In AutoCAD 2008 Autodesk made a change in how they display drawing entities in layers that are locked. Entities in these locked layers show up as dimmed images compared to those entities in unlocked layers.
As always, there is an AutoCAD variable that can control the amount of dimming or turn it off entirely. The variable is: LAYLOCKFADECTL
From the AutoCAD Help file:
| Type: | Integer |
| Saved in: | Registry |
| Initial value: | 50 |
Controls the dimming for objects on locked layers
The range for controlling the dimming for objects on locked layers is from
-90 to 90.
|
0 |
Locked layers are not dimmed. |
|
>0 |
When the value is positive, controls the percent dimming up |
| <0 |
When the value is negative, locked layers are not dimmed, |
to 90 percent to avoid confusion with layers that are turned off or
frozen.
PS – The HydraCAD tools – Pick Lock and Pick Unlock (which are both found in HcadTool->Layers) are handy for locking and unlocking layers without knowing the layer names.
The H-Factor 
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