How do you lock, hide, or merge layers to protect your work?

1 Locking layers

Locking layers prevents you from modifying them in any way, such as moving, resizing, transforming, or painting on them. This can be useful when you have finished a part of your work and want to avoid messing it up, or when you want to focus on a specific layer without affecting the others. To lock a layer, you usually need to click on a padlock icon next to the layer name in the layers panel. Some software may also allow you to lock only certain aspects of a layer, such as its position, transparency, or blending mode.

2 Hiding layers

Hiding layers makes them invisible in the canvas, but they are still present in the layers panel and can be shown again at any time. This can be useful when you want to temporarily remove a layer from your view, or compare different versions of your work. To hide a layer, you usually need to click on an eye icon next to the layer name in the layers panel. Some software may also allow you to hide all layers except the one you select, or hide all layers that are above or below a certain layer.

3 Merging layers

Merging layers combines two or more layers into one, reducing the number of layers in your document. This can be useful when you want to simplify your work, save memory, or export your file to a format that does not support layers. To merge layers, you usually need to select the layers you want to merge in the layers panel, and then choose a command such as Merge Layers, Merge Down, or Merge Visible from the menu or the right-click menu. Some software may also allow you to merge only certain attributes of the layers, such as their styles, masks, or shapes.

4 Flattening layers

Flattening layers is a special case of merging layers, where you merge all the layers in your document into one single layer. This can be useful when you want to finalize your work, or export it to a format that does not support layers at all. To flatten layers, you usually need to choose a command such as Flatten Image, Flatten Artwork, or Flatten Layers from the menu or the right-click menu. Be aware that flattening layers is irreversible, so you may want to save a copy of your file with layers before doing so.

5 Organizing layers

Organizing layers is another way to protect your work and make it easier to manage. You can organize your layers by giving them meaningful names, arranging them in a logical order, grouping them into folders or sublayers, and adding color codes or labels to them. These actions can help you identify and select the layers you need, and avoid confusion or mistakes. To organize your layers, you usually need to use the options and tools available in the layers panel, such as double-clicking, dragging, nesting, or right-clicking on the layer names.

6 Tips and tricks

Working with layers more effectively and efficiently can be achieved through the use of keyboard shortcuts, layer masks, adjustment layers, smart objects, and layer comps. For instance, in Photoshop, you can use Ctrl+L to lock a layer, Ctrl+; to hide a layer, Ctrl+E to merge down a layer, and Ctrl+Shift+E to flatten the image. Layer masks can be used to hide or reveal parts of a layer without deleting them, and adjustment layers can be used to apply color corrections, filters, or effects to multiple layers without affecting their original pixels. Smart objects are embedded or linked files that can be scaled, rotated, skewed, or distorted without losing resolution or details. Layer comps are like snapshots of your work that can be exported or printed separately.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?