To alpha lock in Procreate, activate the feature on a layer so you can only paint or edit within the existing opaque pixels, leaving transparent areas untouched. This lets you add texture, shading, and details to a flat shape without any color spilling outside its edges.
What is alpha lock in Procreate?
Alpha Lock locks a layer's transparency, meaning you can only change pixels that already contain artwork. When active, the layer's thumbnail displays a checkered background and a small lock icon appears next to it. You cannot create new pixels in transparent areas of the layer while Alpha Lock is on, making it ideal for adding texture, detail, or shading to an element without painting outside its lines. Alpha Lock is non-destructive, preserving the original content while making changes to a layer.
How to use alpha lock in Procreate
Method 1: Layer Options menu
- Open the Layers panel.
- Tap the desired layer to bring up Layer Options. You may need to have the layer selected or double-tap on the layer to access the Layer Options menu. The Layer Options menu is located at the top right corner of the screen.
- Tap "Alpha Lock."
Method 2: Two-finger swipe shortcut
- In the Layers panel, swipe right-to-left with two fingers on the desired layer.
Deactivating Alpha Lock
To turn Alpha Lock off, repeat either activation method, tap the layer, then tap "Alpha Lock" again, or perform the two-finger swipe.
Editing the alpha shape itself
If you need to add to the existing opaque area or touch up an edge, you must turn Alpha Lock off first, make your changes, then switch it back on. This is the crucial workflow for modifying the shape that Alpha Lock protects.
When to use alpha lock for digital art
Use Alpha Lock when you want to add texture, shading, highlights, or color variations to a flat shape without affecting the transparent background. For example, you can paint shadows onto a character's skin or add grain to a solid-color background element. This feature works directly on the layer's pixels, unlike a clipping mask which uses the layer below as a boundary. For this task, Alpha Lock is often more straightforward because it doesn't require an additional layer. To manage these workflows efficiently, familiarize yourself with Procreate tools, layers and file management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use alpha lock on multiple layers at once?
Yes, you can enable Alpha Lock on multiple layers simultaneously by selecting them in the Layers panel and activating the feature. This allows you to apply colors or adjustments to several layers without affecting surrounding layers.
Does alpha lock work on vector or text layers?
Alpha Lock works best on pixel-based layers, such as brush strokes or painted areas. It may not have any effect on layers with vector or text elements, as those are not pixel-based content. Alpha Lock is specific to each layer and will be lost if you apply any transformations.
What happens to alpha lock when I merge layers?
If you merge layers that have Alpha Lock enabled, the lock will be lost. You will need to reapply Alpha Lock to the merged layer if you want to use it again.
