Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 10/11/2011

Question
Presently working on a project starting with a single image that became the base layer.  Added two more and found that one had a padlock icon.  Hovering the mouse indicated that it was partially locked.  How is the lock status controlled and what are the limitations in the partially locked status.  

In my attemtps to manuver this layer the entire pallette disappeared.  

1 How is the pallete retrieved and how did it disappear

2 How does one import a second and third image into a specific layer of my chosing?

Guidance sought

Answer
Hi Phil,

To unlock a partially locked layer, go to the Layer panel and select the layer in question. Look at the top of the panel and there are four icons that represent the different Layer locks you can turn on. Click the icon to remove the lock in question. If this layer is a background layer, simply drag the lock icon to the trash icon in the layer panel to remove the Background layer lock.

You can turn panels on and off in the Windows menu. You can close them by clicking the close icon located at the top of the panel .

To merge an image onto a specific layer, select the two layers in the layers panel, then go to the menu located in the upper right corner of the layers panel- and choose "merge selected layers" this will merge them into one layer.

Since it seems you are new to layers, I would highly suggest reading the information on the layers panel is available via the Help menu. It has a lot of in-depth screenshots and explains what each function of the layers panel does.

Hopefully that can start you off in the right direction. If you need further assistance, let me know.

Thanks

Kevin