How do you unlock layers?

[ddandbookie]

Hello. I am new to this, but thanks in advance for your help. Whenever I open anything: pictures, paper, elements..., whatever I brought up last is my background with the lock symbol on it. I can't move anything around in my workspace because this thing pops up and says your layer is locked.
I'm working in PSE 5.0
Any tips?
Thanks,
Elizabeth

[LucyLu]

you may want to make sure you are in cascade windows.. along the top on the right there is an icon.. drag you mouse across it and click ... I think that will help you and welcome

[kmsarles]

Welcome to the forum Elizabeth. I'm not sure exactly what your screen looks like, but if you are opening a paper and then dragging stuff on top of it that may be what's locking your layer. Try starting with a blank 12x12, or whatever size you use and drag your background paper there. If that's not what's happening then just ignore. Hope it works out! :)

[RobRob]

Hi ddandbookie, welcome! It is OK your PS is not broken! Anything that you open up becomes a "background" and is locked. But, you can click on the paper that is locked, and DRAG it onto another paper of file and then it will become unlocked and show up as "layer 1" hope that helps. There is also a way to unlock them but you never need to when you just drag and drop things. I think it's a right click or something. Alisha knows she will probably write too!

[RobRob]

Oh Kelly yours just popped up I didn't see it before! Kelly is right, make sure you are going to file-new-blank file. And then drag your papers and things onto that file and it should work! Let us know! Good luck!

[Elsie]

If you want to unlock any layer in Photoshop, you just need hold down the "Alt" key while you double click on the layer in the layers palete (where it shows up blue with the lock icon). It then becomes unlocked and renames itself to layer 0.

[April]

This explains what LucyLu was saying. http://www.digitalscrapbookmemories.com/tips/mistake1.asp

[ddandbookie]

Wow!! Thank you so much everyone. I've got it fixed now. Thanks again for you help. What an awesome place.
Elizabeth

[caulensmom]

See Elizabeth! I told the girls would help you get it all figured out! :) Welcome and post any questions you have anytime. I am sorry I couldnt help you on the phone!:)

[Alyson]

Welcome!! I'm glad you got it figured out. We would love to see your page when it is finished, and to hear a little more about you.

[chryslergreen]

Welcome! Once you get the hang of things you'll scrapping like crazy! Let us know if you have any other questions.

[Alishaw]

You are all way to quick for me ;) Glad you figured it out! Excited you're here!