The (Mac)keyboard shortcut to make a copy of a selection when not in the move tool is: command-option-drag selection. That's all good! But this same keyboard shortcut should NOT duplicate fully locked layers. A locked layer should really be locked (like Illustrator) or else there should be a preference to make it so, please. thanks.
A locked layer is locked - you cannot make modifications to it.
But copying from or duplicating a locked layer is a perfectly valid operation.
What you're asking for is like saying you can't take pictures of a locked house.
I do understand your logic, even though one layer of a multi-layered image is not the same as a locked house.
What I really would like is a way to truely lock that layer - because i'm messing around with lots of layers on top of it (I am painting & scratching, etc.). Maybe i have the auto-select box checked and i'm trying to duplicate a different layer, but this layer I want to stay still keeps dupicating instead... argh, it's so frustrating!
A new preference would take care of it.
Or if it was a documented keyboard shortcut, I could change it.
is that possible?
[To use your house analogy, I am painting that house but need to keep one room clean and untouched. The easiest way to keep everybody out is to lock just that room. Not take a picture of it!]
/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/p-don-t-allow-duplication-of-locked-layers/idc-p/12263855#M4211Jun 02, 2012
Jun 02, 2012
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My most common scenario is this:
I'm working in 16-bit mode with a locked dither overlay layer on top of everything to keep subtle gradients when exporting to 8-bit. I have auto-select on, and selecting things below the locked layer is never a problem because, well, the layer is locked. I can't manipulate that locked layer in any way... until I try to option+drag one of the layers below it, forgetting that the dither overlay is there. I didn't have the dither overlay layer selected, nor did I want to interact with it in any way. The only solution is to hide the layer, but then I often forget to make it visible again before exporting, since I think I should be able to lock a layer and forget about it since no changes will be made. It's very, very frustrating.
If I wanted to duplicate, transform, or manipulate a locked layer in any way, I would unlock the layer.
Edit: I would love even a preference buried deep in the menu system. *Something* to resolve this. It's completely counter-intuitive.
/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/p-don-t-allow-duplication-of-locked-layers/idc-p/12263802#M4194Jun 02, 2012
Jun 02, 2012
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I am so surprised it took eight months for someone else to suffer from this same problem! It is so annoying.
I think it could be solved so easily with a simple preference. Or something in the horizontal options menu, like the "Sample all Layers" check box for the eye dropper or the brushes tool. Not too much to ask?
/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/p-don-t-allow-duplication-of-locked-layers/idc-p/12293653#M7974Jun 02, 2012
Jun 02, 2012
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This has bugged me for a very long time, and all the designers I know and everyone I work with feels the same way. I just didn't know this feedback area existed until ranting on Twitter.
/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/p-don-t-allow-duplication-of-locked-layers/idc-p/12263852#M4210Jun 04, 2012
Jun 04, 2012
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Agreed with all of the above!
I specifically lock my layers to keep them visible but prevent myself from accidentally modifying them. Making option+drag work on locked layers disrupts my workflow every time, despite working with Photoshop almost every single day for years.
As Evan said - even a deep buried preference would be absolutely welcome since I would turn it off and never bother with it again since I haven't yet encountered a personal scenario where I would need this to be readily accesible and easily toggle-able.
/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/p-don-t-allow-duplication-of-locked-layers/idc-p/12263848#M4209Aug 07, 2013
Aug 07, 2013
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What I don't understand is why Photoshop's behaviour is different from both Illustrator and InDesign: in both of these option+drag on a locked layer does nothing.
I have column shapes in my top-most group so that they are always visible. I have them locked so that nothing happens to them. However, when I try to copy (via option+drag) a shape below it, the column shape copies every damn time because it's on top and I use Auto-select: Layer extensively. You can't imagine how frustrating this behaviour is.
/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/p-don-t-allow-duplication-of-locked-layers/idc-p/12263846#M4208Mar 05, 2016
Mar 05, 2016
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I agree...this duplicating the locked layer function is nonsense. The only adjustment I can find is to switch off "auto-select layer," but now I have to make an extra step. Does anyone know a keystroke that can switch "auto-select layer" off and on?
dang 4 years and this still hasn't been solved? i'm always having to hide layers I've otherwise locked so I don't alt-copy them. ridiculous. Why would you ever WANT to alt-copy something you've explicitly locked? That's got to be a far rarer need than wanting a locked layer to be totally untouchable.
/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/p-don-t-allow-duplication-of-locked-layers/idc-p/12263799#M4193Nov 14, 2016
Nov 14, 2016
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This is a very annoying problem. I use a Wacom tablet and drag to select with autoselect on. I keep having to hide locked stuff when making a selection, and then turn the hidden layers on again. Most annoying.
/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/p-don-t-allow-duplication-of-locked-layers/idc-p/12263843#M4207Jan 05, 2017
Jan 05, 2017
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I've been using Ps for years, always got frustrated with this issue. It happens too often that I have to make last minute changes to final design, because I had to hide locked layers (to actually lock them) and then forgot to un-hide.
I've just became frustrated with the same thing here, and the best solution so far for me would be that of first selecting the one layer I want to copy from w/ move tool, and then hitting command+option (Mac) + drag that layer to duplicate it.
The thing here is that as the top layers are blocked, they will not be selected with move tool, and then when you press command, you sorta enter this mode where you can only edit on that specific layer you've selected. Pressing command+option+drag, then, gives you the ability of duplicating that layer without the interference/inconvenience of eventually copying a top dither layer or such.
/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/p-don-t-allow-duplication-of-locked-layers/idc-p/12263838#M4205May 26, 2017
May 26, 2017
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REALLY annoying. I have a base layer that is locked, and lots of small items over it which I need to Alt-Drag to copy them, but inadvertently KEEP ON copying the damned locked layer instead. SUPER IRRITATING.
/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/p-don-t-allow-duplication-of-locked-layers/idc-p/12263834#M4204Mar 23, 2018
Mar 23, 2018
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It's so annoying - When I am trying to quickly duplicate a layer by pressing alt - it automatically duplicates the adjustment later. Every single time. What is the point in locking the layer if it doesn't work.
/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/p-don-t-allow-duplication-of-locked-layers/idc-p/12263793#M4191Dec 17, 2018
Dec 17, 2018
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Just chiming in to say that 7 years later, this is still an infuriating problem with no workaround. Also to say that Chris Cox's analogy up there about it being a locked house is...probably the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life.
/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/p-don-t-allow-duplication-of-locked-layers/idc-p/12263831#M4203Dec 20, 2018
Dec 20, 2018
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It's so frustrating , I was shocked to see that the topic is 7 years old. A locked layer should be intouchable even when "alt+dragging" otherwise it's pointless . I really hope they'll do something about it
/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/p-don-t-allow-duplication-of-locked-layers/idc-p/12293663#M7978Jan 21, 2019
Jan 21, 2019
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Same problem with locked layers. Not like the locked house analogy. More like saying if the house is locked then I should not be able to turn the handle and go in.
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