How to lock layers?

[Gary-ser]

For reasons I do not understand, the lock layer function does not actually work normally, "by design".

In the example below, I want to draw only on the hair, and actually extend it beyond it's current boundaries.

I can see that layers ABOVE the hair are not effected, but all those below are, such as the shirt.

There must be a better way to lock layers other than dragging them all above the current layer.

My goal here would be to lock out the other layers, not select the current (I know how to do that). 

Please tell me there is a way to do this?

Thanks!

 

[Gary-ser]

I probably need to make this clearer. For Affinity Photo:

How you can you make changes to one layer without effecting other layers?

[Gabe]

Hi @Gary-ser,

You cannot really achieve what you want. What you see is a normal behaviour of how layers work. Think of them as thin, transparent plastic sheets that you stack one over another. If you want to draw something on a sheet that's in the middle, that will draw over everything that's below it. 

10 hours ago, Gary-ser said:

I can see that layers ABOVE the hair are not effected, but all those below are, such as the shirt.

And that's how it should be. What you can do, is clip layers inside others, and that will "lock" the changes inside the layer, but you cannot paint outside its boundaries. 

Thanks,

Gabe. 

[Gary-ser]

Thanks Gabe. Is the lock functionality for layers different in AP than say PS? I don't have a subscription to PS anymore - I thought that you could actually lock any  layer you wanted there..? 

 

P.S. One idea I am trying as a workaround is just copy the layers I want to a new document, edit them there in isolation, and then replace the originals.

[Gabe]

Just out of interest. Have you tried using the "Protect alpha" option in the brush context toolbar? 

[firstdefence]

If you want hair colour variations, just duplicate the Hair group and add a layer fx like colour overlay to the duplicate hair group.

[Gary-ser]

Ay Caramba! Gabriel that is awesome. I hadn't noticed that checkbox, and it looks super useful, thanks a ton. 

Firstdefence, thanks for the tip. I've been able to progress with the hair, this question was really just about isolating layers.