constructive critisim of Adobe.  For the extremly expensive product you sell, you do a horrible, horrible job providing your customers with what they need to use the software.  Why isn't a DVD included with the software that provides extensive, detailed information needed so a question can be easily answered?  Why do you force your customers to your web site?  To use your web site I had to accept your spyware, lower my security settings, deal with password and login nonsense.  And if one does not have high speed internet, forget it- loading your site takes forever.  I've wasted hours to get to this point.

And I will never buy CS5.  I will never buy Adobe again- the frustration level is way to high.  Does anyone suggest a photo editing software that they like better than CS4?

      Correct answer the_wine_snob

      Hi Marian,

      Placing the cursor on the padlock symbol and right clicking does not remove the padlock.  Tried that yesterday.  That is the way a good program would work, yes?


      For Read Only files, go to Windows Explorer, and Select those files. Rt-click on them, and choose Properties. Near the bottom will be Attributes. Is Read Only checked? If they are Read Only (and not locked due to permissions, etc.), if you uncheck that, then the files will no longer be Read Only. One common reason for them to be Read Only, is if they were copied from a DVD, or CD, though it sounds like you processed these in ACR, from the original Camera RAW files. Is that correct?

      For files that have become Locked via other means, there is a great little utility, Unlocker, that should be able to Unlock the files. Not needed IF they are just Read Only.

      Good luck,

      Hunt

      [Edit] As it only took me 8 tries to post this, it is coming up late, but NOW I see that Marian had provided the same solution, and an hour before. That post was not showing, when I started trying to post this. The forum is getting more wonky each day!

      5 replies

      E
      Elisabeth26118537b4p6
      Participant
      September 15, 2022

      Try Luminar NEO. 

      K
      KC29
      Participating Frequently
      February 28, 2011
        Secondly, I want to auto- align these images, but there does not seem to be a way to do this in CS-4.  Any ideas are appreciated.

        Why isn't a DVD included with the software that provides extensive, detailed information needed so a question can be easily answered? 

      With Photoshop open, click on the Help icon across the top menu bar.

      In the Search field, type in Align

      The first five answers seem to be extremely relevant.

      That seems to be pretty straightforward. Would a  DVD have been easier?

      Noel Carboni
      Noel Carboni
      Legend
      February 28, 2011

      People may understand your frustration, but as an astrophotographer surely you realize that anything you choose to do requires an investment in time and brain power to get the best out of it.  Powerful tools, such as those provided by Photoshop, can take some time to learn.  There really is no better image editing solution.

      Your post above really sounds, to those who have made the investment and have years of experience, that you haven't yet done so.

      As far as asking for help on your specific file lock issue, I don't use Bridge at all myself, but I can imagine that maybe you don't have your Windows file and folder security all in order.

      • Are you the owner of the folder in which the raw files reside?

      • Do you have "Full Control" access to that folder?  Can you otherwise create and manipulate files in there without escalating privileges?

      What happens if you go into Camera Raw Preferences and change Photoshop to Save image settings in Camera Raw database?

      The Help facility that ships with Photoshop is actually decent.  A quick search for the phrase "file locked in bridge" turns up a fair bit of information.  Did you look through that?  There's some info warning against using external media and network locations, for ecample.

      Where are your files?  What are the protections?

      -Noel

      A
      Anonymous
      February 28, 2011

      Noel, you are thinking too deeply on this. This person is not here to seek an answer. They only came to share silliness.

      This thread is pure nonsense.

      Adobe lawsuit coming wrote:

      ...The problem is they have a pad lock symbol on them.  This makes them a 'read only' image.  There is no obvious way to open these images...

      'Read only' files mean you can read them. That is certainly an obvious way to open these images.

      A 'read only' file only restricts you from saving/updating that file.

      Bridge allows you to unlock a file (right click on it to see the option). This is the same control one can use to unlock a file through Windows Explorer. If you cannot unlock the file through Windows Explorer, then you have an issue with the media on which the file is stored, not Adobe.

      the_wine_snob
      the_wine_snobCorrect answer
      Inspiring
      February 28, 2011

      Hi Marian,

      Placing the cursor on the padlock symbol and right clicking does not remove the padlock.  Tried that yesterday.  That is the way a good program would work, yes?


      For Read Only files, go to Windows Explorer, and Select those files. Rt-click on them, and choose Properties. Near the bottom will be Attributes. Is Read Only checked? If they are Read Only (and not locked due to permissions, etc.), if you uncheck that, then the files will no longer be Read Only. One common reason for them to be Read Only, is if they were copied from a DVD, or CD, though it sounds like you processed these in ACR, from the original Camera RAW files. Is that correct?

      For files that have become Locked via other means, there is a great little utility, Unlocker, that should be able to Unlock the files. Not needed IF they are just Read Only.

      Good luck,

      Hunt

      [Edit] As it only took me 8 tries to post this, it is coming up late, but NOW I see that Marian had provided the same solution, and an hour before. That post was not showing, when I started trying to post this. The forum is getting more wonky each day!

      A
      Anonymous
      February 28, 2011

      Adobe lawsuit coming wrote:

      ...To use your web site I had to accept your spyware...

      Meh.

      Drunk forum posting never stops being hilarious.

      1) You are not addressing Adobe in this user-to-user forum.

      2) Adobe sells software for graphics professionals. You are approaching Adobe as someone might approach Sears after buying a hammer and expecting to be taught how to use it.

      I'm sure someone can appreciate your frustration but you might win more friends by simply asking a question and then appreciatively waiting for an answer from those that are moved to volunteer one.

      MarekMularczyk
      Community Expert
      MarekMularczykCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 28, 2011

      What happens when you try to open the file? Did you try to open it with Camera Raw in Bridge as well as in Photoshop? Are the Raw images yours?

      Adobe Community ExpertAdobe Certified Professional
      A
      Adobe_lawsuit_comingAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      February 28, 2011

      Marek,

      What happens when I try to open these images is that CS4 starts.  I have a computer dedicated to CS-4/nothing else.  But when I tried auto-align using CS4 the computer crashed.  Plan "B" is to use Bridge.

      In bridge there is a menu called "stacks" and this should be able to do what I am trying to do- but this does not work as the images remain locked.  I own  the images, and do not have this 'locked' problem in CS4.

      Noel Carboni
      Noel Carboni
      Legend
      February 28, 2011

      Photoshop can't really crash your computer.  It's just an application.  You probably have basic computer problems if you're seeing system crashes.

      Have you updated your video driver from the web site of the maker of your video card?  Video drivers are at the root of a lot of problems.

      Just so it's clear, not everyone sees the failure you are describing.  Photoshop works very well for most of us.

      -Noel

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