1. A method of protecting a selected region of an image from subsequent editing, the method comprising the steps of: (a) creating a first texture comprising a plurality of pixels each with an assigned scalar value indicating a level of protection for a corresponding pixel of a protected image; (b) directing graphical input into a second texture, wherein the protected image is at least initially unedited by the graphical input; (c) modifying a value of at least one pixel of the second texture using the first texture; and (d) blending at least one pixel of the second texture into the protected image.