How many times have you shared your Photoshop files with someone that you are collaborating with only to have them returned with layers out of position, or finished layers painted over? If you haven’t, you’re lucky (or are the only graphic artist on staff).
At the top of the Layers palette there is an area that allows you to lock the attributes of each layer.
1. Select the layer that you want to lock.
2. Select the locking option that meets your needs.
• The first box locks the transparent pixels for that layer and keeps you (or someone else) from filling or painting over transparent areas of the layer.
• The second box locks the image pixels so that you cannot delete or paint over existing pixels in the layer.
• The third box locks the position of the layer so that you cannot re-position the contents of the layer.
• The fourth box locks it all down so that you cannot make any changes to the pixels, transparency or position of the contents of the layer.
The good news? You can combine combinations of locking techniques by clicking on multiple buttons. To unlock a property, just click its button a second time.