Convert a Background Layer to a Regular Layer
Double-click on the name "Background" in the Layers panel, and then click OK, or press Return (PC: Enter) in the New Layer dialog to accept the new name. Or, even better, you can hold down the Option (PC: Alt) key, double-click on the Background layer's name in the Layers panel and that bypasses the New Layer dialog.
or just click on the padlock on the background in the layers palette and drag it to the trash and it’s a layer !!
Or, yet another way: drag the “lock” icon from the background layer to the trash can! Makes sense, in a weird sort of way. Photoshop is so multi-dimensional! mh++
Even easier, just drag the lock, in the layer, to the delete bin. This is a tip from Julieanne Kost.
You can also just drag the lock icon from the Background layer to the trash can and it becomes a regular layer.
Or, even better, you can drag the little padlock icon in the background layer onto the trash icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.
I LOVE the trick of dragging the padlock to the trash!!! It may only save a second or two, but every second counts! 🙂