Cannot anchor layers

harunsaurus · **Joined:** Dec 21, 2013 **Posts:** 6

GIMP Version: 2.8.410
Operating System: Mac OS
OS Version: OS X 10.8.3 Mountain Lion
GIMP Experience: Beginner Level

So, I'm an ex-Photoshop user and I want to lock my layers so that I don't accidentally move it or draw on it. I figured that "lock" command in GIMP is "anchor", but the problem is the anchor button is grayed out. When I use Command+H it hides the application instead.

Can you guys help me with this?

Attachment:

File comment: The button is grayed out.

Screen Shot 2013-12-22 at 11.10.25 AM.png [ 419.41 KiB | Viewed 8359 times ]

K1TesseraEna · **Joined:** Sep 22, 2012 **Posts:** 2089 **Location:** US

Layers transformation lock is not available in GIMP yet, it will be featured in version 2.10 (coming soon).
And the Anchor lock in GIMP is for the floating selection only.

Esper · **Joined:** Jul 17, 2012 **Posts:** 2769

Hi harunsaurus !

anchoring is something different in Gimp
when you have a floating layer (because you pasted something) you need to anchor it

i dont think you can lock a layer, what you can do is lock the alpha channel so that you cant paint on anything transparent

kungfu07 · **Joined:** Aug 07, 2011 **Posts:** 69

Hi harunsaurus !
In GIMP 2.8 u can lock your layers so that u don't accidentally draw/erase/scale/rotate... on it by using this button:

BUT it remains a movable layer.

fluffybunny · **Posted:** Sun Dec 22, 2013 3:24 am **(#5)**

kungfu07 wrote:

Hi harunsaurus !
In GIMP 2.8 u can lock u layers so that u don't accidentally draw/erase/scale/rotate... on it by using this button:

[ Image ]

@kungfu07: You are correct. But it does not prevent Moving or cropping.

harunsaurus · **Joined:** Dec 21, 2013 **Posts:** 6

Your answers are quite helpful. Thank you, guys

PhotoComix · **Joined:** Apr 12, 2010 **Posts:** 5870

As explained in gimp anchor is something else you may anchor "floating selection" only not layers

As for lock to prevent misalignment is possible "chain" several layers so , if moved they move all together, and could be moved back togheter

Not exactly what you wish but maybe help , the "chain" may be applied from the Layer Window, is the second box (the first being the eye , to toggle on off visibility
If you want chain or unchain all layers you may do with Shift+ click on the "chain" box
(same if you want make all layers visible or invisible; Shift+click in this case on the "eye" box)

Rod · **Joined:** May 16, 2010 **Posts:** 16173

One go around is to take any layer/layers you want to stay intact and go to Edit>Copy as New Image (they will be in a new tab), and then you will have duplicate workspace files just in case the originals do accidentally get edited. Then it's as simple as edit>Copy Edit Paste as New Layers to get them back.

However i would like to see a small pencil icon that you could turn off or on by clicking next to each layer that allows you to either edit or make that particular layer not editable.