Alternative to the much requested "True" layer Locking. Assistant option?!?

[Robert Hansford]

Hey guys! Hope you're all well and working hard. Thanks for all the recent updates and improvements to the Beta apps; loving every moment! 

If my memory serves me, several times on the forums users including myself have asked for a "true" layer lock for the layer stack. A lock which would not only prevent the layer object from being moved, but also prevent one from actually drawing or painting on the object if it happens to be a pixel layer or image object. This morning while I was working on a project I had an idea regarding this that I'd like to put forward for your consideration. 

It seems you guys have been reluctant to try and put something like this in place for some reason; probably something technical in nature that I don't understand.  So this idea, or short list of related ideas is a kind of work around or alternative. 

The gist of it is to put some kind of protection in place so that users don't accidentally draw on things.

Idea 1: What if you added a new behavior option to the assistant? What if you put an option in place that told the assistant to create a new pixel layer and draw on it whenever a user attempts to draw on a locked layer? Then at the very least, if the option were turned on, the layer would be protected from accidental incursions. This would circumvent the need to create a new locking mechanism or function.

Idea 2: If you were inclined to create a new lock type, I would propose an option for what I'm calling. "Protect Delta" - or perhaps "Delta Lock." It could be represented in the layer stack next to the lock icon by the Greek symbol Δ or δ. It would basically signal to the user that if placed on the layer, it would protect the layer from being altered any further until the lock is released. I propose the use of "Delta" for several reasons: 

1. It creates a relationship in the users mind with the concept of "protect alpha" which users are already familiar with. 

2. While I have an extremely limited background where mathematics are concerned, I have done some quick reading on the Greek alphabet, as I believe this idea was inspired by the "Protect Alpha" function. I think the Δ symbol fits in context, and faithfully represents the intended function for the requested feature; as I understand it is often used to represent a difference of some kind in mathematics.

3. The symbol also has other uses which some might easily recognize and understand in the context of the layer stack. For example, the Δ symbol is used in music to indicate the use of a Major 7th chord. This chord contains the leading tone "ti" or the 7th degree of the scale which more often than not resolves to the tonic in a cadence of one type or another indicating some kind of finality or closure. Legally the Δ symbol is used to describe the defendant in a trial.

4. I should also note that, it seems the δ symbol also represents deflection in the context of engineering, which might make it a candidate for use as a symbol, and in my opinion would pair nicely with the lower case α which is already in use on the iPad for "Protect Alpha."

While I have seen the idea for expanded layer locking options requested several times, I haven't seen anyone suggest how the mechanics or signaling for the option/action might work. It came to me today when I was sketching out thumbnails for a comic story over a template image. After making some adjustments to a pixel layer using the lasso and move tools, I accidentally selected the template image layer when I began to draw again, and drew for 5-10 minutes before realizing that I was drawing on the template image layer and not on the original pixel layer. Unfortunately, without kung-fu like discipline this kind of thing happens far too often, and I imagine there are many users who can attest to similar mishaps sullying their experience while working within the applications. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestions. Beat the heat! -Stay cool.