10 Replies Latest reply: Oct 17, 2010 1:04 PM by Hatton92-sMbRJb RSS

    GIF/JPEG Images Always Open As "Locked"

    Hatton92-sMbRJb Community Member

      Hey,

       

      When I open up my images of JPEG/GIFs as "Locked". PNG image types are fine and aren't locked on opening but I really don't know why my JPEG and GIF's are always locked.

       

       

      I can fix it by just duplicating it on the JPEG files, allowing me to make changes to my image but on GIFs it wont even let me duplicate.

       

      Anyone know what is going wrong?

       

      Hatton

        • 1. Re: GIF/JPEG Images Always Open As "Locked"
          dec9 Community Member

          Copy right protected?

           

          also sometimes when downloading from the internet files may need unloacked. Right click on the file, choose properties, then under the general tab look for unlock (sometimes there sometimes not) click to unlock, hit apply, then OK to close out. Try to open again.

          • 2. Re: GIF/JPEG Images Always Open As "Locked"
            emil emil Community Member

            First you have to explain what a locked JPEG/GIF is as this is the first time I hear that. I know one can lock/unlock layers in Photoshop and some people use the word locked to describe a file that cannot be changed in any way - for example name change, is that what you mean? If yes, restarting the computer fixes this.

            • 3. Re: GIF/JPEG Images Always Open As "Locked"
              Chris Cox Adobe Employee

              I think Hatton is referring to the fact that they open as locked background layers, and he's trying to do something that needs them to be converted to normal layers.

              • 4. Re: GIF/JPEG Images Always Open As "Locked"
                Noel Carboni Community Member

                Your message is a bit vague, as indicated by the others...

                 

                Exactly what can't you do?

                 

                Don't worry much over the little "lock" icon on the Background layer.  It probably doesn't mean what you think.

                 

                -Noel

                • 5. Re: GIF/JPEG Images Always Open As "Locked"
                  Hatton92-sMbRJb Community Member

                  Can't seem to find an unlock tick box anywhere in the properties. I'm thinking that it might be inside photoshop when I save the files, but I really can't tell.

                   


                  And I mean it is locked within photoshop, not the file itself, I can rename it fine.

                  I think Hatton is referring to the fact that they open as locked background layers, and he's trying to do something that needs them to be converted to normal layers.

                  Yes, bang on.

                   

                  I open my images and the background layer always seems to be locked with JPEG/GIF files preventing me from editing them.

                  • 6. Re: GIF/JPEG Images Always Open As "Locked"
                    John Joslin Community Member

                    Hatton92 wrote:

                    I open my images and the background layer always seems to be locked with JPEG/GIF files preventing me from editing them.

                     

                    That lock symblol does not mean you can't edit it!

                     

                    There are some things you can't do, but you can apply adjustments, filters and paint on it for example.

                     

                    The lock symbol is always on the "Background" layer.

                     

                    If you want to get rid of it, just rename the layer (double click it).

                    • 7. Re: GIF/JPEG Images Always Open As "Locked"
                      MTSTUNER Community Member

                      I think what your seeing is normal for file formats that don't support layers.

                       

                       

                      For jpegs, just double clicking on the background layer thumbnail in the

                      layers panel and clicking ok in dialog that appears should unlock the layer.

                      Instead of doing that, i usually drag the background layer to the new layer icon

                      at the bottom of the layers panel. This creates a background copy that you

                      can work on and should be unlocked.

                       

                      duplicate background layer.png

                       

                      Your gifs are probably in the Index color mode (says Index beside the layer thumbnail)

                      To unlock gifs go to Image>Mode>RGB.

                       

                       

                      MTSTUNER

                      • 8. Re: GIF/JPEG Images Always Open As "Locked"
                        emil emil Community Member

                        Hatton92 wrote:

                         

                        ...

                        I open my images and the background layer always seems to be locked with JPEG/GIF files preventing me from editing them.

                        The Background is not a layer. A layer is a separate image that can be stacked over another and allows transparency that reveals image/s (layers and the Background) under it. You can edit your Background in the same way as a layer except editing that creates transparency because the Background is always fully opaque and at the bottom of layered images. The locker icon on the Background indicates that transparency is not possible on the Background. As already suggested, you can convert the Background to a layer. The file formats that you mentioned do not support Photoshop's transparency and thus layers. So when you open files of this type, the image will always be Background and when you save to files of this type, the image will always be Background too even if the image is with layers in Photoshop.

                        • 9. Re: GIF/JPEG Images Always Open As "Locked"
                          Hatton92-sMbRJb Community Member

                          John Joslin wrote:

                           

                          Hatton92 wrote:

                          I open my images and the background layer always seems to be locked with JPEG/GIF files preventing me from editing them.

                           

                          That lock symblol does not mean you can't edit it!

                           

                          There are some things you can't do, but you can apply adjustments, filters and paint on it for example.

                           

                          The lock symbol is always on the "Background" layer.

                           

                          If you want to get rid of it, just rename the layer (double click it).

                          This worked fine, thanks for all the help everyone.