Can't unlock background layer using Photoshop CS3 Extended

[_Peggy_Herrington_]

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

[Guest]

If you right click on background can you duplicate layer or create layer from background?

[_Peggy_Herrington_]

Hi Curt. Can't do that either; all options on the flyout menu are greyed, too.

[Guest]

what's the mode? (image> mode)

[Rodger5CD4]

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. 

[n8turepix]

Hold down the Alt key and double-click on the lock symbol on the background layer. It will rename to layer 0, unlocked.

-Chris.

[_Silkrooster_]

The only mode that I know of that will do what Peggy says is the multichannel mode.

[theparkerj · Accepted solution]

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.

[konradpl]

This works, thank you!

[Michaela1549]

This helped SO much. THANK YOU! Why is this the case?

[deanp59348653]

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...!